Chapter 42: Go On①

David paced the small, suffocating room, his footsteps a soft, rhythmic echo on the worn wooden floor. The walls closed in on him, or at least it felt that way. Day after day, they seemed to edge closer, as if the room itself was shrinking. His eyes darted to the only window, a single square of light barred by thick, rusted metal. Outside, the sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows that made everything feel even more surreal. He could barely remember the last time he had felt fresh air on his skin.