After finishing his shift, Gabriel headed to the clinic for his therapy session.
When he entered, the assistant immediately recognized him and guided him to the psychologist’s room.

The doctor was waiting patiently, sitting in his chair. Gabriel lay back on the couch, his eyes blank, his breathing heavy. The session began.

"So, Gabriel… how have the past few days been?" the doctor asked, voice calm as always.

"Strange," Gabriel replied after a pause. "Things have been strange, to say the least."

"Strange how?"

He hesitated, then said softly,
"My daughter came to me asking for advice. She’s going through a hard time… and for the first time in years, we actually talked."

The doctor smiled faintly.
"That’s good news. I’m glad your relationship with her is improving. And have you had any dark thoughts lately? Any feelings blocking your emotions?"

As Gabriel spoke, the doctor’s thoughts wandered.
‘It seems the medication isn’t working. Should I increase the dosage? No… maybe this should be his last session. The poor guy’s been suffering for too long — sleepless nights, constant anxiety… he deserves peace.’

Gabriel nodded.
"Yes."

"Could you tell me more about it?"

"I find peace in my own solitude," Gabriel began, his voice trembling. "But that’s because I’m a terrible person, doctor. I’ve never done anything truly good in my life. I was a horrible father, son, friend, cousin, grandson… a failure in every way."

Tears welled up in his eyes.
"I’m a disappointment — a man who’s both happy and sad when someone gets close. I push people away for their own good because I can’t even maintain my own mask. I’m alone because I deserve to be. Because I’m the worst kind of person there is."

The doctor said nothing. There was nothing left to say.
In that silence, he understood — this would be Gabriel’s final session.

Gabriel kept talking, pouring everything out. Every wound, every regret. It was as if he were a lost son confessing to a father who couldn’t save him.

When he finished, the doctor finally spoke, his voice quiet but firm.
"Gabriel… you still have a chance to change. You’re only twenty-seven. There’s still time for a different life."

Gabriel smiled faintly — a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
He stood, thanked the doctor, and left.

Outside, he put on his headphones and played his favorite song.
Each step echoed in rhythm with the music.

Flashes of memories came and went — people’s faces, laughter, tears.
He passed by Bruno, who waved with a forced smile. Bruno’s wife — Elisa — pulled him back before he could approach.

Every step felt lighter.
Every breath, freer.

"Freedom," he whispered.

‘I finally understand my purpose in this life…’

He climbed onto the bridge’s railing, staring down at the rushing river below.
Cars passed. People slowed, watching.

‘To surrender myself to the darkness… to the abyss… that’s where I’ll find my freedom.’

The wind pulled at his clothes, howling in his ears.
He closed his eyes, smiled — and jumped.

The world blurred.
Water crashed against him, cold and consuming. The music in his ears faded into silence.

His lungs filled with air and water alike, light and dark blending into one. Then, everything stopped.

Silence.

A faint glow pierced the void. He opened his eyes, drifting upward. A small figure appeared within the light — a girl, running toward it.

"Runa!" he shouted, reaching out.

Something warm touched his hand. Voices echoed faintly.
"Look, Poul — our boy opened his eyes!"

‘I… was reborn?!’