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12 | Vincent Kovak

"𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞, 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞.."

𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐞

A thunderous shout jolts me awake from my peaceful slumber. Startled, I sit up and fumble to switch on the lamp beside my bed, just as the door is flung open with a forceful slam, and Niko barges in, his face etched with panic. "It's Roman," he blurts out.

My eyebrows shoot up, and without a second thought, I bolt out of bed, pushing past Niko. I sprint down the dimly lit halls in nothing but my joggers, the cold floor sending a shiver up my spine, my heart pounding in my chest.

As I reach Roman's bedroom, I throw the door open, and my eyes dart around the room to find our personal doctors hastily stepping away from Roman's bed.

"What's happening?" I demand, my voice trembling as I assess the grim expressions that have fallen over everyone's faces.

I make my way to Roman's bedside, and a heavy feeling of dread settles in the pit of my stomach. "Roman," I call out his name, though deep down, I already know the inevitable truth. I've seen enough death to recognise it.

His eyes stare lifelessly into the distance, their pupils dilated. I shake my head in disbelief as I reach for his cold, motionless form. My heart sinks further as I slide two fingers along his lifeless neck, searching for any sign of a pulse.

There's nothing. No faint beat, no flicker of hope.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Kovak," one of the doctors begins, their words a blur in my ears, "we tried—"

"Get out," I whisper, my voice barely audible as I fight back tears and the overwhelming rush of grief.

"Mr. Kovak—"

"I said get out!" My voice cracks with anger and sorrow as I cradle Roman's lifeless body, sinking to the cold, hard floor.

Reluctantly, the room empties as the doctors and witnesses retreat, leaving me alone with my profound grief.

I shake my head, struggling to suppress the emotions welling up within me. I can't afford to show weakness now; I'm all that's left of the family I held dear. I reach out to gently push Roman's hair away from his face, tears welling up in my eyes as I press his head to my chest.

"I'm here, Roman. I'm right here," I whisper, my voice quivering. "I'm sorry you had to leave this world alone, brother. I'm so sorry."

His cold, lifeless hands slip from mine, and I tenderly close his unseeing eyes, a final act of respect and love. With great care, I place him back onto the bed, pulling the covers over his lifeless form, as if to protect him from the harsh reality that has stolen him away.

I step out of the room, and my eyes lock onto the doctors. "How did he pass away?" I inquire with a determined voice.

"We'll need to perform an autopsy to be certain, but at the moment, it appears to be a heart attack," one of the doctors responds.

"A heart attack?" I'm pissed. "He's only twenty years old, doesn't smoke, and he's fitter than me, for fuck sakes!" My disbelief and frustration simmer just beneath the surface as I struggle to come to terms with the tragedy that has befallen my brother. "You have twenty four hours, I want an autopsy on my desk tomorrow morning."

I walk away from the bedroom, heading towards my office, my hands clutching my face in a futile attempt to mask the anguish that's clawing at my heart.

"Vincent, you're allowed to grieve," Niko's voice, tinged with concern, follows me.