Interlude:

  The Coward

  POV: "???" + Fabio

  The boy Fabio got up and ran to the dining room.

  "Dad! Mom!" he shouted.

  His mother, Gabriela, a black woman in a simple dress with her black hair tied in a loose bun, sat at the table having her coffee. The steaming cup was halfway to her lips when she saw him enter.

  "Son! Eat quickly—the school bus arrives in 30 minutes."

  "Got it, Mom!" he said, sitting down and grabbing the bread already on his plate.

  His father, Pedro, a strong brown-skinned man with carefully styled hair in a pompadour that defied time, placed a hand on his son's shoulder.

  "Eat it all—today my son's going to rock school in that cool outfit. And the little girlfriends?" Pedro said, a teasing smile on his lips.

  The father wore his aviation uniform—blue shirt with patches, dress pants. He was likely heading out for work.

  "Stop asking him that," the mother said, smiling even as she scolded.

  Fabio continued his breakfast. The buttered bread, the chocolate milk, the usual routine.

  "You woke up strange. I heard you screaming. Was it something?" the mother asked, curiosity plain on her face.

  Fabio hesitated.

  "I..."

  Then, something surfaced in his mind. A quick flash, almost painful: a man in armor. Sitting in a wheelchair. With a green stone in his hands.

  "Ah..." Fabio said, lowering his head.

  "Son..." Both father and mother approached, concerned.

  "No... It was nothing. I think it's a headache..." the boy said, lifting his head again.

  "Can you go to school?" the mother asked.

  "Yes... I... I screamed because I had a strange dream. The one where I'm in a place, with a stone in my hand, and whenever I squeeze it... I wake up."

  The mother listened, worried. The father laughed.

  "Hahaha! A stone, huh? What an imagination."

  "Pedro!" the mother scolded. "Don't say that..."

  "Hahaha."

  Fabio laughed along, caught up in his father's humor. A horn sounded outside.

  He stood up.

  "Have a good day at school!" the mother said.

  The father waved, a casual gesture that said everything.

  "Thanks, Mom! Dad!"

  Fabio put on his headphones and boarded the bus. The music started playing—the same as always, the one he listened to every day on the way to school.

  The scenery passed by the window. Houses. Trees. People starting their day.

  He thought about the dream. About that man in armor. The wheelchair.

  Why do I dream about this?

  He didn't know.

  Fabio always sat with Fencer beside him. Fabio by the window, Fencer in the aisle seat. Luka kept trying to get the girls' attention up front.

  Fabio stayed in his corner. Quiet.

  Fencer noticed.

  "You okay?" the friend asked.

  "Yes... It's those dreams I told you about that one time."

  "Hm. Always those, huh?"

  As they talked, a strange teacher entered the room. Not the usual teacher. Different. He wore a slightly rumpled suit, had a curious mustache, and carried some folders.

  And he tripped before reaching the front of the blackboard.

  Some students laughed.

  "DON'T LAUGH!" he shouted.

  Everyone went quiet.

  "Just kidding! Haha. Pleasure, I'm Nils. Substitute... teacher."

  He adjusted his folders, cleared his throat.

  "And... Ah, right, you can come in!"

  Fabio had his head down. Didn't even look at the teacher.

  "Well, these are the new students. Luna and Raphadun. Have a seat."

  Fabio looked.

  Luna and Raphadun entered and sat near everyone.

  He just watched.

  They were just new students. Nothing special.

  But there was something strange. Something he couldn't explain.

  Days passed.

  Luna and Raphadun soon became part of the group. But Fabio never talked to them.

  The routine repeated: classes, break, back home. Sometimes the dreams came. That rotten man. The wheelchair. The green stone.

  He always woke up before.

  One day, Fabio wasn't feeling well.

  Fencer noticed. Went to his room.

  "Everything okay?" he asked.

  "Yes..."

  "Tell me," said Fencer, sitting beside him.

  "It's that dream..."

  "This dream of yours, this story... you never really told me. What's it like?" Fencer asked.

  Fabio looked out the window.

  "It's about an empty man. He lives in a destroyed world, fighting against curses."

  Fencer's eyes widened.

  "Wow! That protagonist must be really cool, right?"

  "No..." Fabio paused. Got serious. "It's the opposite. He's weak. His body is so fragile he can't even stand without armor he creates with his own power. He doesn't eat, doesn't drink, doesn't sleep. He just... exists. Alone. Completely alone."

  He finished speaking and saw Fencer looking at him with an unreadable expression. Half concerned.

  "Yeah... Are you really okay?" Fencer asked.

  Fabio frowned.

  "I am, why?"

  "It's nothing, bro..." said Fencer, grabbing his backpack. "Let's go, before the teacher arrives."

  It was too late. Nils, the substitute teacher, was already at the door.

  "What are you doing here? Go," he said.

  The boys stood up.

  "Relax, teacher," said Fencer.

  "Come on, Fabio!"

  Fabio stood. Nils then said:

  "If you're not well..."

  Fabio looked back.

  "...go to the doctor next time."

  Fabio just nodded.

  And left the room.

  Nils looked at the door.

  And smiled.

  On the bus home, Fabio asked Fencer not to tell anyone about the dream.

  His friend just nodded.

  Time kept passing.

  Another day, the classroom door opened and the two girls entered. Bianca greeted the boys with her easy smile. Luna came behind, with that slightly annoyed air that seemed her trademark.

  Luka was quick: he got up and went to her.

  "I told you I started liking this band too... Luna!" he said.

  Luna laughed.

  Raphadun, as always, quiet. Observing.

  Fabio looked at her for an instant. Then looked away.

  Days passed in a sequence of classes, jokes, and small talk.

  Luka and Luna started dating.

  Fabio just watched, from afar.

  Everyone, in love with the same girl, he thought, skeptical. Luka even pretended to like the same bands as her just to impress. She's so ordinary... I don't see what's so special about her.

  More days passed.

  Fencer slept over at Fabio's house. His mother and father loved when he came.

  They talked about life. Realized they were the same.

  Both alone. Both cowards.

  "You know... There's nothing special about that Luna!" said Fabio.

  "Hahaha, doesn't seem like it—everyone wants to date her!" said Fencer.

  "Hm..." Fabio grew thoughtful.

  "But hey, did your dreams stop?" the friend asked.

  "I think so..."

  "You know what you should do?" asked Fencer, a gleam in his eyes. "Let's publish your story somewhere. Imagine if we got famous?"

  So they did.

  On a website, they posted the story "The Empty Man."

  Didn't work.

  "What? There's already a story with that name!" said Fabio.

  "Go see which one!"

  They went on the site. Read.

  It was the same story.

  The same one from Fabio's dream.

  "That's impossible..." he murmured. "He thought of the same story I dreamed!"

  "Maybe you read it and don't remember, Fabio."

  "No! I'd know... It's... Identical. Even the protagonist being Empty... Who made this crap?" Fabio was angry. He went to the creator's profile. "There, his social media."

  Fabio clicked.

  "LordOfDarkness0678". What a CHEESY name for a creator. And he had 4 followers. Who keeps posting stories with only that many followers?

  "Who knows, there are crazies for everything..." said Fencer.

  "LOOK!" Fabio pointed at the screen. In the profile picture was Professor Nils.

  "IT'S THE PORTUGUESE TEACHER! THE SUBSTITUTE!" Fencer shouted.

  "WHAT?"

  Fabio's mother appeared at the door.

  "No shouting, you two. Go to sleep. It's late. Your mother said you've been staying up too late, and I'm supposed to keep an eye on you, Fencer!"

  Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

  So they both went to sleep.

  But determined to get answers the next day.

  At school, during break, Nils was eating lunch at the teachers' table.

  Fabio arrived.

  "PROFESSOR NILS!" he shouted.

  "Hey, what's all this noise?!" said the teacher.

  "You..." Fabio showed his phone. "Who made this story?!"

  Nils looked at the phone.

  "Hey, how'd you find that! It's my secret, how embarrassing!"

  "Don't do that! I've... I've been dreaming about this constantly. This same story. You stole my story!"

  "What are you talking about, huh! I wrote this story a long time ago!"

  "SHIT!" Fabio shouted.

  "I thought I was special for thinking like this... BUT YOUR STORY ONLY HAS 4 FOLLOWERS! Basically, mine would also be crap and a failure if I'd published it."

  "HEY, that hurts the feelings of those 4 followers..." said Nils.

  "But how weird! So... You dreamed about the story too? Haha, what the hell!"

  "Stop laughing at our misfortune!" said Fabio, laughing too.

  "But tell me, what did you dream about?"

  Fabio stood still for a moment.

  "I... Used that green stone..."

  Nils listened to the words.

  "I see."

  "Tell me... Why did he do that?" Fabio asked.

  "It was in the script," Nils replied.

  "No, tell me!"

  "Hm... You don't want to hear it," said Nils, scratching his head.

  "I do..."

  Nils looked at him. Then began.

  "If you think about it, I'm the god of that universe, 'The Empty Man.' But now you say, and believing you, that you dreamed the same thing, I realize I'm just another one. That's the point. I believe he's just the fruit of a reason... too selfish. And human, too."

  Fabio felt a chill down his spine.

  "That's it."

  "So that's why he uses the Stone of the Future? To be accepted?"

  "Accepted, loved, happy... doesn't matter. Everything is just the other side of the same coin. We're all destined to believe and imagine perfection as if it were a ladder. For each person, there's a step to be reached—the perfection of what they don't believe they can become. An infinite ladder, where some dream high, while others, below, dream exactly like them. An endless ladder, made of mixed feelings, always pointing toward something unreachable."

  Fabio just listened.

  Stood there. Paralyzed.

  Nils got up.

  "Come on, it's almost dismissal time."

  The next day, routine repeated.

  Every day the same thing, Fabio thought, while getting ready. The same repetition. I get there, my friends tell jokes, and life goes on.

  Luna and Luka broke up.

  Gabriel, a friend, thought it would be a good idea to confess his feelings to her. Got rejected.

  Everyone wants her... I don't get it. Now she's already dating someone else. Well, doesn't matter. I'm just an observer.

  Months turned into years within the same school.

  Parties. Celebrations. Conversations that repeated themselves.

  Fabio watched life pass around him.

  He himself seemed frozen in time.

  ...

  Until, one day, during break, he started talking to Bianca.

  One of Luna's friends.

  They laughed a lot about something. Conversation flowed easily.

  Suddenly, a cutting voice came from behind.

  "Stop shouting, kid! Your voice is annoying!"

  It was Luna.

  She was angry. Her scream echoed through the hallway. Everyone turned to look.

  Fabio froze.

  Words vanished from his throat.

  He started stammering, trying to defend himself. Only garbled sounds came out.

  Fencer appeared out of nowhere, stepping between them.

  "Wow, Luna! No need to say that, poor Fabio."

  Fabio, embarrassed, tried to compose himself.

  "It's okay, bro! Forget it."

  He went back to talking to Bianca. Forced a smile.

  Luna turned away, muttering under her breath:

  "Annoying kid."

  Inside, however, Fabio's heart raced.

  A thought invaded his mind. Clear. undeniable:

  She noticed me.

  For the first time, she noticed me.

  The dreams stopped.

  As time went on at school, they simply ceased.

  Months. Days. Weeks. More months.

  Nothing.

  One day, a trip to a museum was organized.

  All the students went. Fencer, Luka, Luna, Raphadun, Fabio.

  Everyone had fun.

  At one point, Fabio wandered off a bit.

  Fencer went with him.

  They entered a corridor in the museum. There was Nils.

  "Nils!" Fabio approached the teacher.

  "Ah, hi. Looking around, it's nice, huh?"

  "Yeah... I... I never saw another chapter from you. Now you have 5 followers. Post more! If not... I'll post for you. You stopped at the part where he used the stone. When is he coming back?"

  "It's 6. I followed too," said Fencer.

  Fabio looked at him and smiled.

  "We're waiting, right?"

  Nils looked at him.

  Started to move away a bit.

  Fabio was confused.

  "You were right..." said Nils, moving away. "Why keep writing a story with only 5 followers? It's humiliating."

  "Six," said Fencer.

  "Yeah, six."

  Fabio just watched.

  "That's life... All the time. Using a stone, or not using it. Being loved, not being loved, choosing not to be. Fear of being. Having a girlfriend or not. You have because you have, or because something will prevent you from having."

  The words were confusing.

  Was there a meaning? No one could know.

  Fencer and Fabio just kept watching.

  Nils behind. Fencer in the middle. Fabio at the start.

  But that meant nothing.

  "Everything is choices we make? Choices we obey... Publishing with only 6 followers... Telling the woman you love... Saying a last goodbye. Past. Regret. Nothing makes sense anymore."

  "I think he's crazy," Fencer murmured to Fabio.

  They laughed.

  "Tell me, then... Fabio."

  Nils was near the exit door.

  "Hm?" Fabio looked with a smile on his face.

  "Raphadun is waiting... So tell me, when will you accept your future?"

  Fabio's smile vanished.

  His gaze went into shock.

  "Raphadun?" Fencer asked.

  Then, behind Fabio, something appeared.

  It was Raphadun.

  Older. With a vodka bottle in his hand. Sitting on the floor.

  "Tell me... Empty... Why did you use the stone..." Raphadun said.

  Fabio went to him.

  His head hurt intensely.

  Blood dripped from his nose.

  "Ah!" he screamed.

  Fencer reached his friend.

  "Fabio! Are you okay...?"

  Fabio looked.

  That Raphadun had vanished.

  Why? He'd never spoken to Raphadun at school. Never.

  He ran to the exit door.

  "NILS!" he shouted, searching.

  No one was there.

  Inside the museum, Fencer saw Fabio run.

  "Hey, why are you running?"

  "Nils! Did you see him?"

  Fencer laughed.

  "Nils? That teacher? He left yesterday! Didn't even come on the trip."

  "What..."

  The coordinator called everyone back to the bus.

  On the van, Fabio stared out the window. Thoughtful.

  "What was that, huh?" Fencer asked.

  "I... I don't know..."

  The trip back continued.

  And school, and that life, continued normally.

  That was just a coincidence.

  Wasn't it?

  The year ended.

  The next began.

  But Fabio would have to move to another city.

  I thought about finally telling Luna what I felt. But what sense would it make? She doesn't know me. Doesn't know who I am. Our only interactions were a nervous look from her and silence from me.

  He said goodbye to everyone at school.

  Except her.

  Even saying near her that he was leaving, she didn't come to say goodbye.

  I dreamed, last night, of her saying goodbye. Of me confessing. Of us being happy forever. Pathetic, isn't it? That's life. Just an idiot teenage crush.

  He said goodbye to everyone.

  Luka. Fencer. Flavio.

  Everyone except Luna and Raphadun.

  And Nils.

  Fencer and Flavio were very sad. They swore they'd always call and message.

  It's funny... after that, we never talked again. That's life.

  He entered a new school.

  New friends.

  Starting over, again.

  Finished high school. Got a telemarketing job.

  Kept living. Without big plans.

  Until twenty years old.

  Dated a girl.

  She broke up with him.

  Because I was too cold and dishonest. That was me: empty. Completely strange, isn't it? I didn't even continue that story I created. I just lived. I wonder, if I had published it, would I be famous? Should I have told the girl I loved that I loved her? I'm weak. Life is made of choices... and I don't make them. I just exist.

  One day, browsing YouTube, he saw that Luna was famous.

  She'd become a singer.

  But, well, that doesn't matter. I have my stories to write. I've decided, finally, to write "The Empty Man." I never needed Nils. Or my failed attempts to find him again. Doesn't matter, he was just a teacher lucky enough to think of my story first. I'm going to continue this story!

  But he didn't know.

  What came after using the Stone of the Future?

  What would Empty do?

  He never could figure it out.

  Life went on.

  Fabio tried to forget "The Empty Man."

  Mysteriously, the dreams stopped.

  I watched Luna perform on shows and programs every day. She was so beautiful. But still something unreachable. Sometimes, I dreamed of her, being the love of her life. Just to understand my own inferiority.

  He hesitated. But started going to some shows.

  At an autograph session, she was there.

  She autographed his shirt.

  Looked at his face.

  Didn't recognize him.

  It was obvious.

  On social media, he reconnected with old friends. Everyone commented on Luna's famous life.

  "She's a star, and I, compared to her, am nothing."

  Still, he kept living.

  Living in a job he hated.

  Ran into his ex-girlfriend.

  They got back together.

  Stopped following Luna.

  Some time later, his child was about to be born.

  And Luna, on TV, announced her early retirement from music.

  On screen, Luna said, with a calm smile:

  "I thought my life was just about this: enjoying everything, having money. It's not that money doesn't bring happiness, but... I wasn't complete. I want to be myself, now. To all my fans, goodbye. Live your lives well."

  Fabio just watched.

  Didn't understand why.

  But felt that, somehow, he understood.

  Years passed.

  Fabio was now thirty-nine.

  Three children.

  Divorce had happened.

  I see my children once a week. I miss them, but I'm practically alone now.

  Life continued its inexorable march.

  One day, rummaging through old boxes, he found his old drawings.

  Among them, a character he'd created long ago: a figure with a cape and armor.

  Named "The Empty Man."

  He carefully kept the drawing.

  A pang of nostalgia in his chest.

  That night, he went to sleep with the image in his mind.

  And the dream returned.

  He was in the wheelchair.

  His body rotten again.

  The voice echoed:

  You are using her...

  ACCEPT HER.

  The masked face began to merge with Fabio's own face.

  "This is a lie!" Fabio screamed, desperate. "Just a dream! My real life is this! The people, my family, my job... I'm a human, not this armored man! This isn't me!"

  The voice laughed.

  There's no escaping what you are.

  Fabio woke up.

  "Ahh!"

  It was just another dream.

  Nothing more.

  A month passed.

  Fencer.

  He received news that he was dying.

  He rushed to his city.

  Reunited with Flavio.

  They talked a lot.

  Slept at Fencer's house. He was rich now.

  But had never married.

  One day, they went to the pool. Drank beer. Got drunk.

  That was fun.

  The next day, Flavio had to leave—his wife had returned from a trip.

  Fabio would stay one last day.

  Drinking, at night. Remembering the past. Those conversations. That strange thing with Nils.

  "Haha! That was weird. It was supernatural, I think! I never managed to find him on any other social media. And he abandoned that 'The Empty Man' story."

  Fencer laughed.

  "That was crazy... But we laughed that day. At the things he said..."

  Said Fencer, his voice hoarse and sad.

  "But I think it's true..."

  "The part about what?" asked Fabio.

  "What if this whole world is really you using a stone?"

  Fencer laughed.

  "That's impossible," said Fabio, beer in hand.

  "Yeah.. But what if it's not... That would be... cool."

  "Why would it be cool?"

  "Then my friend would be God..."

  Fabio laughed.

  Fencer's breathing began to get labored.

  "Tell me... Empty..."

  "What?" asked Fabio, looking at him, confused by the use of that name. "Fencer?"

  "My mother..."

  "Your mother?"

  "Please... Empty... I need to see... Her..."

  The breathing stopped.

  "Fencer?"

  Fabio shook his friend's body.

  No response.

  "FENCER?!"

  He screamed.

  "NURSE!"

  She came running.

  Fabio looked at his friend there. The ambulances being called.

  He realized.

  It was too late.

  Fencer died at forty.

  Liver cancer.

  The wake was simple.

  Everyone cried. Including Flavio.

  Fabio didn't.

  Didn't know why.

  Life went on.

  At forty, divorced, distant from his own children, Fabio found himself in a silent loneliness.

  One day, at the supermarket, going up the escalator, he saw her.

  Luna.

  Going down on the adjacent escalator.

  Arm in arm with a man. A small child by the hand.

  She was older. But still carried that light.

  He tried to hide. Couldn't avoid staring.

  She was going up.

  He was going down.

  The metaphor of the infinite ladder, from that day in the room with Nils, materialized in a cruel and perfect way.

  How could I remember that?

  Side by side.

  Above, Luna's happy, fulfilled life.

  Below, Fabio's silent loneliness.

  Life passed. Relentless.

  Fabio discovered he had leukemia.

  The news hit like a punch.

  With it, a question echoed day and night:

  Was this my life? I lived trapped in a single moment, in the girl I never told how much I loved. I was always like this: weak and empty.

  In his final days, now sixty-two, he went to a family party.

  Saw his children, now adults, talking in groups.

  Sat next to his ex-wife, Julia.

  "I was always an asshole, wasn't I?" he said, in a tone of confession.

  Julia looked at him. Without resentment. Only an old weariness.

  "Yes. But I believe you just never accepted yourself, Fabio."

  He smiled. A sad, grateful smile.

  "Always reading me completely."

  That life... Strange life. I never really knew my children. My wife properly. Trapped in ideas I could never let go. And the reason was more nebulous than anything. Always nebulous. Almost no one would care when I died. Just like I didn't care about them. Who will care about me?

  He was dying slowly in that hospital room, undergoing tests.

  Suddenly, the door opened.

  "I'm doing it, I'll be done soon, I—"

  And he saw him.

  "Hi, long time no see!"

  It was Nils.

  But the same Nils. Same clothes. Same age. Nothing different.

  "This is... Impossible. This isn't real... IT ISN'T!"

  "Hey, if you shout it won't be fun! Haha. Damn, so you're really going to die, and you're still stubborn, huh!"

  He said.

  "What the hell... This is impossible. Nothing is real!"

  A nurse entered the room.

  "Is everything okay?"

  She looked. Saw Nils there.

  "Oh, yes! Family friend! Right?"

  He placed his hand on Fabio's leg.

  Fabio looked with terror.

  Realizing she also saw Nils.

  "No..."

  "You get it now, dummy?" Nils laughed.

  "What... are you doing here?" asked Fabio.

  Nils smiled.

  "Are you afraid of death?" Nils asked.

  "No..."

  "Ever thought about killing yourself?"

  "Yes..."

  "Hah! Isn't it strange?! When we talk about killing ourselves! And now, when we're going to die!"

  Fabio looked with confusion and terror.

  "Tomorrow you'll die, Fabio. It'll hurt, but you'll die."

  "And you know what you'll do. You'll accept."

  Fabio kept looking. Saying nothing.

  "Of the 3... This is your story now."

  Fabio just nodded.

  "You'll do the following. You'll take the Stone of Restoration and use it."

  Fabio was confused.

  "Wait, what?"

  "You'll fight against all your friends."

  "But... Why?"

  Nils laughed.

  "Haha! 'Why,' that word is so... amazing and complex, huh?"

  He stood up. Beside Fabio, he handed him a cell phone.

  "Call her. The contact is there."

  He said, going to the door.

  "This is your first act of rebellion against your cowardice."

  He left.

  Fabio gripped the phone.

  Trembling hands. Clicked the contact.

  Called. No answer.

  Called again.

  "Hello? Who is this?"

  The voice on the other end was Luna's.

  Still melodic. But laden with years.

  "Hi, Luna. I don't think you'll remember me... from school days. My name is Fabio. We weren't really friends, but... do you still remember?"

  A long pause.

  Fabio could almost hear the noise of memories being searched.

  "I think I remember," Luna said slowly. "You were that short kid who always hung out with Fencer, right?"

  Fabio felt immense relief. Almost a laugh.

  "Exactly! I'm glad you remember. Thought you wouldn't."

  Luna laughed. A light sound.

  "I usually remember school days. Hey, tell me, Fabio. How's your life?"

  Fabio took a deep breath.

  No point in hiding.

  "I... unfortunately I'm dying of leukemia. Hahaha."

  Silence on the other end was heavy.

  "I... I'm so sorry, Fabio," Luna said, her voice softening.

  "It's okay," he replied quickly. "Just reminiscing about the past, making pointless calls. But hey, how's your life, Luna?"

  "Ah, going well. I have my husband and daughters. I was a singer, don't know if you know... and then I wanted peace. I like this peace I have now. I hope you've had peace, Fabio."

  "Peace..." Fabio repeated the word, as if tasting it. "That word brings many things to mind. Hey, Luna... When I was a kid, we were all in love with you, you know?"

  Luna laughed on the other end. A genuine sound.

  "I knew it! Hahaha, I was one of the only girls in the group. But hey... I knew about the others, but not about you. I thought you hated me."

  "Yeah," Fabio admitted, laughing too, but with a lump in his throat. "I wanted you to think that. But I liked you too... I think that was my flaw."

  Luna got serious again. Worry returned to her voice.

  "Don't say that. It was just teenage stuff."

  "Yeah, of course, Luna..." Fabio's voice grew hoarse. Emotional. "I always wanted to reach perfection. My vision of perfection, my story... was you. Everything I wrote, built, and now dismantled, was about that. This regret, this guilt, this lack of courage to act. Living in peace... Fighting... In the end, I was just... a coward. I'm sorry to tell you these things like this. It's strange what we say when we're about to die."

  Luna was silent for a moment.

  When she spoke, her voice was calmer. Softer.

  "Fabio, I'm so sorry. I don't really know how to respond... I didn't think it was at that level for anyone. Forgive me if I was insensitive before."

  "No," said Fabio, with a serenity that surprised himself. "You never were."

  He smiled. Even knowing she couldn't see.

  On the other end, Luna smiled too. Feeling the weight of that moment.

  "I hope everything works out for you, Fabio."

  Fabio felt it was now or never.

  Strength was fading.

  "Hey... Luna, before I go, can I ask you one last question?"

  At the moment of using the Stone of the Future.

  He squeezed it.

  Please, fix me.

  In his mind.

  The next day, machines beeped.

  "WE'RE LOSING HIM!" the nurse shouted.

  The children, even having never had contact with their father, cried.

  Julia cried in the background.

  Eyes fading.

  That day yesterday, before dying.

  When he finally committed his first act of courage.

  On the phone, Fabio's last words.

  His voice a final breath:

  "Luna... Is your life... good?"

  On one side, Fabio. "The Coward."

  On the other, Empty. "The Empty Man."

  One with the phone in hand.

  The other with the green stone.

  "Yes, Fabio..."

  And at the moment of squeezing the stone...

  "My life is good."

  The true reality shattered the illusion.

  Empty was back in the real world.

  Fabio's consciousness and his own merged into one.

  The experience of an entire lifetime—of regrets, unspoken loves, and weaknesses—now lived within him.

  Not as a burden.

  As a profound understanding.

  He stood up.

  His eyes, once empty, now burned with a newly forged purpose.

  Raphadun stood before him, still trying to process what had happened.

  "Where is the Stone of Restoration?" Empty asked.

  He had been there all along.

  And now, he would act.

  And back to that place.

  Luna, from another reality, stood before a simple grave.

  She was alone. Hands clasped behind her back.

  The gentle wind moved her gray hair.

  She looked at the headstone where it read:

  FABIO

  On her face, a calm and serene smile appeared.