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In my world,life was rough.
I spent most of it in hospitals,my body frail.
The hospital balcony became my refuge,watching sunsets,I felt like my life dimmed with the sky.
But my bleak existence met a ray of light—Julian Grant.
Like me,he had leukemia.
We both awaited bone marrow transplants,an uncertain chance to survive.
By chance,our marrow matched perfectly,but as patients,we couldn't save each other.
We could only wait for death together.
Julian never wore hospital gowns,he was always beaming with his radiant smile.
Once we bonded,he'd sneak out with me for adventures.
I got a taste a new life.
Roller coasters,pirate ships,river rapids—they were all so thrilling.
My favorite however was the Ferris wheel,where we confessed our love.
They say couples kissing at the top stay together forever.
But fate was cruel.My condition worsened,and so did his.
We landed in ICU again.
They say no one stays by a sickbed long.They're wrong.
No one stays at all.
Endless chemo and pain—we held hands,comforting each other.
On countless nights,Julian told me stories in One Thousand and One Nights.
I already knew the tales by heart but loved his voice.
With him,death lost its terror.
Finally,a marrow donor appeared—but only one.
Julian gave it to me,lying that he'd found another.
On the day of my surgery,I said I wanted durian pizza when I woke up.He snuck out to buy it.
When I opened my eyes,no doctors,family,pizza—or him.
On his way to buy me pizza,Julian saved a girl from a car,getting hit himself.
Seeing him in ICU,tubes on him everywhere,I hated myself.
If not for me,he wouldn't be a vegetable.
My regret seemed to move the heavens.A system appeared.
It said collecting three drops of tears from Ethan would wake Julian.
I agreed,forgetting nothing comes free.
I failed utterly.Julian didn't wake up,and I couldn't return.
Sobbing,I finished our story.
"I'm foolish,played for nothing."
I laughed,voice trembling.
Ethan,seeing me like this,was silent,then spoke calmly.
"If you could return to your world,but it meant dying after returning,would you?"
"If I could,I would."
My hollow eyes met his,suddenly resolute.
He gave a self-mocking smile,heart gripped tight.
He finally saw why I'd rather die than stay.
