Ishima stood in the doorway, the red roses still clutched tightly in one hand, the small black velvet box containing the diamond ring resting in the other. The soft scent of the flowers filled the air, mingling with the faint scent of cologne that always clung to his clothes. His heart pounded in his chest as he glanced around their apartment. It was quiet—too quiet.

"Honey?" he called softly, hoping his boyfriend would pop out from around the corner, like he always did after a long day. The anticipation in his chest made it feel like the seconds stretched on forever. But there was nothing. No response.

A sinking feeling started to crawl up his spine, but he shook it off. Maybe he was in the kitchen, or maybe he was in the bathroom, taking his usual long, soothing shower to unwind after the day's stress. With a sigh of relief, Ishima made his way toward the bedroom.

It was empty.

His chest tightened. He didn't want to think about the worst. Maybe his boyfriend was just lying on the couch, asleep, or—no, he couldn't think like that. It was probably nothing. He hadn't heard any arguments, any noise that would signal trouble.

Still, his feet moved faster as he made his way to the bathroom. "Hey, you in there?" he called through the door, knocking gently. His knuckles felt strangely cold against the wood, as though something deep within him was beginning to sense the fear he hadn't let himself acknowledge.

Silence.

Ishima's breath caught. He knocked again, a little harder this time. "Honey?" His voice was tight, anxiety creeping up his throat, but he forced it down. "It's me, Ishima... let me in."

No answer.

His pulse quickened, panic surging through him. No. No, no, no, this isn't happening. He tried the handle, but it was locked. Without thinking, his hand shot to his pocket, fumbling for his phone. He briefly thought of calling, but the idea felt hollow, as though a part of him knew there would be no answer. His hand dropped, feeling useless, heavy.

Then, his panic shattered the hesitation.

Ishima shoved his shoulder against the door, throwing his full weight into it. The door splintered under the force, the lock snapping open with a loud crack.

He barely had time to process what he saw.

His boyfriend was sprawled on the bathroom floor, the faint echo of his shallow breathing barely audible over the rush of blood in Ishima's ears. The pills were scattered around him, bottles rolling like forgotten remnants of destruction. The familiar scent of his cologne mixed with something more bitter, the metallic tang of illness and despair.

Ishima's chest constricted. The roses slipped from his hand, falling to the floor with a soft thud as his body moved on its own, rushing toward the lifeless form of the person he loved more than anything. His breath was unsteady, his heart breaking with each second that passed in silence.

"Baby," he whispered, kneeling beside him, his hands trembling as he reached out. There was no answer, no movement. The pain in his chest surged into a crushing ache as he pulled his boyfriend into his arms. He could feel the heat radiating from his body, but it was wrong—too warm, too disjointed.

"Why?" The word left his lips in a strangled sob, his voice breaking. "Why would you do this?" His fingers were shaking as he desperately checked for a pulse. It was faint, barely there, but it was something. A flicker of hope. Please... please... don't leave me.

Ishima's mind reeled, thinking back to everything they'd been through. How he'd helped his boyfriend battle the addiction, how they'd fought together to get him clean. He'd promised him that he'd always be there, that he'd never leave him. But now, as he held his boyfriend's cold, fragile body, Ishima couldn't stop the rising tide of guilt and fear.

"Please..." His voice cracked. "Please, don't do this to me." He rocked back and forth, holding him tighter, feeling the weight of the situation crushing him. The ring, still tucked in his pocket, felt like it was burning him. His mind raced. The proposal—he was supposed to give him a future, not... this.

His chest constricted as he kissed the top of his boyfriend's head, tears streaming down his face. "I was going to ask you to marry me." His voice was barely above a whisper, choked with emotion. "I had the ring. I had the roses. I was going to make everything perfect for us... for you..."

But now it was all slipping away, unraveling before his eyes. His hands were frantic as he grabbed his phone, calling for an ambulance, but his hands shook so violently that he almost couldn't hold it steady. His vision blurred as the tears kept coming, helplessness overwhelming him.

"I didn't think..." He choked on his words, his voice breaking as he tried to stay calm for both of them. "I didn't think I could lose you like this. Not after everything we've been through. Not like this."

Ishima leaned down, pressing his forehead to his boyfriend's, breathing shakily against his skin. "Please... please don't leave me alone."

He didn't know how to make it right. He didn't know if it was too late.