Lauren kept walking mindlessly, her vision blurred by tears and rain.
The world around her felt distant, people's voices, car horns, and rushing footsteps all melting into a dull noise.
She couldn't think anymore.
All she could see were the faces of her cousins laughing, their words echoing in her mind.
How stupid I was… how blind.
Her chest hurt, the air felt heavier with every breath.
Her feet moved without direction, crossing the street as if guided by her pain rather than her mind.
And then…..
A blinding light.
A loud screech.
Before she could even react, a speeding car hit her with full force, throwing her body several meters away.
The sound of impact was followed by gasps, screams, and the screeching of tires.
Lauren lay on the wet pavement, rain washing over her blood.
Her head throbbed, pain shooting through her limbs, broken, twisted, and numb.
People started gathering around her, their voices overlapping in panic.
Someone shouted, "Call emergency! Hurry!"
Through the ringing in her ears, Lauren could barely make out a few faces in the blur of movement and lights.
And then....
her fading eyes caught a familiar figure pushing through the crowd.
That face…
She knew that face.
It was him.
Her husband.
His face pale, eyes wide with fear as he shouted her name.
Behind him, she caught a glimpse of her children, crying, calling out, their small hands trying to reach her.
Tears mixed with the rain as she tried to lift her hand toward them, but it wouldn't move.
Her voice trembled as she whispered his name.
"Adrian…"
He was crying now, holding her hand tightly as others tried to help.
"Stay with me, Lauren! Please! Don't close your eyes!"
Her lips curved into a weak smile.
She wanted to tell him she was sorry, for not trusting him, for leaving, for everything.
But the words never came out.
Her vision dimmed, the sound of sirens echoing faintly in the distance.
The last thing she saw was his face… and her children's tears.
Then everything went dark.