The night had changed.
Not slowly.
Not gently.
But all at once like something had broken in the world, and everything after it had lost its meaning.
The moon still hung above, pale and distant, watching from afar.
Unmoved.
Uncaring.
And he lay beneath it.
Dying.
His body felt heavy.
Too heavy.
Like it no longer belonged to him.
Like it was already becoming part of the earth beneath him.
His breath came in shallow, uneven fragments.
Each inhale scraping through his chest.
Each exhale weaker than the last.
So this is it…
His eyes drifted upward, barely able to stay open.
The moon blurred in his vision.
I'm… really going to die…
There was no panic left.
No strength for fear.
Only a quiet, sinking realization.
And then
Her.
She appeared in his thoughts again.
Soft.
Silent.
Like moonlight slipping into darkness.
Her…
His lips trembled.
Who is she…?
Is she safe…?
A tear formed in the corner of his eye.
Slowly… it fell.
Tracing a warm line across his cold skin before disappearing into the soil.
What is she doing right now…?
Another tear followed.
Then another.
Is she smiling…?
Is she… thinking about anything at all…?
His chest tightened.
Not from pain.
But from something deeper.
Does she even remember me…?
His fingers twitched weakly.
Grasping nothing.
Or was I just… a stranger…?
Tears kept falling now.
Quiet.
Endless.
I don't even know her name…
His breathing broke.
A soft, fragile sob escaped him.
Why didn't I ask…?
The regret hit him harder than anything else.
Heavier than death itself.
She was right there…
So close…
His voice trembled, barely forming words.
"I… wanted…"
Another tear slid down.
"…to know you…"
The wind moved softly through the trees.
But this time.
It carried something else.
A presence.
Small.
Quiet.
Gentle.
At first, he didn't notice.
His vision was fading.
His senses dull.
But then
Something touched his cheek.
Soft.
Warm.
Alive.
His eyes shifted slightly.
Struggling to focus.
And there
Beside him
It stood.
The fox.
The same fox.
Its fur shimmered faintly under the moonlight, its eyes reflecting a quiet, knowing glow.
It wasn't afraid.
It didn't hesitate.
It stepped closer.
And then
It gently licked the tear from his cheek.
He froze.
Not from fear.
But from confusion.
From something he couldn't understand.
"…you…?"
His voice was barely a whisper.
The fox didn't respond.
It simply stayed.
Close.
Present.
Another tear fell.
And again
The fox licked it away.
As if it refused to let his pain fall to the ground.
As if it was… taking it away.
His lips trembled.
A faint, broken smile forming.
"…you came too…?"
His voice cracked.
"…why…?"
The fox sat beside him now.
Silent.
Watching.
And for some reason
That silence felt… comforting.
Like it understood.
Even without words.
His breathing stuttered.
"I… I'm dying…"
The words felt strange to say.
Heavy.
Final.
"…it hurts…"
His eyes filled again.
"…not this…"
A weak, trembling breath escaped him.
"…this doesn't hurt…"
His chest tightened.
"…it's… her…"
The fox tilted its head slightly.
As if listening.
"I didn't even… ask her name…"
A tear slipped down again.
Slow.
Painful.
"…I was right there…"
His fingers curled weakly.
"…and I said nothing…"
The fox leaned closer.
Its presence warm against the cold night.
"I wanted to know her…"
His voice faded in and out.
"…just once…"
Another breath.
Shallow.
Breaking.
"I wanted… to be with her…I wanted to hold her hand even it was for once"
Please.. I don't want to die
His eyes began to close.
But he forced them open again.
Just to look at the fox.
"…isn't that stupid…?"
A faint, broken laugh escaped him.
"…dying… and all I can think about… is a girl whose name I don't even know…"
The fox didn't move.
Didn't leave.
It stayed.
And somehow
That was enough.
"…don't go…"
The words slipped out unconsciously.
Soft.
Childlike.
"…please…"
The fox gently brushed its head against his hand.
And in that moment
He didn't feel alone anymore.
The forest.
The darkness.
The pain.
All of it faded
Just a little.
"…thank you…"
His voice was barely there now.
"…for staying…"
The wind shifted again.
Stronger this time.
And then
A sound.
A voice.
Distant.
Familiar.
His heart reacted instantly.
Weak… but desperate.
That voice…
The fox's ears lifted.
Alert.
The scent followed.
Soft.
Unmistakable.
His eyes widened slightly.
No…
The voice came again.
Closer.
The fox stepped back slightly.
But didn't leave.
And then
A figure appeared in the distance.
Running.
Desperate.
The moonlight wrapped around her like it belonged to her.
(It's her…)
His heart struggled.
Refusing to stop.
She reached him.
Fell to her knees beside him.
Her hands trembled.
Her eyes filled with fear.
He looked at her.
Really looked this time.
As if carving her into his soul.
His body trembled violently now.
His last strength slipping away.
But even now
There was one thing left.
A question…(In trembling voice)
"…you…"
His voice barely existed.
"…your name…"
A pause.
Fragile.
Endless.
"…what… is it…?"
She looked at him.
Her expression breaking completely.
"…Maha."
The name echoed softly in his fading mind.
Maha…
A weak smile formed.
Maha…
His eyes slowly softened.
Peace replacing the pain.
And beside him
The fox watched silently.
As if it had been there…
To make sure he didn't face this moment alone