The sunlight peeked through an opening in the curtain, slowly growing brighter and luring her into the waking world sooner than she was ready. Izuku always told her that she check them before bed and she always forgot. Usually, he would do it for her. That was probably why she never got it in her head to do it herself. She knew that she could rely on him.

"Wake up, love."

It was a whisper as soft as butterfly kisses pressed to her eyelids, as gentle as his fingers stroking her cheeks, as warm as his arms wrapped around her in the night.

"Not yet," Mina whispered. She pressed her eyes closed more tightly and curled into a bed, not ready to leave the sweetness of her dream. She tried to block out the small sunbeam calling out for her attention. "Just a little longer."

She could hear the soft rumble of his laugh. He was always amused by her antics in the morning. That was why he took the time out out of his day to wake her up when the alarm clock could do the same job. That was why he would press his nose into her neck to nuzzle her, why he would whisper words of love to coax her awake, why he would…

The wind blew the curtains open, allowing the full force of the sunlight to hit her. Her eyes were still closed, but the last vestige of her dream was lost. Slowly, reluctantly, wanting desperately to stave off the truth, she opened her eyes.

Izuku's shirt was clutched tightly in her hand and she immediately buried her eyes, and her tears, in the soft fabric. She stayed as still as she could, as still as Izuku had been that last day, afraid to feel the cold sheets that surrounded her. Her mind was playing tricks on her again. Every whisper was his voice, his touch, his kiss, as gentle as he ever was with her and twice as ephemeral.

Finally, the tears turned into sobs. Heavy, heaving breaths, almost screams, as she vented her misery.

"Izuku." The sound was ripped out of her. "Izuku. Izuku! IZUKU!" She couldn't do anything but repeat his name, pleading, hoping that somehow such an action would summon him from the grave and back to her side.

But it didn't.

It wouldn't. No matter how desperately she wanted, needed, him to return to her side, she was still alone. She was still here and he was never coming back.

He couldn't come back.

And Mina was left clutching desperately to the things he left behind.