The Despair of Stephen Strange

A brilliant neurosurgeon, Stephen Strange had achieved remarkable success in his field at a young age. Blessed with a photographic memory, he excelled beyond his peers in every endeavour. If life were a game, Stephen would play in the easiest difficulty setting with all the cheat codes enabled.

This smooth and privileged life had cultivated a certain arrogance and pride in Stephen. He found everything remarkably easy and often treated serious matters nonchalantly. During critical surgeries, he could simultaneously engage in riddles with his assistants while performing tasks that demanded intense focus and precision.

However, this charmed life took a sharp turn two years ago.

...

His life plummeted when inexplicable images began to invade his mind. Initially, Stephen felt perplexed and disturbed by these strange visions, but extensive self-examination revealed no physical or neurological abnormalities. Frustrated, Stephen kept this matter to himself, too proud to seek help, even from his girlfriend, Christine.

But as time passed, the visions persisted. At first, they only appeared in his dreams, waking him with nightmarish intensity. Initially, it happened once a night and didn't significantly disrupt his life.

...

However, the nightmares gradually intensified, occurring multiple times a night and eventually any time he fell asleep, jolting him awake almost immediately. This drastic change severely affected his daily life. The lack of proper rest left him exhausted during the day and unable to concentrate, which was critical for a neurosurgeon.

A few months ago, during a relatively simple surgery, Stephen experienced one of these sudden visions while fully awake, causing him to freeze and nearly botch the operation, risking severe consequences for the patient. Though he managed to avert disaster, Stephen realised he could no longer safely perform surgeries and requested an indefinite leave, limiting himself to theoretical support at the hospital.

...

Desperate for a cure, Stephen sought help from colleagues and specialists, but to no avail. Despite being physically healthy, the visions persisted, unaffected by psychological or psychiatric treatments. This relentless torment pushed Stephen to the brink of despair.

A pitch-black sky loomed like a vast black hole in his nightmares, ready to engulf the world. A streak of vivid green light would freeze everything, including his body. The experience felt all too real, not merely a hallucination but as if he had truly lived through these moments.

Stephen had tried countless treatments without success, wasting enormous amounts of money and energy. He felt utterly defeated.

...

Then, the Chitauri invasion of New York occurred. Like any ordinary person, Stephen was terrified by the sudden alien attack. The appearance of powerful superheroes who repelled the invaders gave him hope. Witnessing the extraordinary feats of these heroes, Stephen reconsidered the possibility of finding a solution outside conventional medicine.

He remembered hearing about a group of mysterious sorcerers in Nepal who were said to wield incredible magic capable of healing ailments beyond the reach of modern science. Initially sceptical, Stephen's worldview shattered upon witnessing the supernatural abilities of the Avengers. If humans could wield lightning or transform into living flames, then perhaps the existence of magic wasn't so far-fetched.

"To hell with science," Stephen muttered, resolved to seek out the sorcerers.

...

Determined, Stephen returned to the hospital to resign and pursue this new lead. However, he inevitably encountered Christine, his ex-girlfriend. They had broken up due to his arrogance, but their affection lingered. Now, Stephen was too desperate to hide his condition any longer.

In a hospital room, Christine Palmer confronted Stephen, her concern evident.

"Stephen, will you seriously quit your job and chase after some mythical sorcerers in Nepal? This sounds like a wild goose chase for a disease that might not even exist!" Christine exclaimed, her voice filled with disbelief and frustration.

"Christine, you don't understand. Ever since that day two years ago, my mind has been plagued by bizarre visions. These aren't just dreams; they feel like real memories. I can't sleep; I can't focus. If this continues, I'll make a fatal mistake in the OR," Stephen replied, his voice tinged with desperation.

"I used to think those sorcerers were just charlatans, but after seeing what the Avengers can do, I'm willing to believe anything. I need to find them, for my sake and yours. I need to be able to operate again."

Christine looked at him, conflicted. She saw the determination in his eyes but feared he was chasing a fantasy. Yet, she couldn't deny the hope that this journey might bring Stephen some peace.