Glass Hearts [BL] Chapter 178: How Do I Say Goodbye[Dominic’s POV]

I woke up with the worst headache of my life. Not the kind sleep can fix.

The kind that cos from a heart that refuses to believe what my brain already knows.

Ash was curled up on the floor beside the bed, his arm tucked under his head like he’d just collapsed there waiting for , watching over . Like always.

My chest twisted.

I don’t deserve him. Not after everything. He’s already endured too much because of ....every fight, every rumor, every ss I dragged him into. And still, he stays. Still, he chooses .

And now Liam’s gone.

Every ti I think about him, my chest feels like soone’s crushing from the inside out.

He was the first person I rode a bike with, the first person who taught how to cheat in tests and laughed when we got caught. He wasn’t just my bestfriend. He was my brother before I even understood what that word ant.

And today... I have to let him go.

How do you say goodbye to soone who’s been with you your whole life?

I sat there, staring at Ash’s sleeping face, and it hit all over again. The unfairness of it. The cruelty. Liam should be here, alive, cracking so dumb joke about how I was a terrible boyfriend to Ash. He should be here.

But he’s not. And I don’t know how I’m supposed to stand over his coffin and accept that.

My chest caved in, and I pressed a fist hard against it, like maybe I could stop the ache if I just pushed hard enough. But it didn’t stop. It kept clawing at , ripping through , over and over.

God, I miss him.

I lifted Ash from the floor and placed him gently on the bed.

I tucked him onto the bed, pulling the blanket over him. His face looked so tense even in sleep. He stayed out late, chasing after , carrying all my ss like it’s his to bear.

Everyone I love looks tired, broken.

My phone buzzed. The screen lit up with ssages stacked on top of each other....Ian, Ren, Casper, Jasper. And Diane. God, Diane. Nearly a thousand texts.

She must be so angry. She has every right to be. If she tells Dad what happened... I don’t even know. I can’t let more of the people I love drown in this.

I have to fix it. I have to make it right.

I opened my inbox, and there it was....the CCTV footage from the hospital the night Liam died. The one I’d begged security for. The one I prayed might give answers.

My hands trembled as I pressed play.

A hallway flickered to life.

It was empty, silent.

Nothing.

Then my eyes caught the tistamp. My stomach dropped.

The footage was looping.

It had been tampered with.

Sobody didn’t just take Liam from . They erased the truth.

"Fuck," I whispered, clenching my teeth so hard.

That’s when Ash eyes fluttered open.

His hair stuck out in every direction, his eyes were swollen from barely sleeping.

He sat up slowly, and for a mont just... stared at .

"Dom," he whispered. "How are you... holding up?"

The question cracked sothing inside . My chest tightened. I forced myself to swallow, to nod, even though the answer was written all over my face.

I opened my mouth, but nothing ca. Just a shaky breath.

He reached for my hand, his fingers brushed mine. "Are you gonna be okay?"

I wanted to say yes. I wanted to lie, just to stop the worry in his eyes. But all I managed was a weak, "I don’t know."

He squeezed my hand once before letting go, as if to say.

"I should get going," I muttered, clearing my throat. "Diane texted, she already set out my suit. I need to head back, get ready."

Ash nodded. "Send the location when you leave, okay? I’ll et you there."

"You don’t have to..."

"I do," he cut in gently. "I want to be there. I just... I need to check on Alia first, then I’m coming straight to you."

Even in the middle of my ss, he was still carrying everyone else’s weight. Still thinking about everyone but himself.

I leaned forward, pulling him into my arms.

His body lted against mine instantly, his arms wrapped tight around .

"I’m scared," I whispered into his hair. The words slipped out before I could stop them.

His hand slid up my back. "I know," he murmured. "But you don’t have to do it alone. I’ll be there."

We stayed like that too long, clinging like we both knew the second I let go the day would crash over .

When we finally pulled apart, my fingers lingered on his wrist like I wasn’t ready to let go. "I’ll see you there," I whispered.

He gave a small, sad smile. "I’ll be right behind you."

....

The cab ride felt endless.

At first, I kept staring out the window, watching the city move like nothing had happened. People walking dogs. Shops opening. Laughter spilling from a group of kids. The world looked alive.

I pressed my forehead against the cool glass. My hand found my chest like I could press down on the ache, but it only throbbed harder.

mories kept flooding in. The way he shoved into the pool at his thirteenth birthday. How he always had a joke ready, even when I was falling apart. How he teased about my music taste. That stupid victory dance he did every ti we won a hockey ga.

Now today I had to look at a coffin.

How do you bury the first person you ever trusted with your whole heart? How do you bury the one person who always pulled you back when you went too far?

I bit my lip so hard, but the tears still fell anyway.

I wasn’t ready.

I’d never be ready.

Because Liam wasn’t supposed to be gone.