Chapter 113

I knew he was in the cell next to mine and that he was awake, given the sound of his pacing. Yet, amidst the thick fog of hopelessness and defeat that surrounded him, I could sense a flicker of determination surfacing, trying to pierce through.

I could even feel that spark through the thick concrete wall separating us, a barrier I leaned against, holding onto the faint hope that he would somehow reach out from his cell to grasp my hand. Even if we couldn't look at one another, I longed for the reassurance of his touch, more than ever before, and the denial of that simple comfort was killing me.

Though faint, I sensed a hint of obstinacy returning to him in his pacing. It felt like a promising sign that maybe he was beginning to claw his way out of the terrifying spiral he had been trapped in, refusing to succumb entirely. Just moments ago, it had seemed inevitable that he would lose that battle, so this small hint of hope was better than nothing—because up until now, he