Chapter 2：The Day My Life Ended (2/2)

That I, too, for once… wanted to be a little selfish.

”Sniff… sniff… sniff…” I bit my lips as I cried hard. I didn't want anyone to hear me and disturb me. I just wanted to be alone and be with my long-lost self.

That rainy day, I cried my heart out until all my tears dried up. Next day, my mother and brother visited me but I was in no mood to talk. Then a couple of friends came the next, and a few relatives the day after. I was uninterested in whatever they were saying. It was all useless now—their pity, the offer of help, their cries, their attention. They should have given those to me back when I was struggling. What use would I have of them now? Nothing. My life was ending. It was funny how people only notice one's importance when they're gone… or would be gone.

”Senara,” a familiar voice called out to me one day, on a blazing sunset, like the color of my hair.

I turned around to look at her—the only person I had the energy to talk to, and the only person who truly understood me—my best friend, Hora.

All she did was show up, and there I was with a wretched face, and tears rolling down my face in an uneven manner.

”H-Hora…,” I barely managed to speak her name.

She rushed towards me, crying as well, and held me in her warm embrace. Hours passed with us just simply hugging and crying, not even saying a single thing.

It took me a while to recover. When I did, I tried my best to smile at her. If I end up dying at that moment, I at least wanted her to see me leave with a smile on my face.

”Senara, you're so young,” Hora sobbed again as she caressed my sunken cheeks. ”Still so young… sniff… sniff… How can this be? All your life you lived for them. You didn't even get to enjoy anything! Why you? Why can't it be just somebody else?”

I patted her shoulders, trying to calm her down.

”Don't say that, Hora. It's bad to wish for others' misfortune.”

”But what about you? You deserve to be happy! You can't die yet! Not like this… sniff… sniff.”

Deep inside, I agreed with her.

”If only I could go back in time… I'll make sure to live my life for my sake and not somebody else's.”

Yes, maybe that way I wouldn't have so many regrets on my deathbed right now.

Alas, my flesh failed, leaving only those words as parting to my friend. It came without notice. I thought I still had a couple of days more… I didn't even get to thank her for a lot of things. Last thing I remembered was her face frantically calling out my name.

”Senara! Noooo!!! Wake up! Please! Wake up!”