10 days left.

He can't muster the energy to enter her room today.

It's not the same anymore; Yeonjun's lost any hope that she'll wake up. Everything's getting to him: the Kai situation, the persistent blaming texts. 

Yeonjun knows better than anyone that Kiera has hidden strength. She's the one person Yeonjun would trust his life with. But he just doesn't think it's realistic that she'll wake up. Not after all this time.

He loiters outside her door, almost vibrating because of his anxiety. If he doesn't go in now, will he find the strength to ever come back? If he walks away now, does he lose her forever?

The truth is, Yeonjun lost her when he told her the reality of his situation that day. He'll never forget her reaction when he showed her his scars. The way she traced the faded lines, her eyes never leaving his.

"I'll kill him," she murmurs, staring at Yeonjun. "How could he do this to you?"

Grabbing her hand from his arm and pulling her to his chest, Yeonjun buries his head in her neck. Inhaling deeply, he closes his eyes, finding comfort in her citrus scent.

"No," he whispers against her skin. "You shouldn't kill him. That's not right."

Kiera pushes him away, her rage clearly evident in her eyes. She throws her hands up in the air, exasperated. 

"Not right? You want to know what's not right? Your brother hurting you until you agreed to pay his debt? You literally work as his indentured servant." Shaking her head, she rubs her face with both hands. "I can't believe Soobin would do that to you."

Looking at her hospital door, Yeonjun lets a tear slip down his cheek.

"I can't either." He whispers, placing a hand on the door before turning away. 

Choi Yeonjun. 

The man who doesn't have the strength to watch the love of his life waste away into nothing.