Roman's steps felt heavier with each stride as he made his way back to his room, the tension in his body settling deep into his bones. By the time he pushed the door open, his shoulders had already begun to sag.
The door clicked shut behind him, sealing the silence in. He moved toward the closet on instinct, reaching for his gear without thinking, but then he stopped.
There, sitting on the floor, was her hospital dress. The sight of it hit harder than he expected, like something sharp driving straight through his chest.
Roman's chest hammered painfully as his fingers tightened around the fabric before he picked it up.
For a moment, he just stood there, staring at it. Then, slowly, he sank onto the edge of the bed, the mattress dipping beneath his weight. Time was slipping, and he knew it, but in that moment, it felt distant, irrelevant.
