Echoes of You in an Empty Room

Holding the Shadow of You

The night Prapai rescued Sky from Gun's clutches, he thought the nightmare was over. He had carried Sky in his arms, his body trembling uncontrollably, breath hitching in his throat as sobs wracked his fragile frame. Prapai whispered reassurances, holding him close, rocking him gently as if he could will away the terror gripping Sky's soul. But the night was long and unforgiving. Panic attacks tore through Sky like an unrelenting storm, one after another, leaving him breathless, choking on air, his fingers clutching at Prapai's shirt as though he would slip into an abyss if he let go.

At dawn, Prapai made a decision. He couldn't stand by and watch Sky suffer in silence. He took him to the hospital, insisting on a full check-up. Sky resisted, his body recoiling from the sterile walls, the bright lights that reminded him too much of that horrifying night. But Prapai was firm. He needed to be sure Sky was okay not just physically, but mentally. The doctors conducted their tests, their questions slicing through Sky's fragile state, his eyes darting around in panic, his breathing ragged and shallow. They assured Prapai the results would take a few days, but in the meantime, he needed to be vigilant.

Days passed, and everything seemed... normal. Or at least, Prapai convinced himself it was. Sky smiled those small, fleeting smiles that never quite reached his eyes. He cooked with Prapai, danced lightly in the kitchen, buried himself in his beloved manga. He even teased Prapai, his sarcasm slipping through like a sliver of light in a dark room. Prapai thought it was progress. Thought maybe Sky was healing, that his love was enough to anchor him back to reality.

Then the call came.

"Mr. Prapai Patthera, we need you to bring Sky's parents to the hospital immediately. His test results are in."

A chill ran down Prapai's spine. The doctor's tone was serious, urgent. He called Sky's father, his voice barely steady, his heart pounding in his chest. When they arrived at the hospital, the air felt heavy, suffocating, as though the walls themselves were closing in on them.

The doctor didn't waste time. He looked at them with solemn eyes, his voice steady but laced with gravity.

"Sky is suffering from severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and clinical depression. His condition is deteriorating at an alarming rate. We need to admit him immediately to a psychiatric ward."

The world tilted, the ground vanishing beneath Prapai's feet. He felt like he was drowning, gasping for air as the words sunk into his skin like ice.

"No," he whispered, shaking his head. "That's not possible. He's getting better. He's ..he's smiling, he's cooking, he's" His voice broke as desperation seeped through every syllable. "He's moving on."

The doctor's eyes softened with understanding, but his voice remained unwavering.

"Mr. Patthera, I understand why you think that. But what you see isn't the reality of what's happening inside him. Many patients with PTSD and severe depression mask their pain. They pretend to be okay because they don't want to burden those around them. They smile, they laugh, they go through the motions. But inside, they are falling apart. Sky is not healing he is suppressing. And if we don't intervene now, it will get worse. Much worse."

Prapai's breath hitched, his hands trembling as he gripped the edge of his seat. "No... No, he's strong. He's trying. He—he wouldn't..." His voice faltered, and his vision blurred with unshed tears.

Sky's father sat frozen beside him, his fingers digging into his thighs, his face ashen. When he finally spoke, his voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. "Doctor... how bad is it?"

The doctor sighed, his gaze filled with sorrow. "As per all our tests, Sky's mental health is critical. He is experiencing extreme psychological distress, self-destructive thoughts, and suppressed trauma that is resurfacing aggressively. At your request, we consulted some of the world's most renowned psychologists. These are the reports." He handed a thick file to Prapai and Sky's father.