After they finished eating, the room fell into a comfortable quiet. The fire had died down to soft embers, and only the faint chirping of crickets filled the air. Evelise's eyes drifted toward Sid's right knee. Even though it was now wrapped tightly, she could still see the faint swelling beneath the fabric. Her expression softened.

"You know…"

She began quietly, breaking the silence,

"whatever happened to your leg must have been something brutal."

She hesitated, choosing her words carefully.

"I can tell you don't want to relive it, but… you're still not over it, are you?"

Sid froze, his spoon still halfway to his mouth.

"What makes you say that?"

Evelise sighed, resting her elbows on her knees.

"Because you talk in your sleep. You cry. You sweat like you're fighting for your life again."

Her gaze turned sharp.

"You think I wouldn't notice? You act tough, but at night, you sound like someone trapped in a nightmare."

Sid looked away, embarrassed.

"Damn. Didn't think I was that loud."

"You were. Whatever it is, you've been carrying it for too long."

"Guess I can't hide anything from you, huh?"

"No,"

Evelise said, crossing her arms.

"And don't think I didn't notice your stash of painkillers either. You keep taking those things like candy. If you keep it up, you'll end up overdosing. One more bottle and you're done for, Sid— literally.

Sid chuckled dryly, eyes lowering to the floor.

"Yeah, about that…"

He paused for a moment before saying softly,

"I already did."

Evelise blinked.

"What?"

"I'm not from this world,"

Sid said slowly.

"I'm not… one of you. I died in another world before waking up here."

Her ears twitched, but she didn't look shocked.

"I know."

Sid's eyes widened.

"Wait—you what? You knew?"

Evelise shrugged slightly, her expression unreadable.

"You never told me. But I figured it out. You act different. You talk different. even the way you talk about technology — it's not from here. Besides… I used to be the mayor's daughter in law. I knew every registered citizen in this city. You weren't one of them."

Sid's face froze.

"Hold up. Daughter-in-law?"

He stared at her.

"Wait— don't tell me that groom I killed in the church— the one with the fancy suit—"

Evelise nodded, her voice calm but heavy.

"Yes. You killed my husband. The mayor's son."

Sid blinked, then… grinned.

"Well, damn. Guess I finally crossed something off my bucket list."

"What are you even talking about?"

"I've always wanted to kill a mayor's son. Back in my world, the last one I met was a total asshole. Guess I finally got my chance of killing some rich brat who thought he owned the world."

She groaned, shaking her head in disbelief.

"You're unbelievable. You killed my husband and you're actually smiling about it."

"Hey, you called me a dumbass earlier. I'm just living up to expectations."

Her glare softened slightly, but only for a second.

"You know, someone like you doesn't just die by accident. You're strong, fast, too capable to just… drop dead. So tell me, Sid— how did you die?"

Sid's smile faded. He stared at the floor, his voice quieter now.

"Honestly… I'm not sure. I remember playing this game— Dead World. Then out of nowhere, my body started shaking. I couldn't breathe. My vision went white, and then… nothing."

Evelise's expression darkened as she pieced it together.

"You had a seizure."

"A what?"

She looked straight at him.

"You overdosed. The painkillers— you took too many trying to numb your pain. Your body gave out. That's why you are here now."

For once, Sid couldn't say anything. His usual grin faltered, replaced by quiet disbelief. He sat still, staring into the fire as the realization sank in. Evelise looked away, her voice soft.

"You didn't just want to stop the pain in your knee… you wanted to stop the pain in your heart too, didn't you?"

Sid gave a faint, broken laugh.

"Guess you really can read me like a book. Argh… this is embarrassing."

Her eyes lingered on Sid's half-smile— the kind that tried too hard to look fine but only showed how tired he really was. She sighed, leaning back with her arms crossed.

"You're an idiot, you know that?"

Sid blinked and looked up at her.

"Wow, that's the warmest comfort I've ever gotten. Thanks, doc."

"I'm serious. You think painkillers can erase everything? You killed yourself just because you couldn't face it. That's not brave, that's pathetic."

Evelise didn't stop there. Her words came fast, like gunfire.

"You think dying fixes anything? You asshole! Men like you, who think they can handle everything alone, are full of crap! You've been given a second chance— to live, to be someone's hope, my hope and you're throwing it away by overdosing again?! Hell no! I'll burn every damn bottle I find if I have to! Don't you dare take another pill, because I'll fix that knee myself if it kills me! You hear me!?"

Sid looked up, surprised. Her voice had cracked on that last sentence.

"Eve?"

She turned away quickly, hiding her face behind her hair.

"Don't call me that. And don't look at me like that either."

Sid smiled faintly.

"You're crying for me, huh?"

"I'm not crying!"

She snapped, sniffling under her breath.

"It's the smoke. The fire's making my eyes sting, idiot."

He chuckled softly, rubbing his neck.

"Thanks… You're right. I was given a second chance, and wasting it like that was stupid. I'll fight my pain the right way this time."

Evelise fell quiet for a moment before her voice softened, trembling with emotion.

"You've given me a reason to live again, Sid. You don't know this, but I chose to die. When the outbreak began, when the zombies broke free during our wedding— I was… happy."

Her lips quivered, her gaze unfocused as she relived it.

"I saw them attack the people who had wronged me, and one by one, they turned. I won't lie. Watching them suffer felt… satisfying."

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