"I'm sorry…"
The words refused to leave his lips.
His entire body trembled violently, as if a storm raged inside him. Air struggled to reach his lungs, his chest tightening with every shallow breath. His stomach churned, hollow and burning, while an unbearable emptiness spread through his soul. It felt as though thousands of knives were carving through his heart, each cut deeper than the last, and the helplessness crushed his voice until it became nothing more than a broken whisper.
His arms refused to loosen their hold on the body pressed against his chest.
"I'm sorry… please, come back to me."
His voice was barely audible to those around him, yet the one person who mattered most would never hear it. The woman he had hurt the deepest. The woman he had always taken for granted. The one who, only hours ago, had been his wife… his soulmate.
"Please, give me another chance. I swear I'll do everything right this time." His voice shattered. "Please, God… anyone… give her back to me. I beg you."
The plea was drenched in agony, soaked in desperation.
He had never cared whether she was okay. Never cared if she was sick.
Never cared— or maybe he had never realized that he cared — until now.
Now, when she lay lifeless in his arms, her blood soaking his clothes, pooling beneath her broken body.
He tried to stop it. Desperately. Frantically. But there were too many wounds.
And it was too late.
"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…"
The words fell from his lips like ashes.
Suddenly, a warm light surrounded them, blinding and gentle at the same time. The world dissolved, leaving only him, her still form, and another presence.
Before him stood a young man dressed entirely in white. Massive wings, glowing like fresh snow under moonlight, drooped behind his back, their feathers trembling. His face was half-hidden, but the pain radiating from him was unmistakable.
"Why are you sorry?"
His voice shook, tears sliding down his flawless face.
"Her only fault was loving you. And what did you do?"
"I'm sorry… please… help me…" Hope flickered weakly inside his chest. Falling to his knees, he clasped his hands together. "Please, bring her back."
"Bring her back?" the angel cried, rage breaking through his grief. "Do you think I don't want that? Do you know how many times I saved her? How many times I protected her? Do you even know that this was her choice?"
His voice shattered.
"She exchanged her fate with yours. She traded her life for you. That foolish woman loved you like a god, even when all she ever received from you was hell."
Tears choked his words.
Once, he had been a mighty angel. Then he met her — a fragile little girl, suspended between life and death. She was terrified, yet impossibly brave. He had sworn to protect her. But one day, she made him promise to grant her a single wish.
"Please…" The man sobbed. "I know I'm a monster. But if I get another chance, I'll do everything right. Please… help me bring her back."
"You still don't understand, do you?" the angel whispered bitterly. "She has already changed destiny. What do you expect me to do now?"
"Then let me change it back!" he screamed.
"I can't."
"Why? Why can't you?" Their voices echoed like thunder. "Please — I beg you — at least let me see her again. If I can't rewrite fate, then let me fight it. Let me save her."
He clung to the angel's feet, desperation tearing him apart.
The angel looked down at him, torn.
This was the same man who had destroyed the child he once protected.
And yet…
Could he do what even he himself could not?
"Take this," the angel whispered, handing him a delicate silver necklace. "It will help you… when the time comes."
The world shattered.
Suddenly, he was sitting in a dimly lit bar, a woman laughing in his arms.
"What's this necklace?" she asked, fingers brushing against the cold silver. "I don't remember seeing it before."
His body stiffened.
"I'm back?" he whispered, eyes darting around wildly.
He leaped to his feet, grabbing one of his friends. "I'm back! I really am back!"
He laughed and cried at the same time, hugging them, spinning in place.
"Bro, are you okay?" someone asked, staring at him in confusion.
"I'm back… I'm really back," he repeated, his voice trembling with disbelief.
Glancing at his watch, his breath caught.
12:20 PM.
Sunlight poured through the windows, warm and alive.
Letting go, he snatched his jacket and ran.
The distance to his house had never felt so long. His heart thundered in his chest, each step fueled by terror and hope tangled together.
He burst inside, searching frantically.
Living room. Empty.
Kitchen. Empty.
Bedroom. Empty.
Panic clawed at his throat.
Only one door remained.
Locked.
"Moon…" he whispered, dread seeping into his bones.
What if it was all an illusion?
"Moon…" His voice trembled. "If you're there… please knock."
Silence.
He raised his hand, knocking softly, praying with every shattered piece of his soul.
Then—
Knock.
Knock.