A few weeks later...

It had been just under a month since the doctors numbered Hadrian's day, however it was obvious that he would pass away before their predicted dates. He had been slowly growing weaker as the days past, his breathing starting to slow, napping more often, struggling to eat and drink... The day was drawing near, and before I knew it;

The day had come

I entered the temple, unaware his day had arrived. I knocked on his door as per usual, before coming in. However, as soon as I entered; I knew it was time. Hadrian was awake, however his breathing was slow and shallow. He had his eyes on the flowers and cards left on his side table from Harper, Otto, Ivor, Olivia and even Lukas, Petra and Axel to my surprise. As soon as I walked in, his gaze shifted over to me. He smiled sadly...

"J-Jesse..." He croaked. His voice had become hoarse the last few days. I bit my lip as I took a seat by his bed

"Hi Hadrian" I said calmly, trying to keep it casual as Hadrian wanted. "How... Are you today?" I winced when I asked that question, such a stupid one to ask right now... Hadrian's smile faded away. He looked up at me, the colour in his eyes slowly draining, his skin pale....

"Jesse..." He whispered. "I feel w-weak..." I started to tear up slightly. "I... I think it might be the day..." I nodded slowly, holding back my tears

"I know..." I whispered. "Are you... Ready?" I asked, once again wondering why I would ask such a stupid question. Hadrian only smiled weakly

"I am..." He whispered. "I... I want to stay awake... A little longer..." He croaked. "How are... The others doing?" I bit my lip once more

"Mevia is still in her coma..." I started. "But she's healing well! Otto... He's very distraught... He hasn't left Harper and Ivor's lab in a week now... B-But Harper is looking after him, he'll be OK, I know it!" My stomach was churning as I spoke, anxiety slowly rising. I'm not one to get anxious often, but right now, I couldn't help it. I knew this day would come, but once again, I wasn't ready...

"What about... You?" He asked. "Are you... OK?" That question struck me down. I wasn't OK. I hadn't been for the past few days. I knew this day would arrive eventually, and now that it was here, I was slowly crumbling... I had done all I could to help Hadrian, but even so, I still felt guilty for never helping him beforehand... I fell silent, looking down at my hands placed carefully in my lap as I fiddled with them. My throat felt tight as tears finally started to fall. I didn't know how to reply... I couldn't speak...

"Jesse..." Hadrian spoke. "It's OK-"

"It's not OK...!" I sobbed. "I couldn't help you...!" I blurted out. Hadrian only looked at me sadly, but his expression softened almost immediately

"Jesse..." He started in a stern tone "You have helped me. You may not... think so, but... If you had not taken me in... I would've passed on, with all the guilt I held... You listened to me every day, and never judged me. Despite... my condition, you spoke to me like everything was normal, which is all... I wanted, before I pass on, but not only that, you... You brought my friends... To me... I got to see them again! One. Last. Time... And... You saved... My wife. She may not be awake now, but... I know she will one day... Jesse, you have done so much... for me, for these past weeks, and... I wish I could thank you properly for it..." He paused for a moment "Actually... When... I pass-"

"I'm NOT taking something from your inventory!" I shouted with a sob mixed in. Hadrian chuckled slightly. How could he take all this so lightly?!

"No, I don't mean that..." He continued. "There is something back... At The Games which was special... to me. When I pass, tell Otto I said... you could have it" I sniffled slightly

"Will he believe me?" I asked. Hadrian smiled

"With what the item is, he... will" He replied. I nodded, though despite everything Hadrian had said so far, even offering me a gift for all I had done for him, my stomach still churned, sadness stirring inside of me as Hadrian spoke, sounding weaker and weaker. I sobbed once more, this time louder than the others, catching Hadrian's attention. He gave me a concerned look. I don't know why, but it only made me even more upset. I couldn't believe the twisted man I had seen at The Games I had not only befriend, but was now dying right in front of me... I had grown close to Hadrian, seeing him as one of my closer friends. He just... Understood me, mostly likely because he has gone through much more than me. Whenever we exchanged stories, we could sympathise with each other... And I had learned so much about him. I felt like I had known him for years, and yet I had only known him personally for little under a month. Even so, he was a close friend, I dare say family. And now... His day had come. He was mere minutes from passing... Just the thought of it made me sob once more. Hadrian kept his gaze on me, before he moved his head slightly. I knew what he was trying to offer, and I took it immediately. I wrapped my arms around his neck and hugged him tightly, before I started to cry, large tears streaming down my cheeks. I knew Hadrian couldn't hug me back, but despite this, he still attempted to calm me down

"It's... OK, Jesse..." he cooed. "I'll just... fall asleep, and rest... peacefully..." I only sobbed even more. I knew he was trying to calm me down, but I couldn't help it. I couldn't stop crying... I didn't want to let go, but at one point, Hadrian fell silent. I let go, thinking his time had come, however he was still alive, though barely. He only had a few mere minutes... His breathing was starting to slow. He kept blinking, though it looked like he fought to stay awake, for me. I gently held his hand, making him look at me

"I-It's OK" I said to him. "I-I'm ready now" I smiled sadly. "R-Rest up now..." Hadrian smiled at me

"Thank you... Jesse..." He whispered. "For everything..." I only squeezed his hand, almost as I said 'you're welcome', one. Final. Time. Slowly, Hadrian started to close his eyes. His breathing started to slow even more. His chest rose up and down slowly. I watched him doze off, knowing he would never open his eyes ever again, but... I wanted to do one more thing for him;

Nightfall blankets
us with a soft canvas

Like the flowers,
coloured in lavender

Worries, regret,
put all of that to rest

Let tomorrow,
wash away your sorrow...

His chest rose. Then fell. Rose. The fell. Rose. Then fell. His breathing was shallow, barely audible... I held back a sob as I continued the lullaby;

As the dawn breaks,
those feelings haven't swayed

Heartfelt displays,
wrapped up in bouquets

Though the heartache
is what keeps us awake,

Knowing one day,
we'll meet up again...

As I finished the lullaby, his chest barely rose. It fell. Then rose. Then fell... I squeezed his hand, almost as if to say 'I'm here' to him, but I knew he couldn't feel it. He wasn't responsive... I felt the tears return as I watched him sleep, soon delving into his eternal slumber, but even so, I tried to smile. He was free now. Soon, all the pain would fade away. He would rest peacefully, and watch us all from above... With all these thoughts, I finally smiled

"Goodnight Hadrian..." I whispered. "...Until we meet once more..." I saw Hadrian smile for the last time. His chest rose. Then fell. Rose. Then fell...

It never rose again.

He was still, completely immobile. And yet, he was smiling. He kept his smile, until suddenly, he disappeared, leaving a mess of wood, cobblestone, coal and other resources where he once laid

Finally, he had passed on...

I sat there, motionless as I only gazed upon the inventory. He was gone... Finally, he was no longer in pain... He would rest peacefully in the heavens above. I knew he wouldn't be alone. Ellegaard, Torque, Sparklez, Lizzie... Reuben... They would all greet him with open arms, I know it. A light knock came from the door as it opened

"Jesse!" It was Radar. "I came to-" He paused as he followed my gaze, spotting the inventory laid on the bed. He gasped quietly. "He's... Gone..." He murmured. "Jesse, I... I'm so sorry..." I didn't respond. I only kept my eyes on where my friend laid in his final moments. Silence fell in the room for a moment, before I felt someone place their hand on my shoulder

"Jesse..." Radar whispered sadly. "Are you OK...?" I slowly turned to my intern, my eyes glassy. His expression was full of concern, yet stayed kind and soft like always. I stared at him for a moment, before I got up and threw my arms around his neck, pulling him into a hug. I buried my head into his shoulder and started to cry softly and quietly. I couldn't help it... I wanted the comfort... I needed the comfort... Slowly, Radar returned the hug. He patted me on the back as I sobbed into his shoulder, hugging him tighter as my sobs only seemed to grow louder. None of us spoke, silence falling over us excluding my soft sobs. I was broken from Hadrian's passing. I had lost another friend, another I had failed to save. But even so, I knew... It was OK. He was OK. He was finally able to rest peacefully, without the pain he withstood. Without the regrets he held. And with people to look after him in the afterlife. Despite the pain I now held, I knew it was OK. He was OK, and eventually, one day, after we have all grieved and mourned for our lost friend, everything would return to normal;

Everything would be OK...