The night began with laughter.
Rain poured against the roof like a thousand tiny drums, and the sound of thunder echoed in the distance. The wind howled through the closed window, trying to push past the glasspane. Inside the small living room, Keghan Lengard sat cross-legged on the floor beside his girlfriend, Jeyan Hartsten. The glow from their computer screens lit their faces in soft blue light, painting them like two players standing before the gates of adventure.
"Ready?" Jeyan grinned, her hands flying across the keyboard.
Keghan smirked back. "You're the one who keeps dying first, remember?"
"That was once," she argued, pretending to be offended. "And you were supposed to heal me!"
"Uh-huh," he said, laughing as he equipped his sword. "Excuses."
They were both deep into their favorite MMORPG, Realm of Everveil, a medieval fantasy world filled with dragons, kingdoms, and quests that never seemed to end. It had been their escape for years, a world where they could fight side by side, explore, and dream together. Tonight was special. It was the last night before their college finals, and even though a tropical cyclone was raging outside, they promised to finish one last raid before resting.
"Storm's getting worse," Jeyan said, glancing at the window. Lightning flashed, followed by a roar that shook the walls.
"Yeah," Keghan replied. "Let's just finish this, boss, then we'll log off."
"Deal," she said with a playful smile, tightening her ponytail.
Their characters stood at the mouth of a dark cavern, facing a massive creature, a dragon made of obsidian and flame. Its name burned across the screen: Draxxon, the Devourer of Light.
"Okay," Keghan said, cracking his fingers. "You go left, I'll draw his fire."
"You always do that," she laughed. "Trying to look cool again?"
"Maybe."
"Fine. Just don't die, hero."
The sound of battle filled the room, clashing steel, roaring fire, spells lighting up the cave. They shouted commands, cheered, and cursed when they missed. The storm outside grew louder, the rain striking the glass like thrown stones.
"Watch out!" Jeyan shouted.
"I see it-!"
Too late. The dragon's tail struck his character, sending it flying into the digital flames.
"Ha!" she laughed. "Told you not to act cool!"
Keghan groaned, leaning back. "Okay, okay, I deserved that."
Lightning flashed again, brighter than before. The lights flickered. For a second, everything went dark, then the power returned. The game loaded back into view.
"Whoa," Jeyan whispered. "That was close."
"Yeah," Keghan said, rubbing his eyes. "If the power cuts off again, I'm blaming you."
"You wouldn't dare," she said, poking his shoulder.
Their banter made the night feel safe, even with the storm raging beyond the windows. It was as if the sound of their voices and the warm light from their monitors created a small world of their own, one untouched by the chaos outside.
Her younger brother peeked from the hallway, worried. "Ate, Mom said to unplug everything! The thunder's scary!"
"Just five more minutes!" Jeyan called out. "We're almost done!"
Their mother's voice answered from the kitchen, scolding them through the storm. "Jeyan! I'm serious! Turn it off before the power-"
A deafening crack split the sky.
The entire house lit up white.
For a single heartbeat, the world went silent.
Then the thunder struck.
A surge of blue light flashed through the walls, bursting from the electrical lines, racing straight toward their room. Keghan's body stiffened as the shock filled the air. He saw Jeyan's face, eyes wide, reaching for him.
Then darkness swallowed everything.
The next thing Keghan heard was a faint and faraway voice.
"Quick! Get the stretcher!"
His body felt heavy, like he was underwater. Sirens wailed somewhere close. The scent of burnt metal and rain filled his nose. He tried to move, but his muscles wouldn't obey.
"Two lightning victims!" someone shouted. "They're both breathing, but the girl's pulse is weak!"
Jeyan.
His heart skipped. He tried to open his eyes. The world was blurry, shapes moving above him. Doctors, nurses, flashing red lights from an ambulance. He turned his head and saw her beside him on another stretcher. Her face was pale, her hair messy from the rain, her lips slightly parted.
"Jey..." he whispered, barely a sound leaving his throat.
"Sir, stay still," a nurse said, pressing him back. "You've been shocked. You're safe now."
He wanted to tell her they weren't safe. He wanted to ask if Jeyan was okay. But his words tangled, lost in the noise.
They rushed through the hospital doors. Everything was movement, wheels rolling, voices echoing, machines beeping. He could barely keep his eyes open. The fluorescent lights above blurred together into long streaks of white.
"Heart rhythm is stable," someone said near him. "He's responsive. The girl-"
A long pause.
"-coma."
That word cut through the noise.
Coma.
His vision cleared for a moment, enough to see her lying beside him on the hospital bed. Wires ran from her arms. A nurse pressed an oxygen mask over her mouth. Her mother was crying at her side, whispering prayers through shaking lips. Her brothers stood in the corner, eyes wide, holding onto a towel like it was a shield.
Keghan's throat tightened. He tried to reach for her, his fingers trembling as he lifted his hand. The distance between their beds felt endless.
"Please," he whispered. "Please, wake up..."
Her hand lay still.
The storm outside hadn't stopped. Rain hammered against the hospital windows, and lightning continued to flash, painting the room in harsh white light. He blinked through the blur of tears, staring at her face, the girl who always laughed at his terrible jokes, who always stayed up with him on late nights, who always said she'd be there no matter what.
And now, she was silent.
The doctors spoke softly, their words turning distant. He heard bits of conversation: "nerve shock," "stable," "observation," but they all melted into a low hum. The only sound that truly reached him was the slow, steady beep of her monitor.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
Each sound made his chest ache more.
He tried to speak again, but the weight in his chest grew heavier. His breathing slowed. His body trembled, and the edges of his vision began to darken.
"Sir? Stay with us!" a voice called.
He fought to keep his eyes open, but it was like a tide pulling him down. His gaze drifted back to her. Jeyan's face looked peaceful now, untouched by pain. The rise and fall of her chest was faint, but it was there.
"Don't... leave me," he whispered, his voice barely audible.
The nurse beside him squeezed his hand. "We'll take care of her. Rest now, okay? You're safe."
But he didn't feel safe.
He felt like something was slipping away, like the world itself was fading, piece by piece. The ceiling above him blurred into light. The sound of rain became a soft echo.
He used the last of his strength to reach out again, fingers brushing the air toward her bed.
He didn't reach her.
Darkness fell once more.
And this time, he didn't wake up.