1 chapter 1: Nolan has loss

"In the end, I'm still going to die," Nolan, who had fought an incurable disease for years, couldn't believe he had lasted this long. Even the doctors who initially gave him only months to live were shocked at his will to survive.

During that year, he discovered a hobby – reading novels. Nolan would read every day to pass the time. His family was wealthy, but he couldn't buy the one thing he desperately needed: life.

Life couldn't be bought with money, a realization Nolan had already come to. He would ask his parents for hope, and they would always provide encouragement.

One Friday afternoon, Nolan's parents delivered good news – a group of scientists had developed a new cure for his disease. Bald and malnourished, Nolan, with an oxygen mask and tubes, looked pitiful as he sat reading a novel in his hospital bed.

Smiling, Nolan closed the book and looked at his parents, answering in a weak voice, "Oh yeah... sure, let's try it. I hope it works, though." Jaden, Nolan's father, flinched at his son's pitiful smile.

Despite being a cold businessman, Jaden couldn't help but clench his hands while looking at his son. Nolan's mother, Nora, was on the verge of tears.

Jaden closed his eyes, then opened them, looking at his son, who was no longer smiling. He spoke, "The medicine has a higher rate of being effective, but it's untested. Many medical experts are looking for a test subject with a disease like yours. There might be side effects, so..."

Before Jaden could finish, Nolan interrupted, "I'll volunteer." Nolan volunteered not because he wanted to be saved, but because fate wouldn't allow it. His body was already dying, and he couldn't feel it anymore.

"It's not like I want to be saved, but if this medicine can save people like me, who have this disease..."

His parents, reluctant, agreed. "Please, Mom, Dad. This medicine might save people like me who have this disease."

Jaden and Nora looked at him emotionally, knowing Nolan's body couldn't endure much longer. Jaden, gritting his teeth, said, "If this medicine had appeared years ago, maybe we could have saved our son." Even if the medicine was proven effective, they sighed in defeat. "Okay, we'll let you volunteer. Just know that we love you very much, Nolan."

In the emergency operating room, Dr. Rodriguez wiped sweat from his brow, eyes fixed on Nolan's lifeless form. "Come on, team. We've come too far to lose him now. Administer another round of the cure. We can't give up."

Nurse Martinez exchanged uneasy glances with Dr. Simmons. "Dr. Rodriguez, his vitals are plummeting. The cure seems to be working, but his body is giving up. We might need to consider other options."

Dr. Simmons added, "We can't just stand by. Nolan deserves every chance we can give him." His voice quivered with determination and desperation.

As the researchers conferred, Dr. Rodriguez clenched his jaw. "We've pushed the boundaries of medicine today. We can't let him go now. Prep for defibrillation. We're not losing him without a fight."

The room buzzed with activity as the defibrillator paddles were positioned. Nurse Ramirez counted down, "Clear!" A surge of electricity coursed through Nolan's body, but the heart monitor remained stoically flat.

Dr. Simmons, shoulders slumped, whispered, "I thought we had it. The cure showed promise, but his body couldn't withstand the strain."

Dr. Rodriguez, weary but resolute, responded, "We did everything we could. We'll review the data, learn from this. Nolan won't be forgotten."

Nolan's tired eyes looked in a daze at the medical experts surrounding him. They were trying hard to keep him alive, but it seemed he couldn't make it.

Am I going to die?

There's a saying that death is not the opposite of life but a part of it. "Still, I can't accept it. I want to live; I don't want to die." Nolan's eyes were slowly getting blurry.

"If there was really a second life, I want it in a different world." Nolan's body weakened every second.

"Hmm, I'm very sleepy. Maybe I will have a long sleep..."

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeee....

The heart monitor was already a flat line.

On this day, Nolan Holmes died.

[ Ding! ]