Lucius bolted to his room, his heart racing as he struggled to process the devastating news of his father's death.
"No. No, no, no, no!"
He pressed his hands against his head, his face contorted in anguish.
"Please, he can't die! Don't take him away from me!" he cried out, pleading as he sank to his knees. "Don't do this to me, please! Just bring him back!"
Tears streamed down his face as he wept uncontrollably, his body growing rigid, his back resting against the bed while he sat on the floor.
He remained in that position for a long time, his head hanging low, eyes closed, as if all the life had been drained from him.
The afternoon faded into morning, and he gasped awake, his chest heaving as though something heavy was pressing down on it.
'How long have I been asleep?' he thought, noticing the sunlight filtering through the curtains.
He blinked and pushed himself up from the ground.
