He lay down and appreciated every single breath of air going into his lips. Just hours ago, he was feeling sad about all the polluted air here.
It smells so fresh and precious now.
30 hours ago, he had been told he had 24 hours to say goodbye. To everyone.
The shock numbed him, and he cried. Cried after a long, long time without those tears in his sockets. He felt better after that.
He had spent the day with his parents, and they didn't cry too long. They accepted how much time they spent together, and relived the days they had so much fun. He held his mom's hands, and his arm was slung around dad.
He was two, and he could finally speak English in sentences without stopping. He felt so smart, and he laughed when his dad carried him up and threw him into the air, and he flew, flew like a bird.
He was twelve, and he did his exams real well. His mom wept, and she believed that though the test was easy, he would be someone important in the future. They hugged each other, and went back home to call his father.
He was fourteen, and argued with his mom. He never fought back before, but something split within him, and he burst out. That night, he wrote a letter to his mom, apologizing. In the letter was another message he wrote when he was a small boy.
Mom, I'm sorry I was like that yesterday.
I folded my own bedsheets so please don't be angry.
Love you mommy.
Love, Nick/Superman.
He was sixteen, and the horrible truth was discovered. He believed he would recover.
Six hours after his predicted death, he was still alive. But weak. He had gone to bed, expecting to just fall asleep and never wake up again. But his regret kept him alive.
He wanted to see his friends too. Just one last glimpse. That regret wouldn't let him go. He dressed up for school as usual. Monday. He had to wear a blazer. He left his schoolbag lying on the floor and walked to school.
Each step made him more and more tired. But the faces of his friends floated in front of his mind's eye. He had to see them.
He reached the entrance of the school. He was ready to sink down and fall asleep. He was just so tired. But he could get a doctor to see to him later. He could hear footsteps. And cries. Justin's shout could be heard. Kelly's too. And Yuva's scream. And Ken. Shaun. Jit Qi. Liesl. Jian. Jun Wei. Emily. So many others.
He looked up, and saw their faces, saw them running towards him, calling out to him, telling him that he's okay. They looked so happy, and they couldn't wait to hear about how he made his recovery and finally came back to school.
He felt contented. Now he could hang out with them again. He saw them, his parents, his family...
His eyes felt like closing.
He smiled weakly, and said softly, "I'm back."
He tried to take one more step towards them, but he collapsed on the tar road.
And he never woke up anymore.
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