Slowly, tubes are removed and tape is torn off to reveal that tattoo, that confident green dragon. Faded, familiar, and for the first time, ephemeral His glasses rest on his nose once again and he looks as if he could wake up right now. But he won’t. He has only returned for this moment to see us off. I want to remain separate, but they don’t let me. My hand is placed on his bare chest, over the eyes of the dragon and as green leaks between my fingers, I feel him breathe clearly, for the first time in hours. He begins with breaths of fire but with the minutes they become slower and softer until a point comes where I’m no longer sure if they’re still there. I listen closely for them still.
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