It couldn't be true. It was simply not possible that the infallible Sherlock Holmes could be brought to his knees by a mere gun, despite knowing the damage such weapons could cause. He fell as if in slow motion, taking an eternity to hit the ground. I stood in shock as his body met the floor, blood pooling in and around the gaping wound in his chest. His eyes met mine before they closed. I saw hurt, anguish, and something else, something unidentifiable, in his gaze. Then I saw those brilliant eyes dim.
I roared and lunged at the man who had done this to my greatest friend. I had completely forgotten the revolver in my pocket; I was too overcome with fury to see anything besides the man's face underneath my fists. I am told that I beat him within an inch of his life; the police, when they finally arrived, pulled me off of him in time to save his life. He was taken away, straight to the jailhouse, while I sunk down beside the still form of Sherlock.
His eyes were still closed. No breath issued from his lips. His heart did not beat. I refused to believe that he was gone; any moment he was to open his eyes and berate me for worrying over him. It was simply impossible for him to be gone; it would be akin to the sun falling out of the sky. I removed my jacket and held it to his wound to staunch the blood still sluggishly flowing from it and attempted to revive him, to no avail. Sherlock Holmes was dead. The greatest mind ever to have graced the earth was gone, and I was left, an unworthy candidate for living.
I do not remember the hours that followed the capture of the man who murdered Holmes. I seem to have disappeared within my own mind, where Sherlock was still alive and well. I removed myself from the world. I would not eat, not speak, until Holmes' funeral was announced. I dressed myself in the customary black ensemble expected at gatherings such as these and stood by Holmes' casket as he was lowered into the ground.
"Do not worry, old boy," I whispered to myself. "I shall be joining you soon." I tossed a single red rose upon his casket and walked away.