EVERYTHING that came after felt like a blur to Luo Yan. Time moved strange, like it was going too slow and too fast all at once. One moment he was alone in his grandfather's room. The next, Luo Ren was there beside him. His brother said something, probably asked what happened, but Luo Yan couldn't say for sure. He couldn't remember what he said back, if he said anything at all. All he knew was the feeling in his chest. Heavy and tight, like his heart was being squeezed. And his stomach, twisted up in knots he couldn't loosen.
Then the others started appearing. Uncle Chen came through the door first. He walked to the bed and looked down at his father with a pale face. A sound came from him then, low and broken, like something had been torn loose inside. It was the kind of howl that came from deep down, the kind that couldn't be held back no matter how hard you tried.
