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[url=https://youtu.be/QTEQKEoaojA][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019cda8d-313f-72ed-88d5-81590b1600eb.webp[/img][/url]

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Just before Michi gave her reply, Zassou wondered: How had she known those things? She had never had those memories, they were only for Tsubomi to know. Her earliest sensation was after falling down at the home of Tsubomi's aunt and uncle...

The final thing that Tsubomi felt was metal striking her down. She didn't even register it under the weight of her own inner turmoil. She did not feel Michi catching her, nor the sudden cessation of her breath. 

The final thing that Zassou felt was metal striking her down. She didn't even register it until well after, finding herself in a void of darkness. She did not feel the sting of the strike, nor the uncharacteristic racing of her heart.

When the flower finally attempted to bring herself to her feet, there was no solid ground on which to try. When it tried to reach out, there was no sun to feel. When it attempted to budbreak, there were no petals to open. When it tried to live, there was no life to spend.

Instead there were feelings. Feelings foreign to it, feelings it did not understand. There were images, images it did not see. There were sounds, sounds it did not hear. All of its experiences seemed to drain away into the past, or perhaps the future instead. 

The bulb began to fall from a height it had never known, to depths it had never imagined. Like a stone that had been bounced on a lake's surface and had finally lost its momentum, it was dragged down under the pressure around it. The only thing it knew was that it wasn't where it belonged.

Soon enough, scenes passed by it, fellow droplets from the same cloud that it was born from. Scenes of things it thought it might have known, scene of things that it might have come to know. They all passed by at their own pace, sometimes ahead and sometimes behind.

The cold of the wind. The smell of freshly cut grass. The weight of a hand on the head.

[color=fdc68a]"Tsubomi, what is it that you want to be when you grow up?"[/color]

[color=#0072BC]"[/color][color=#0074BE]I[/color] [color=#0079C2]t[/color][color=#007BC4]o[/color][color=#007EC6]l[/color][color=#0080C8]d[/color] [color=#0085CC]y[/color][color=#0087CE]o[/color][color=#008AD0]u[/color][color=#008CD2],[/color] [color=#0091D6]G[/color][color=#0093D8]r[/color][color=#0096DA]a[/color][color=#0098DC]n[/color][color=#009ADE]d[/color][color=#009DE0]m[/color][color=#009FE2]a[/color][color=#00A2E4],[/color] [color=#00A6E8]I[/color] [color=#00ABEC]w[/color][color=#00AEEE]a[/color][color=#00ABEC]n[/color][color=#00A9EA]t[/color] [color=#00A4E6]t[/color][color=#00A2E4]o[/color] [color=#009DE0]b[/color][color=#009ADE]e[/color] [color=#0096DA]a[/color] [color=#0091D6]p[/color][color=#008ED4]s[/color][color=#008CD2]y[/color][color=#008AD0]c[/color][color=#0087CE]h[/color][color=#0085CC]i[/color][color=#0082CA]a[/color][color=#0080C8]t[/color][color=#007EC6]r[/color][color=#007BC4]i[/color][color=#0079C2]s[/color][color=#0076C0]t[/color][color=#0074BE]![/color][color=#0072BC]"[/color]

[color=fdc68a]"That's quite the word for someone so young! And that's going to take a lot of effort and studying! Are you sure that's what you want?"[/color]

[color=#00AEEF]"[/color][color=#00AAEC]M[/color][color=#00A7E9]h[/color][color=#00A4E6]m[/color][color=#00A1E4]![/color] [color=#009BDE]I[/color] [color=#0094D9]w[/color][color=#0091D6]a[/color][color=#008ED4]n[/color][color=#008BD1]t[/color] [color=#0084CC]t[/color][color=#0081C9]o[/color] [color=#007BC4]h[/color][color=#0078C1]e[/color][color=#0075BE]l[/color][color=#0071BC]p[/color] [color=#0078C1]p[/color][color=#007BC4]e[/color][color=#007EC6]o[/color][color=#0081C9]p[/color][color=#0084CC]l[/color][color=#0088CE]e[/color] [color=#008ED4]b[/color][color=#0091D6]e[/color] [color=#0097DC]h[/color][color=#009BDE]a[/color][color=#009EE1]p[/color][color=#00A1E4]p[/color][color=#00A4E6]y[/color][color=#00A7E9]![/color][color=#00AAEC]"[/color]

[color=fdc68a]"That's the Tsubomi I know! I'm sure you'll be a great help to people some day. You already are!"[/color]

The scent of wood smoke. The sensation of wetness. The sound of thunder.

[color=39b54a]"Big Sis! Where's Peach? Did she run away again? She's scared of storms..."[/color]

[color=#0072BC]"[/color][color=#0072BC]Y[/color][color=#0073BD]e[/color][color=#0074BD]a[/color][color=#0074BE]h[/color][color=#0075BE].[/color][color=#0076BF].[/color][color=#0076C0].[/color] [color=#0078C1]S[/color][color=#0078C1]h[/color][color=#0079C2]e[/color] [color=#007AC3]i[/color][color=#007BC4]s[/color][color=#007CC4].[/color] [color=#007DC5]I[/color][color=#007EC6]'[/color][color=#007EC7]m[/color] [color=#0080C8]s[/color][color=#0081C8]u[/color][color=#0081C9]r[/color][color=#0082C9]e[/color] [color=#0083CB]s[/color][color=#0084CB]h[/color][color=#0085CC]e[/color][color=#0085CC]'[/color][color=#0086CD]s[/color] [color=#0087CE]o[/color][color=#0088CF]k[/color][color=#0089CF]a[/color][color=#0089D0]y[/color][color=#008AD0],[/color] [color=#008BD2]t[/color][color=#008CD2]h[/color][color=#008DD3]o[/color][color=#008DD3]u[/color][color=#008ED4]g[/color][color=#008FD4]h[/color][color=#0090D5]![/color] [color=#0091D6]S[/color][color=#0092D7]h[/color][color=#0092D7]e[/color][color=#0093D8]'[/color][color=#0094D8]s[/color] [color=#0095DA]a[/color] [color=#0096DB]s[/color][color=#0097DB]t[/color][color=#0098DC]r[/color][color=#0098DD]o[/color][color=#0099DD]n[/color][color=#009ADE]g[/color] [color=#009BDF]c[/color][color=#009CDF]a[/color][color=#009CE0]t[/color][color=#009DE1],[/color] [color=#009FE2]a[/color][color=#009FE2]n[/color][color=#00A0E3]d[/color] [color=#00A1E4]s[/color][color=#00A2E5]h[/color][color=#00A3E5]e[/color] [color=#00A4E6]w[/color][color=#00A5E7]o[/color][color=#00A5E8]u[/color][color=#00A6E8]l[/color][color=#00A7E9]d[/color][color=#00A7E9]n[/color][color=#00A8EA]'[/color][color=#00A9EA]t[/color] [color=#00AAEC]w[/color][color=#00ABEC]a[/color][color=#00ABED]n[/color][color=#00ACED]t[/color] [color=#00AEEF]t[/color][color=#00ADEE]o[/color] [color=#00ABED]c[/color][color=#00ABEC]o[/color][color=#00AAEC]m[/color][color=#00A9EB]e[/color] [color=#00A8EA]h[/color][color=#00A7E9]o[/color][color=#00A7E9]m[/color][color=#00A6E8]e[/color] [color=#00A5E7]a[/color][color=#00A4E6]n[/color][color=#00A3E6]d[/color] [color=#00A2E5]s[/color][color=#00A1E4]e[/color][color=#00A1E3]e[/color] [color=#009FE2]u[/color][color=#009FE2]s[/color] [color=#009DE1]s[/color][color=#009CE0]a[/color][color=#009CDF]d[/color][color=#009BDF],[/color] [color=#009ADE]r[/color][color=#0099DD]i[/color][color=#0098DD]g[/color][color=#0098DC]h[/color][color=#0097DB]t[/color][color=#0096DB]?[/color] [color=#0095DA]S[/color][color=#0094D9]o[/color] [color=#0093D8]w[/color][color=#0092D7]e[/color] [color=#0091D6]h[/color][color=#0090D6]a[/color][color=#0090D5]v[/color][color=#008FD4]e[/color] [color=#008DD3]t[/color][color=#008DD3]o[/color] [color=#008BD2]b[/color][color=#008BD1]e[/color] [color=#0089D0]s[/color][color=#0089CF]m[/color][color=#0088CF]i[/color][color=#0087CE]l[/color][color=#0087CD]i[/color][color=#0086CD]n[/color][color=#0085CC]g[/color] [color=#0084CB]f[/color][color=#0083CB]o[/color][color=#0083CA]r[/color] [color=#0081C9]h[/color][color=#0081C8]e[/color][color=#0080C8]r[/color] [color=#007EC7]t[/color][color=#007EC6]o[/color] [color=#007CC5]r[/color][color=#007CC4]e[/color][color=#007BC4]t[/color][color=#007AC3]u[/color][color=#007AC2]r[/color][color=#0079C2]n[/color] [color=#0078C1]h[/color][color=#0077C0]o[/color][color=#0076C0]m[/color][color=#0076BF]e[/color] [color=#0074BE]t[/color][color=#0074BD]o[/color][color=#0073BD]![/color][color=#0072BC]"[/color]

[color=00a651]"Right! We'll throw a party when she gets back! Come on, ███████, let's go get Mom and Dad so we can get ready for her!"[/color]

The sound of paper. The despair of helplessness. The feeling of inadequacy. 

[color=f26522]"Everything's okay, Tsubomi, your mother and I are just tired. We'll make it through okay."[/color]

[color=#00AEEF]"[/color][color=#00ACEE]D[/color][color=#00ABED]a[/color][color=#00AAEC]d[/color][color=#00A9EB],[/color] [color=#00A7E9]I[/color] [color=#00A5E7]k[/color][color=#00A3E6]n[/color][color=#00A2E5]o[/color][color=#00A1E4]w[/color] [color=#009FE2]w[/color][color=#009EE1]e[/color][color=#009DE0]'[/color][color=#009CDF]r[/color][color=#009BDE]e[/color] [color=#0098DD]r[/color][color=#0097DC]u[/color][color=#0096DB]n[/color][color=#0095DA]n[/color][color=#0094D9]i[/color][color=#0093D8]n[/color][color=#0092D7]g[/color] [color=#008FD5]t[/color][color=#008ED4]i[/color][color=#008DD3]g[/color][color=#008CD2]h[/color][color=#008BD1]t[/color] [color=#0089CF]o[/color][color=#0088CE]n[/color] [color=#0085CC]m[/color][color=#0084CC]o[/color][color=#0083CB]n[/color][color=#0082CA]e[/color][color=#0081C9]y[/color][color=#0080C8].[/color] [color=#007EC6]T[/color][color=#007DC5]h[/color][color=#007BC4]e[/color][color=#007AC3]r[/color][color=#0079C2]e[/color][color=#0078C1]'[/color][color=#0077C0]s[/color] [color=#0075BE]g[/color][color=#0074BD]o[/color][color=#0073BC]t[/color] [color=#0073BC]t[/color][color=#0074BD]o[/color] [color=#0076BF]b[/color][color=#0077C0]e[/color] [color=#0079C2]a[/color] [color=#007BC4]w[/color][color=#007DC5]a[/color][color=#007EC6]y[/color] [color=#0080C8]I[/color] [color=#0082CA]c[/color][color=#0083CB]a[/color][color=#0084CC]n[/color] [color=#0087CD]h[/color][color=#0088CE]e[/color][color=#0089CF]l[/color][color=#008AD0]p[/color][color=#008BD1]![/color] [color=#008DD3]I[/color] [color=#008FD5]c[/color][color=#0091D6]o[/color][color=#0092D7]u[/color][color=#0093D8]l[/color][color=#0094D9]d[/color] [color=#0096DB]g[/color][color=#0097DC]e[/color][color=#0098DD]t[/color] [color=#009BDE]a[/color] [color=#009DE0]p[/color][color=#009EE1]a[/color][color=#009FE2]r[/color][color=#00A0E3]t[/color][color=#00A1E4]-[/color][color=#00A2E5]t[/color][color=#00A3E6]i[/color][color=#00A5E7]m[/color][color=#00A6E8]e[/color] [color=#00A8EA]j[/color][color=#00A9EB]o[/color][color=#00AAEC]b[/color][color=#00ABED]![/color][color=#00ACEE]"[/color]

[color=f26522]"You're too young to worry about money. Just focus on doing well in school and staying healthy. That's more than enough."[/color]

The pulse of music. The vibrations of shaken water. The glow of sun on the sidewalk.

[color=ec008c]"Kid, whatever this stuff is, it's a gold mine! You just keep making it, and I promise that you'll never worry about money again!"[/color]

The taste of iron. The tiredness of worn muscles. The pain of cracked bone.

[color=662d91]"Are you okay? That Miseria nearly got you. Looks like it already got some others... If only I got here sooner..."[/color]

The scenes stopped falling, hanging midair as the bud fell deeper. 

[color=9a8c9a]"Most good deeds don’t involve going into venues you’re too young for, peddling products you have no business selling, in an attempt to help people you don’t understand."[/color]

[color=#0072BC]"[/color][color=#0072BC]N[/color][color=#0073BD]o[/color][color=#0074BD]b[/color][color=#0074BE]o[/color][color=#0075BF]d[/color][color=#0076BF]y[/color] [color=#0077C0]e[/color][color=#0078C1]v[/color][color=#0079C2]e[/color][color=#0079C2]r[/color] [color=#007BC3]u[/color][color=#007CC4]n[/color][color=#007CC5]d[/color][color=#007DC5]e[/color][color=#007EC6]r[/color][color=#007FC7]s[/color][color=#007FC7]t[/color][color=#0080C8]a[/color][color=#0081C8]n[/color][color=#0081C9]d[/color][color=#0082CA]s[/color] [color=#0084CB]a[/color][color=#0084CB]n[/color][color=#0085CC]y[/color][color=#0086CD]o[/color][color=#0086CD]n[/color][color=#0087CE]e[/color][color=#0088CF].[/color] [color=#0089D0]I[/color][color=#008AD0]f[/color] [color=#008CD2]a[/color][color=#008CD2]l[/color][color=#008DD3]l[/color] [color=#008ED4]y[/color][color=#008FD5]o[/color][color=#0090D5]u[/color] [color=#0091D7]c[/color][color=#0092D7]a[/color][color=#0093D8]n[/color] [color=#0094D9]d[/color][color=#0095DA]o[/color] [color=#0096DB]i[/color][color=#0097DB]s[/color] [color=#0099DD]s[/color][color=#0099DD]w[/color][color=#009ADE]i[/color][color=#009BDF]m[/color][color=#009BDF],[/color] [color=#009DE0]y[/color][color=#009EE1]o[/color][color=#009EE2]u[/color][color=#009FE2]'[/color][color=#00A0E3]l[/color][color=#00A0E3]l[/color] [color=#00A2E5]f[/color][color=#00A3E5]i[/color][color=#00A3E6]n[/color][color=#00A4E7]d[/color] [color=#00A6E8]a[/color] [color=#00A7E9]w[/color][color=#00A8EA]a[/color][color=#00A8EA]y[/color] [color=#00AAEB]t[/color][color=#00ABEC]o[/color] [color=#00ACED]b[/color][color=#00ADEE]e[/color] [color=#00ADEE]i[/color][color=#00ACED]n[/color] [color=#00ABEC]t[/color][color=#00AAEB]h[/color][color=#00A9EB]e[/color] [color=#00A8EA]w[/color][color=#00A7E9]a[/color][color=#00A6E8]t[/color][color=#00A6E8]e[/color][color=#00A5E7]r[/color][color=#00A4E7].[/color] [color=#00A3E5]L[/color][color=#00A2E5]i[/color][color=#00A1E4]m[/color][color=#00A0E3]i[/color][color=#00A0E3]t[/color][color=#009FE2]i[/color][color=#009EE2]n[/color][color=#009EE1]g[/color] [color=#009CE0]y[/color][color=#009BDF]o[/color][color=#009BDF]u[/color][color=#009ADE]r[/color][color=#0099DD]s[/color][color=#0099DD]e[/color][color=#0098DC]l[/color][color=#0097DB]f[/color] [color=#0096DA]t[/color][color=#0095DA]o[/color] [color=#0093D8]o[/color][color=#0093D8]n[/color][color=#0092D7]l[/color][color=#0091D7]y[/color] [color=#0090D5]w[/color][color=#008FD5]h[/color][color=#008ED4]a[/color][color=#008ED3]t[/color] [color=#008CD2]o[/color][color=#008CD2]t[/color][color=#008BD1]h[/color][color=#008AD0]e[/color][color=#0089D0]r[/color][color=#0089CF]s[/color] [color=#0087CE]s[/color][color=#0086CD]a[/color][color=#0086CD]y[/color] [color=#0084CB]y[/color][color=#0084CB]o[/color][color=#0083CA]u[/color] [color=#0081C9]c[/color][color=#0081C8]a[/color][color=#0080C8]n[/color] [color=#007FC7]d[/color][color=#007EC6]o[/color] [color=#007CC5]w[/color][color=#007CC4]i[/color][color=#007BC3]l[/color][color=#007AC3]l[/color] [color=#0079C2]k[/color][color=#0078C1]i[/color][color=#0077C0]l[/color][color=#0077C0]l[/color] [color=#0075BF]y[/color][color=#0074BE]o[/color][color=#0074BD]u[/color][color=#0073BD].[/color][color=#0072BC]"[/color]

[color=9a8c9a]"Who could have done something to stop this?"[/color]

[color=#00AEEF]"[/color][color=#00ACED]A[/color][color=#00ABEC]n[/color][color=#00A9EB]y[/color][color=#00A8E9]o[/color][color=#00A6E8]n[/color][color=#00A5E7]e[/color] [color=#00A2E4]w[/color][color=#00A0E3]h[/color][color=#009FE2]o[/color] [color=#009CDF]t[/color][color=#009ADE]r[/color][color=#0099DD]i[/color][color=#0097DB]e[/color][color=#0096DA]d[/color] [color=#0093D8]c[/color][color=#0091D6]o[/color][color=#0090D5]u[/color][color=#008ED4]l[/color][color=#008DD2]d[/color] [color=#008AD0]h[/color][color=#0088CF]a[/color][color=#0087CD]v[/color][color=#0085CC]e[/color] [color=#0082CA]s[/color][color=#0081C8]u[/color][color=#007FC7]c[/color][color=#007EC6]c[/color][color=#007CC4]e[/color][color=#007BC3]e[/color][color=#0079C2]d[/color][color=#0078C1]e[/color][color=#0076BF]d[/color][color=#0075BE].[/color] [color=#0072BB]A[/color][color=#0073BD]n[/color][color=#0075BE]y[/color][color=#0076BF]o[/color][color=#0078C1]n[/color][color=#0079C2]e[/color] [color=#007CC4]w[/color][color=#007EC6]h[/color][color=#007FC7]o[/color] [color=#0082CA]w[/color][color=#0084CB]a[/color][color=#0085CC]n[/color][color=#0087CD]t[/color][color=#0088CF]e[/color][color=#008AD0]d[/color] [color=#008DD2]t[/color][color=#008ED4]o[/color] [color=#0091D6]c[/color][color=#0093D8]o[/color][color=#0094D9]u[/color][color=#0096DA]l[/color][color=#0097DB]d[/color] [color=#009ADE]h[/color][color=#009CDF]a[/color][color=#009DE0]v[/color][color=#009FE2]e[/color] [color=#00A2E4]f[/color][color=#00A3E6]a[/color][color=#00A5E7]i[/color][color=#00A6E8]l[/color][color=#00A8E9]e[/color][color=#00A9EB]d[/color][color=#00ABEC].[/color][color=#00ACED]"[/color]

The sound of shattering glass. The feeling of tearing paper. The sound of a raindrop.

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[color=00aeef]Die![/color]

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[color=0072bc]Die![/color]

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There was an emptiness, somewhere. An emptiness that was filled with more nothingness as it grew. A river with no water, on which flower petals were afloat. They drifted ever onward, desperate to feel a sun they would never reach.

We eat life to live, a ravenous need to continue driving us to end the needs of others. 

Even flowers need nutrients, the corpses of others serving to let them grow. 

Even when its leaves are torn away, it will thirst still for the light.

You have to cut the roots to kill the weeds. 

You have to kill the cat to bring it back.

And something has to die to be reborn.

The twins found themselves staring at each other. One, a rose by another name. The other, a daffodil that bore no narcissism. 

The flower spoke, [color=#0072BC]"[/color][color=#0074BD]I[/color][color=#0076BF]f[/color] [color=#007AC3]o[/color][color=#007DC5]n[/color][color=#007FC7]l[/color][color=#0081C9]y[/color] [color=#0086CC]y[/color][color=#0088CE]o[/color][color=#008AD0]u[/color] [color=#008ED4]w[/color][color=#0091D6]e[/color][color=#0093D8]r[/color][color=#0095DA]e[/color][color=#0097DC]n[/color][color=#009ADD]'[/color][color=#009CDF]t[/color] [color=#00A0E3]a[/color][color=#00A2E5]r[/color][color=#00A5E7]o[/color][color=#00A7E9]u[/color][color=#00A9EB]n[/color][color=#00ABED]d[/color][color=#00AEEE],[/color] [color=#00A9EB]n[/color][color=#00A7E9]o[/color][color=#00A5E7]b[/color][color=#00A2E5]o[/color][color=#00A0E3]d[/color][color=#009EE1]y[/color][color=#009CDF]'[/color][color=#009ADD]d[/color] [color=#0095DA]h[/color][color=#0093D8]a[/color][color=#0091D6]v[/color][color=#008ED4]e[/color] [color=#008AD0]t[/color][color=#0088CE]o[/color] [color=#0083CB]s[/color][color=#0081C9]u[/color][color=#007FC7]f[/color][color=#007DC5]f[/color][color=#007AC3]e[/color][color=#0078C1]r[/color][color=#0076BF].[/color][color=#0074BD]"[/color]

And the flower listened, [color=#00AEEF]"[/color][color=#00ACED]I[/color][color=#00AAEB]f[/color] [color=#00A6E8]o[/color][color=#00A4E6]n[/color][color=#00A2E4]l[/color][color=#00A0E3]y[/color] [color=#009CDF]I[/color] [color=#0098DC]w[/color][color=#0096DA]e[/color][color=#0094D8]r[/color][color=#0092D7]e[/color][color=#0090D5]n[/color][color=#008ED3]'[/color][color=#008CD2]t[/color] [color=#0088CE]a[/color][color=#0086CD]r[/color][color=#0084CB]o[/color][color=#0082C9]u[/color][color=#0080C7]n[/color][color=#007EC6]d[/color][color=#007CC4],[/color] [color=#0078C1]y[/color][color=#0076BF]o[/color][color=#0074BD]u[/color][color=#0072BC]'[/color][color=#0074BD]d[/color] [color=#0078C1]b[/color][color=#007AC2]e[/color] [color=#007EC6]t[/color][color=#0080C7]h[/color][color=#0082C9]e[/color] [color=#0086CD]o[/color][color=#0088CE]n[/color][color=#008AD0]l[/color][color=#008CD2]y[/color] [color=#0090D5]o[/color][color=#0092D7]n[/color][color=#0094D8]e[/color] [color=#0098DC]s[/color][color=#009ADE]u[/color][color=#009CDF]f[/color][color=#009EE1]f[/color][color=#00A0E3]e[/color][color=#00A2E4]r[/color][color=#00A4E6]i[/color][color=#00A6E8]n[/color][color=#00A8E9]g[/color][color=#00AAEB].[/color][color=#00ACED]"[/color]

Neither knew what the other's appearance. Neither knew the other's voice. Neither knew the other's feelings.

Neither knew their own appearance. Neither knew their own voice. Neither knew their own feelings.

The two blindly flailed through the dark, through life, until they struck something. Only then would they wonder what they wanted. 

Neither knew what the other wanted. Neither knew what they themselves wanted. 

Finally, one stopped flailing. It was satisfied. 

Finally, one stopped flailing. It was not satisfied.

The light was enough. 

It was enough for a lifetime. 

It was enough for now. 

One reached for the light while the other stopped reaching.

It was not enough for either.

---

Tsubomi did not awaken when Kiyo and Haruna did. She did not awaken when Roche and Shuuko did. She did not awaken when Suki did. 

Instead she lay still, stiller than stone. Her body was not sure that it was breathing, its inhale and exhale too faint. Her body did not know if its heart was beating, its rhythm too slow, too faint. But it was alive. It lived on, regardless. It kept existing, despite everything.

It did not know how long that would continue.