In a dark, empty room, a man sits on the floor.
His knees are curled up to his chest, his face buried between them.
His arms circle his legs tightly.
The man is hugging himself, as if that is the only thing anchoring him.
Silence.
No sound.
No wind.
No heartbeat.
Nothing.
Silence.
The man doesn't know how long he has stayed like that.
Time feels meaningless here.
There is no sun to rise, no shadow to stretch, no breath to count.
He is away from the world.
Away from the pain.
Away from his past.
Away from his present life.
Away.
The silence is supposed to give him peace.
But it doesn't.
It is supposed to give him relief.
But it doesn't.
It is supposed to give him space to breathe.
But it doesn't.
It gives him nothing he wants.
Suddenly, he breaks out of his curled position.
His head snaps up.
His chest heaves.
He shouts into the void, his voice cracking as it echoes back at him.
"You LIED!"
His voice reverberates, swallowed by the darkness.
