James Black paused himself for a moment, the words he had intended to say were not what had just come out of his mouth. Why had he said that instead?

Before, had James not understood Jane Sampson, he might have found her words annoying.

But now James understood her, all her chatter stemmed from unease, from fear and terror.

However, she had become accustomed to disguising her fears, always pretending to be fearless even at times like this.

Her concern for others was also cautiously expressed.

She was clearly worried about him, wanted to know how he was doing, so she kept talking to him, trying to elicit a response, to assess his condition.

James thought, perhaps when Jane spoke irritably, she was also afraid he would die.

So she incessantly provoked him with her words, trying to keep him awake.

No one could guarantee that beneath the ruins, with severe injuries, once one fell unconscious, whether there would be another chance to awaken.

James thought, she must be afraid that he would die.

The scene flickered, and James left the ruins. He stood above the ruins, looking down at the land.

James recognized from several landmark buildings below that this was his hometown’s small town.

Or rather, the town after the earthquake.

Just like the dream Jane had shared with him, aftershocks followed one after another, rain began to fall from the sky, and the day, which should have been sweltering in summer, now seemed even more desolate and gloomy.

The small town no longer possessed its former serenity; it was like a grievously wounded child struggling desperately against fate.

The streets and alleys were filled with ruins, and the few survivors who remained walked the streets, crying out in sorrow for their forever departed loved ones and for a hometown that vanished overnight.

Was this Jane Sampson’s dream?

The one that made her tremble with fear when she mentioned it in his arms?

James’s gaze fell on a spot within the ruins, where he had emerged from just now, and beneath it lay many, many people.

Including his Jane Sampson.

Did she still have the strength to speak after the aftershocks?

Like a shift in a movie scene, James’s thoughts transitioned him back into the midst of the ruins.

Even though the darkness around him allowed not a glimpse of light penetration, he could still clearly see the people inside,

He could still see her, who was so averse to pain, struggling with the arm pinned down by heavy stones, watching her slowly wiggle her hand out from under the stone. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Her fingers were all broken, her palm was covered in blood, her wrist bent at an angle most people couldn’t endure, gently reaching for his face.

He could feel the touch of her bloodied fingers on his cheek.

He heard her calling his name, her breath weakening, "James~ James~"

And he heard her cry out, "James, I’m scared."

Every word she uttered made James’s heart ache, he strained with all his might to hold her, to tell her not to be afraid, but he couldn’t move, nor could he speak.

James thought, the him in that dream, must have been dead.

With such grievous injuries, having held on for so long, he probably couldn’t hold on anymore.

Only after he had died did she allow herself to cry out, calling his name while telling him, she was actually very scared.

Only when no one knew, did she allow herself to be vulnerable.

But she would rather be a little stronger, would rather have him stay with her a little longer.