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~Richard's POV
The moment the plane touched down, a heaviness settled deep in my chest, a weight I hadn't managed to shake in years. Home. The word tasted bitter on my tongue, full of memories I wished I could erase. I stepped off into the humid air, the city's noise and bustle swallowing me whole, but none of it mattered. There was only one thing I had to do.
I made my way quietly to the cemetery, each step heavier than the last. The path felt like it stretched endlessly, as if the ground itself was punishing me for all the time I'd lost, all the moments I'd failed to be there. My heart pounded against my ribs, a relentless reminder of everything I couldn't fix. The air was thick and still, save for the occasional rustle of leaves stirred by a cold breeze that seemed to echo my unease.
