---
The journey home felt heavy. Confusion clouded my mind.
"What was that all about? I'm sure those two were involved in that incident," I muttered to myself. The weird feeling kept haunting me all the way.
I stopped for a moment when I passed a quiet alley. It was already midnight, and most people must have been sound asleep. The dim street lights flickered, accompanying the sound of my footsteps echoing in the silence.
My thoughts drifted to the bitter life I had to endure. Drowning in debt, losing my parents when I was still a baby, making my life feel like it's always on the edge. I've been poor since I was little, and the only person who's always been there for me is my aunt. She's the only one who extends a hand every time I fall, the one who comforts me whenever sadness and despair come knocking.
*Ring ring*
The sound of my phone ringing snapped me out of my thoughts. I picked it up, and a woman's voice came from the other end.
"Hello?"
"Is this the family of Lee Chung-ae?" she asked, her voice soft but unfamiliar.
"Yes, that's right. What's the matter?"
...
I immediately ran as fast as I could to the hospital, panic taking over my whole being.
"No... This can't be happening," I muttered, almost in disbelief. My breath quickened as the hospital came into view. Without wasting any time, I rushed through the gate and ran to the room the nurse had mentioned on the phone.
"AUNT!" My shout echoed through the hospital hallway. The door to the room opened, and my eyes immediately locked onto my aunt's frail figure lying on the bed. Her face was pale, but she still tried to give me a warm smile.
"Donghyun... Lee Donghyun," she called softly. Her voice was full of warmth, even though her body looked so fragile.
"Auntie..." My voice caught in my throat, I tried hard to hold back the tears welling up in my eyes.
"Come closer," she whispered in a barely audible voice. I stepped closer, looking at her pale face, dry lips, and labored breathing.
"Lee Donghyun... Can you live on your own without me?" she asked in a raspy voice, her smile lingering even though I knew she was struggling hard to endure the pain.
"N-no... Don't say that," I shook my head, my face full of worry and fear. I couldn't bear the thought of losing the only person who's always been there for me, the only person who loves me.
"Auntie... No matter the cost, I'll pay it. I can do it!" I exclaimed, trying to convince myself more than anyone else.
But Auntie just shook her head slowly, her smile growing weaker. I grew more anxious, my mind filled with thoughts of the massive hospital bills.
"It's okay, Donghyun. You don't need to worry," she said softly, as if trying to ease my anxiety.
"W-what do you mean it's okay!? Auntie's lying here... Now it's my turn to help you," I said, my voice trembling more and more, unable to hold back the tears that started to flow.
Auntie just widened her smile a little more, a smile so warm, but it couldn't calm my heart at all.
"In the name of Lee Donghyun?" someone suddenly interrupted our moment. I turned to see a doctor standing at the door.
"Yes, that's me, Sir," I replied, approaching him with heavy steps.
"Here," the doctor said as he handed me a piece of paper. My eyes scanned it quickly. Chronic kidney failure, for a year, and her condition has worsened.
"Why... why didn't Auntie tell me?" I whispered to myself, disbelief and pain starting to overwhelm my mind.
The cold hospital corridor felt even emptier as I rushed back to Auntie's room, running as fast as I could.
Tears kept streaming down my face, my heart shattered, and the fear of losing the only person I had left made it hard to breathe. As soon as I entered, I hugged Auntie tightly, unable to hold back my sobs any longer. My life felt like a never-ending curse, like a punishment for some great sin I never knew.
---
Two days passed.
I was now alone in my quiet apartment, surrounded by darkness. Only the light from my laptop screen illuminated the room. I stared at the screen for hours, but my fingers seemed to have lost the will to type. All the drafts and chapters just sat there, unread, with no intention of continuing them.
Losing Auntie had truly broken me. I had no one left in this world, and all the bad luck that had befallen me made me feel like life wasn't worth living anymore. The mounting debts, the countless hospital bills, it all felt too heavy on my shoulders.
I decided to go out, to get some fresh air.
But my steps were aimless. I walked with no direction, my mind filled with endless disappointment and sadness. The rain started pouring down, drenching my body that was without an umbrella. I didn't care, just kept walking without a purpose, as if my life had no meaning anymore.
In my heart, I knew, even though being a writer was the only thing I had, it wouldn't bring me happiness. The main character in my novel was the opposite of me. He was always lucky, loved by everyone around him, and always received the affection I never felt. I created that character with the hope that one day I could be like him. But reality was far from what I had hoped for.
"If only..."
I kept walking, not realizing I was now in the middle of the road. The traffic light was still green, and the sound of car horns suddenly filled my ears.
*"BEEPP!!!! BEEPPP!!!"*
"HEY, KID!!! GET OFF THE ROAD!"
The shouts of people could be heard around me, but no one came close to help. I just stood there, wanting everything to end. Wanting to die, so that all this bad luck wouldn't follow me anymore.
In the midst of the chaos, my eyes caught sight of two familiar figures. Two people with beautiful faces, golden hair, and wings behind their heads, looking so majestic. They just stared at me with blank faces, no expression.
A car speeding toward me, its horn blaring louder, but I didn't move, letting fate take its course. The rain poured harder, making the asphalt slippery, and the car got closer.
"Just a bit more..."
I spread my arms, surrendering to the fate that awaited me.
And...
"THUD!!"
...
I opened my eyes, staring at a plain white ceiling with bright lights above it.