My Last Breath: A Dying Man's Love And Wish

"I do apologize to have to tell you the sad news Mr Quinzel. But you have less than a year left to live."

This is what my doctor told me when I went for my monthly appointment two days ago.

I couldn't forget the words or get them out of my head.

The words kept ringing in the man's head over and over like a broken record. He is holding a glass of red wine which he twirls smoothly. His face is overcome by a blank and distant gaze.

I, am the said man. My name is Lucien Quinzel. Right now I am standing in a hall filled with pretentious rich women and men, invited to a prestigious ball. I couldn't care less about anyone here. As of this moment, my mind is plagued by a never ending single thought.

I really am going to die. But that is not the most baffling thing. What baffles me is that I know when.

The thought didn't scare me. The reason was the funniest thing. I am going to die because of Ischemic heart disease. I have at the very least, a year to live. Else I might die any time after that.

Feeling a sense of nostalgia, I gulped down the wine, put the glass down and left the hall. I headed straight to the elevator thinking of going home.

For some reason, when I had to press the button for the floor, my head felt a bit hazy. In the blink of an eye, I had pressed the button for the roof.

"Fuck." I couldn't help but curse. I am not a talkative, but I certainly can say what I need when I want to.

The lift opened and I climbed to the roof. I walked to the edge and breathed the fresh city air. The dark night covered by countless lights, just like the sky above.

I took a deep breath and stood on the edge with my head thrown back and my face towards the sky. Everything just felt all so refreshing it was almost hard to believe.

Subconsciously, I had raised my leg and aimed it below the city below, just as a madman or someone who is tired of living would do.

"Stooop..!!" A girl shouted behind me.

Before I let the weight of my body fall over, a melodious voice of a girl shouted from behind. I snapped back to reality and opened my eyes.

The sky looked so very beautiful for the first time in a long while. I turned my blank and expressionless face to the person who called out.

"What are you, a coward? Do you think life is that easy to give up? Do you think killing yourself is the best answer? Well it's not..! What you're doing is just a stupid display of cowards." The girl spoke as if pouring her soul into every word she uttered.

Her words hit my head, entering in one ear and out through the other. She sounded like a puppy barking at a rock. And even while I remained unresponsive, she continued to bombard me with words that held no meaning or use to me.

The worry on her face overclouded her evident beauty. Red plump lips, blue eyes like the moon or perhaps a deep ocean and black hair. She dressed in a beautiful red dress. Honestly, I would say she was my type.

I cleared my throat and took a deep breath as if about to speak. The girl listened attentively with pleading eyes. Obviously I had nothing to say to her.

I just turned around and sat at the edge with my feet dangling over the edge. I took out my phone and went through several apps.

"Hey. Hey are you listening to me?!" She said, walking closer to me.

"Do you want to join me?" I called out to her, raising my hand and waving for her to come closer.

"Why don't you come down from there so we can talk? Okay?" She tried to negotiate.

I turned my head to her and smiled. "If you don't join me. I really might just jump. So, are you coming or not?"

She slowly walked over to me. Her worried face shifted from me to the edge. I guess she was scared of heights. But if that was the case? What was she doing all the way up here?

I felt the edge to stop bluffing and getting off the edge, but I just had to see it. I wanted to see if a person can really sacrifice themselves for others. It wasn't something I have never seen, but the one I saw wasn't done out of genuinity.

The girl finally reached the edge and held it with her knees behind when she looked over the edge. Her breath became heavy and her body began to tremble.

I looked at her trying to figure out why she would do this. In my previous kinds of lives, I wouldn't think of many who can do this. Even if it was brought by loyalty and duty.

She composed herself and looked me in the eye. Her gaze looked so warm I was unconsciously drawn to her. My face had expression had become soft.

"Uhm... will you get off now?" She spoke with a calm voice. Clear without the heavy breaths of fear.

"My name is Lucien Quinzel. May I know who you are?" I introduced myself to someone first. Something I haven't done in a long time.

"I am Evee. Evee Eloine Evergarden."

A cold breeze of wind blew, pulling us out each other's gazes. I turned away and cleared my throat before getting down from the edge.

Eve also turned away, covered her face and stood up with her back to the me.

I took off my suit and put it on her. She didn't even notice her she was having chicken skin.

"I think we should get going now. It's starting to get chilli out here."

She nodded to my words and we headed inside. As we walked down the stairs, my phone rang. It was the same man - my doctor. He had been calling me every chance he got in the past days.

I never want to look rude even around strangers so I took the call.

"Hey doctor.. it's been a while. How may I help you? "

"Mr Quinzel. You have gone silent since the last time we met. I called to check on you as my patient. And also.... to persuade you to---."

"I understand your concern doctor. Really, I do. However, as far as I have thought about this. It would be best I die the soonest possible. Goodbye.." I cut the call and put my phone in my pocket.

When I turned, the girl had a surprised look on her face. Of course my call must have startled her. No one would want to die.

"Do you really want to die?" She spoke covering her mouth.

I couldn't say YES. And I couldn't say NO.

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