The darkness chokes him, suffocating his very thoughts. He couldn’t bring himself to breathe the foul air, and he hit the ground in pain, his lungs stretching and yearning for any air—

“Are you there?”

He silently screamed, but his thoughts remained within his own mind,

“Are you there?”

The voice was echoing, resounding throughout his very soul.

I’m right here, he wanted to say, I’m right here.

“Are you there?”

The voice sounded heartbroken. He reached towards it.

“Are you there?”

He couldn’t let go of the feeling he knew that voice.

“Are you there?”

He opened his eyes into that blackness, but could not see anything.

“Are you there?”

And then it was quiet, only the silent burning of his broken heart reminded him of that torn voice.