At the Funeral
The funeral was crowded, yet there were no tears. Some whispered among themselves, while others smiled. It felt more like a visit than a farewell. They came, paid their respects, and left.
The boy's voice broke the silence:
"If you're wondering whose funeral this is, why no one's crying, why there are smiles instead of tears... well, that's because it's mine. I'm already dead. But you're probably wondering, why am I here? Why can you hear me but not see me? Why start from the end? Well, that's a secret I'll tell you later. But for now, let me begin the story of '7 Days of My Life.'"
He paused, glancing around, before continuing:
"Wait, hold on. Look there. I almost forgot to introduce her. Her name's Hina, and... yeah, she's beautiful."
A little annoyed, he turned back to the unseen audience:
"Hey, I'm talking to you! Why are you looking at her? She's mine! I may be dead, but she's still... well, never mind. Where was I? Oh, right. Let's begin. '7 Days of My Life.'"
He took a deep breath and continued, his tone softening:
"Before we begin, let me introduce myself. I'm Arya. 22 years old. More about me later. For now, let's get this started."
With a brief smile, he added:
"Now it's time for me to go. See you later... if possible."
He turned to leave but paused again, turning back with a frown:
"Still here? Why are you watching? I told you—she's mine.
...Wait, why am I back? Did I forget something?"
He scratched his head.
"Right, I was going to ask you something. If you knew you were going to die in a few days... what would you do?"
He smirked.
"My reaction? Hmm, never mind. Too many spoilers. Forget I said anything."
Taking a deep breath, he said, more seriously:
"Now I'm really leaving. And one more thing—don't look at her. Goodbye."
---
Hospital Scene – Second Floor Hall
Nurse:
"Have you cleaned Room 7 yet?"
Cleaner:
"Not yet. A few things left to move out, but I'll finish before noon."
Nurse:
"Clean it up quickly. We've got other patients waiting."
The cleaner wiped her forehead, frustrated with the task. As she began tidying up, the door to Room 7 creaked open.
Hina stepped in, looking lost. The cleaner glanced at her.
"Hina, did you leave something here? Take it now, or we're moving it out."
"Can you help me with that bag?" the cleaner asked, pointing to a large, bulky bag in the corner.
Hina nodded and bent down to lift it. As she did, a small notebook slipped out, falling to the floor with a quiet thud.
She bent down to pick it up. The cover was slightly worn, as if it had been through a lot. She ran her fingers over the surface and looked up at the cleaner.
"Is this Arya's notebook?"
The cleaner shrugged.
"Probably. I've seen him writing in it before. Never asked what it was about. Doesn't matter now."
Hina hesitated. There was something about this notebook. Something important.
"Can I take it with me?"
The cleaner waved her hand, uninterested.
"Take it if you want. It's useless to us."
Hina held the notebook tight, a strange feeling settling in her chest as she finished helping the cleaner. She said her thanks and left the hospital, the notebook tucked under her arm.
---
The Café Near the Hospital
The café was quiet, a warm refuge from the cold rain outside. The smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the air as Hina found a seat by the window. She ordered a black coffee, trying to steady her nerves.
As she waited, she pulled the notebook from her bag, her fingers trembling ever so slightly. With a deep breath, she opened it.
At the top of the first page were three bold words, written neatly:
"7 Days of My Life"
Beneath it, a chilling note followed:
"These are the days when I truly lived."
Hina's heart skipped a beat. She continued reading, her breath shallow.
"I want to understand what life is. What love is. What emotions are. Because I lost my parents when I was young, I grew up without knowing any of it. I lived my life like a puppet.
If someone finds this book... please burn it after reading. I want to take it with me."
Her fingers froze over the page. The weight of the words pressed down on her. The loneliness. The pain. The quiet desperation.
She exhaled shakily, her mind racing as she turned the page.
---
1 Day – The First Entry
"I see love but can't feel it. I see pain but can't feel it. I see everything, yet it all feels empty. That is, until I saw her. Everything changed."
It was just another ordinary morning. The same as always. I opened my eyes, staring at the ceiling. The sound of raindrops tapping against the window echoed in my ears.
I turned my head, checking the time. 8:00 AM.
I rubbed my eyes. Wait, no—8:00 AM? Was it really?
Suddenly, my heart sank.
"The hospital..." I whispered to myself.
I had an appointment. A check-up. For my condition.
I rushed out of bed. It was already 8:30 AM.
I grabbed my umbrella and stepped outside into the pouring rain.
---
The World Moves On
The rain fell steadily, drenching everything in sight as I walked along the sidewalk.
Families, lovers, friends—people surrounded me. Laughing. Smiling.
They looked happy. But I felt like an outsider, just passing through.
Their joy was something I could see but never feel.
---
A Meeting with Fate
I arrived at the hospital and shook off the rain. The nurse at the reception desk looked up.
"Arya, please wait. The doctor will see you soon."
I sat outside the office, tapping my foot. Minutes passed.
Then, the nurse called my name.
"Arya, you can go in now."
I walked inside. The doctor looked up, offering a warm smile.
"Good morning, Arya."
"Doctor, what's going on? Why the urgent appointment?"
He gestured to the chair.
"Sit down. We need to talk."
I sat, uneasy.
"I've known you since you were a child," he began, his voice heavy. "This is... a conversation usually reserved for family. But... you don't have—"
I cut him off.
"Doctor, what are you trying to say? You've been the only one here, but that's it. What is it?"
His eyes softened, and his hands trembled as he folded them on the desk.
"Arya, you don't have much time left."
Silence.
My heartbeat slowed, but I felt nothing—no panic, no fear. Just numbness.
"A rare disease," the doctor continued, his voice shaking. "I've consulted the best doctors, but..."
His words trailed off. I already knew.
I forced a smile. It felt more like a reflex than anything real.
"It's okay, Doctor. Don't worry about me."
He seemed on the verge of saying something more, but I stood up, cutting him off.
"Everyone dies, Doctor. Looks like it's my turn."
I walked out, feeling oddly calm.
---
The rain still poured as I left the doctor's office. As I passed the reception desk, something caught my attention.
Through the glass doors, an ambulance rushed in, its siren slicing through the rain. Doctors and nurses hurried outside.
The ambulance doors swung open, and a woman stepped out. Her face was pale, eyes swollen from crying. Behind her, a young boy—her son, perhaps—clung to her hand, his face a mask of terror.
"Please, save her!" the mother cried, her voice breaking.
A stretcher was rolled out, carrying a girl—bruised, unconscious.
I stepped aside as they wheeled her past me, her mother sobbing beside her, pleading for help.
I didn't know who she was. Didn't know her story.
But in that moment, I thought of my own parents. What would they have done if they were here? Would they have cried for me like that?
The Café - Hina in Present Time
Hina sat at a small table in a café near the hospital. The warmth inside felt foreign after the cold, damp rain outside.
A waiter approached, placing a cup of coffee on the table.
Silence.
Hina didn't acknowledge the waiter. Her fingers hovered over the pages of Arya's notebook, her mind racing as she read.
The café, the people, even the waiter—they all faded into the background. All she could hear was the pounding of her own heart as the weight of Arya's words consumed her.
The waiter hesitated, a frown flickering across his face. "Miss, is everything okay?"
Hina blinked, as if pulled from a distant thought. She gave a soft nod. "I'm fine."
"If you're uncomfortable, I can call for a female staff member," the waiter offered gently.
Hina smiled faintly, shaking her head. "It's okay," she whispered.
The waiter nodded, placed her coffee before her, and left.
Silence settled around her as she stared out the window, the steady fall of rain painting the glass with trails of water. The rhythmic tapping of raindrops against the window became a soft melody, filling the otherwise quiet room.
Her mind drifted back to a time when she used to sit in her wheelchair, gazing longingly at the rain, wishing she could step outside and feel it against her skin. But now, those memories only served to remind her of what she couldn't do.
A familiar voice, breaking the stillness, pulled her from her thoughts.
"Aha! So, you're here."