In "The Vampire Prince" by Darren Shan, a poignant moment is captured when a character experiences the death of someone close to them. Over time, the individuals around her have become desensitized to repeated false alarms regarding her condition, leading to a tragic lack of awareness when her actual death occurs. This numbness creates a disconnect, resulting in her lying undisturbed for twenty minutes.

During this time, she remains calm and tranquil in the embrace of the narrator, who is left grappling with the unreality of the situation. The serene smile on her face contrasts starkly with the emotions of those around her, highlighting the painful irony of being so familiar with the warnings of death that they dismiss the real event when it finally arrives.