10 hours saved me

KAITO

The cursor blinks on the forum post. My finger hovers over delete.

KAITO

Thirty-seven unread messages. All from strangers. Except one.

KAITO

I was going to do it that night.

KAITO

Posted my goodbye on the support forum at 3:47 AM.

KAITO

412Deathriderx: "Hey, I read your post. I'm 24, survived attempts. Can we talk?"

KAITO

We stayed on Discord for 10 hours straight.

KAITO

He kept talking while I held the pills in my hand.

KAITO

That was 200 days ago. Haven't missed our daily check-ins since.

KAITO

I owe everything to Tyler. without him, God knows where I would be at right now

KAITO

But... he's not supposed to visit until next month...

KAITO

You came early... the crane, it's...

KAITO

There's writing inside... hospital discharge papers?

KAITO

Tyler Moxley, Room 417... cardiac unit... this is dated yesterday...

KAITO

Straight to voicemail. He's never not answered before.

KAITO

But I saw him... I swear I saw him standing right there...

KAITO

The bracelet... it's real. But whose hand was holding the crane?

KAITO

New message: "Kaito, this is Tyler's sister. We need to talk. - Nicole"

KAITO

Nicole's text glows on screen. My thumb hovers. Tyler's sister never calls unless...

KAITO

Nicole's calling. Why is Nicole calling—

KAITO

Hello?

KAITO

Tyler...? But the papers said... how are you—

KAITO

The line crackles. His voice sounds wrong—like he's speaking through water.

KAITO

Hello? HELLO?!

KAITO

But I heard him. I swear I heard his voice...

KAITO

Nicole: "Kaito, Tyler passed this morning. His phone was with us the whole time. How did you get a call from his number?"

KAITO

The mirror... it's breathing. Like water catching sunlight.

KAITO

This can't be real. Mirrors don't ripple. People don't walk through them.

KAITO

I promised I'd come early, didn't I?

KAITO

His hand is ice, but solid. Real. The plastic bracelet reads Room 417.

KAITO

You're supposed to be— Nicole said you were—

KAITO

Every promise has a price, Kaito. Yours was living. Mine was visiting.

KAITO

The floor is wet. Not from snow. From the mirror. From me.

KAITO

The crane. He took it with him. The last piece of Tyler I'll ever hold.