A Crowned Heart

{24}

Y/N sat alone in the small inn room, the silence around her vast and consuming, pressing in from every side. The sun had risen fully now, casting a harsh, unforgiving light over the room, and every beam felt like an accusation, a reminder that the world was still moving forward while her own heart lay shattered.

She reached for Taehyung's hand again, his fingers unmoving and cold against her own. She lifted his hand to her cheek, hoping—foolishly, desperately—that somehow, the warmth of her skin would seep into him, bring him back to her. But his fingers remained still, his face untouched by the sunlight that used to make his eyes glint with mischief and affection.

Tears blurred her vision as memories flooded her mind: the way his laughter would echo through the air, his teasing words that always seemed to lighten her heart, the warmth of his arms when he held her close, promising that everything would be alright. All those moments now seemed so fragile, so far away, slipping from her grasp like a dream she couldn't hold on to.

Her voice trembled as she whispered, "Taehyung... you can't leave me like this." She ran her fingers over his brow, tracing the gentle lines that had once come alive with every expression, every emotion he had shown her. "I... I don't know how to do this without you. You were my strength, my courage... you were my everything."

Her shoulders shook as sobs wracked her body, the weight of her grief making it hard to breathe. The world felt cruelly silent, indifferent to the pain that was tearing her apart. She cradled his head in her lap, pressing her lips to his forehead as she held him, her tears falling like rain onto his still face.

"Do you remember?" she murmured, her voice cracking. "All those times you told me you'd never let anything happen to me... that you'd always be there. You kept me safe, Taehyung. You showed me what it was like to be free, to love without fear."

Her fingers traced over his face, memorizing every detail, every line and curve. "I was ready to face the whole world with you... We were supposed to have a life together. You promised me that we'd find that place, somewhere safe, where no one could touch us..."

Her voice broke into a whisper as she choked back another sob. "And now... where do I go?"

She clung to him, feeling as though part of her very soul had been ripped away. For so long, Taehyung had been her sanctuary, her light in a world that had tried to crush her spirit. But now, that light was gone, and she was left with only the shadows, an emptiness so deep it threatened to swallow her whole.

Y/N lay beside him, resting her head on his chest, her tears spilling silently onto his tunic as she whispered, "I love you. I'll always love you, Taehyung. I'll carry you with me, somehow..."

The promise felt small, fragile, like the last remnant of him that she could cling to. She stayed there in silence, listening to the steady beat of her own heart, a lonely reminder of a life that felt hollow without him.

As the hours slipped by, the sky darkened, and a gentle rain began to fall outside, mirroring the endless stream of tears that fell from her eyes. She would have to leave soon—she knew it, and the thought broke her. But in this moment, she would hold him close, letting herself drown in the ache, the loss, the love that lingered like a ghost in the air.

She brushed her lips against his one last time, her whispered words lost to the rain outside, as she promised him once more, "I'll never forget you. Not a single day will pass without you."