The scene that plays out before him is...painful to witness. Zoom is as deplorable as anyone could ever be, Paco's on his knees begging him to leave Hartley alone. And Hartley... looking so small and broken, it breaks his heart to see him like that. Even a different one, that he never knew. But, God, why does he have to see this, what good does it do for him to see this almost-final moment between them?

But there's another shift in the world as a new scene fades into view. Hartley looks worse now than he did before. Smaller. Weaker. More sad and broken. It's a vice in his chest that makes it hard to breathe. Seeing him like this, even a different version who isn't his, hurts. He wants to just gather him up and yank him out of that place and find a way to make things right again.

Cisco's heart is hammering in his chest and he's frozen until suddenly his name is ripped from his throat, "Ha-Hartley?" He can't help it, calling out to him. His voice shaking. It's too much. It's too real. Because it is real.