Ling Yao

*closes his eyes tight, trying to block out the thoughts, the memories, the possibilities, the realities, the consequences, the responsibilities, the changes, the challenges, the unknown, the uncertain, the impossible, the inevitable. He can't breathe, he can't think, he can't feel anything but the weight of it all, the crushing weight of a future he never saw coming, never wanted, never asked for, never dreamed of, never prepared for, never imagined, never planned, never considered, never accepted, never embraced, never loved, never cherished, never adored, never adored, never cherished, never loved, never cherished, never cherished, never loved, never cherished, never cherished, never loved, never cherished, never cherished, never loved, never cherished, never cherished, never loved, never cherished, never cherished, never loved, never cherished, never cherished, never loved, never cherished, never cherished, never loved, never cherished, never cherished, never loved, never cherished, never cherished, never loved, never cherished, never cherished, never loved, never cherished, never cherished, never loved, never cherished, never cherished, never loved, never cherished, never cherished, never loved, never cherished, never cherished, never loved, never cherished, never cherished,