"I'm sorry," he whispered again, his voice barely audible. The words felt hollow, like a prayer spoken too late. "I'm so sorry…"
The Hollow around him seemed indifferent to his agony. The same breeze that had carried the voices now turned cold, biting at his tear-streaked face as he lay motionless against the doorframe. His body trembled, his breath coming in uneven gasps as the memories ebbed slightly, leaving behind an ache that settled deep in his chest.
"Please," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the pounding in his head. "Forgive me…" The night seemed to press in around him, heavy with unspoken grief. He stayed there, trembling and broken, as the voices continued to swirl in his mind, fragments of laughter and cries overlapping with unfulfilled promises. It was as though his very soul was being laid bare, the weight of his guilt and sorrow too much to bear. He pounded a weak fist against the door, his strength fading with every passing moment.
