I wake up to the sound of birds chirping outside. Mary, the middle-aged nurse is staring at me with tear filled eyes.

"What happened? Are you okay, Mary?" I ask her with a kind smile.

This is a very sad day for Mary. Seeing a patient die is one of the biggest regret she has for choosing this job.

I was diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer two months ago. The medicines could only extend my life this much. Today is the day I die.

"I will miss you forever, Song. I love you. You are like my own daughter, how can I let you die?" Mary is sobbing now.

She is holding my hand like she would never let go.

"I have to go, Mary. Everyone has to leave this world someday. I guess I am lucky I get to leave early." I try to calm her.

"Why? Don't you enjoy this life? Isn't it nice to be alive? You used to say those things earlier, Song." Mary asks.

"I am tired now. I am so tired of living this way. I have to lie down on this bed the whole day. I can't do anything the people my age do. I am a liability to the society. I don't even have anyone except you who cares for me. I don't even have a friend, let alone boy friend." I try to let out whatever I want to say before dying today.

Maybe I was born at the wrong time. My stars are unlucky.

Just as I finish my confession, a ward-boy comes dashing through the door.

"Oh, Song. You are so lucky. Do you remember the sponsored lucky draw we had last month?" He shout-says.

How can I forget that? I thought if I win that, I may be able to provide money for my treatment.

I nod.

"Well, YOU WON IT! CONGRATULATIONS!" He dances in enjoyment.

"Huh.." Mary is so shocked her face tells it all.

"Oh, but what would I do with it? Hey, Mary?" I turn towards Mary.

"Yes." She replies.

"Can I donate it to the hospital? I wish to." I tell her.

"Huh.. You want to donate one million dollars to the hospital? Think big Song." The ward-boy is clearly shocked.

"Maybe you don't know but it is my last day alive." I reply. Just as I do, Mary again bursts into tears.

.

I don't know what to do with this much money in just a day, except donating it to the hospital which tried to save my life. I was here for two months and those were the best time of my life.

My family never liked me. They didn't even pay for my treatment. I had a 11% chance of living if they would have paid for my surgery. I am even in the hospital until now because of the money my dead grandmother had put in my account.

Why don't my family get It? I also want to be loved.

"You can donate it to the hospital. Do you want to do it right now?" Mary asks.

"Yes, it would better be done fast. I dont have much time." Just as I say that, a tear silently rolls down from Mary's eye.

"Okay, then. I think I shall leave now." The ward-boy says and leaves.

"I'll go and talk about the donation with the department head." Mary says and leaves too.

Then I think I will take a nap.

After trying to sleep for ten minutes, I realize that I can't. I am afraid if I sleep now, I may not wake up again.

This feeling of going-to-be-dead-in-some-hours is really strange. I already feel tired because of my illness and this feeling is making me go nervous.

I can't even talk to my family on my last day alive because of their hatred for me. They didn't hate me before, it just grew with time.

My parents work at a small company and earn enough. My younger sister, Mary has always seen me as a competitor.

Although my sister's name is also Mary, she doesn't even give me a fraction of the love the middle-aged nurse Mary gives me.

My sister Mary has always been good in studies and an introvert. Whilst I am bold and straightforward. Maybe that is a reason my parents love Mary and hate me.

That hate me enough to not see me on my last day alive...

Just as I was pondering about my family relations, Mary comes in with a young nurse.

Mary's red and swollen eyes make me feel really sad.

"Hello, Ms. Song. I am Lisa, nice to meet you." The young nurse introduces herself.

It has been some time that someone introduced themselves to me. I even know that ward-boy since he always goes around asking patients how do they do. It is part of his work as an intern.

"Oh, hi. Nice to meet you too." I reply and look over at Mary as to find some clue about what is going on.

Or maybe I get it, she must've come for discussing my funeral arrangements.

Lisa notices me looking at Mary confusingly and says, "I am here to bear witness to you donating the sum of money you won in the lottery. We really appreciate your action, Ms. Song." She passes a file to Mary.

"Oh yes, I want to donate the prize I have won in the lottery to the hospital." I say.

"I see. Then please sign in the file, Ms. Song and get ready for the Xebec Park!" Lisa gleefully says leaving me confused.

"Xebec Park?" I ask in surprise.

"Yes, ah- you may not have known but the prize includes a trip to the Xebec Park. Um.. Congratulations!" Mary informs me.

I am suddenly shocked. On my last day alive I get to go to the Xebec Park. It is the dream of every child to go there and even adults go there. And of course, I also wanted to go there but I am an adult now, I am 20 years old for God's sake and on my death bed.

Even regular movements are hard for me, and now.. i am walking. I feel good, it all seems like from the time when i was alright. Even though i had to have a lot of anaesthetic drugs to reach there, i am finally at the Xebec park.

The speciality is that they have themes regularly, and this month the theme is witchcraft. As in, there are specific tents and rides that are only for this theme and its fun. i just had my fortune checked by a witch.

Living as if there is nothing wrong, this is truly enjoying one's life... or maybe its just me who wants to escape the reality. Anyways, Mary volunteered to accompany me here and that makes it even more like a dream. Me and my favourite person, both enjoying ourselves.

Soon enough, the enjoyment hour is over. We go back to the hospital, and on the way, no one makes a noise. My country permits physician-assisted suicide and i have chosen today as the day to end all my sufferings. I am going to die, today.

I take the drugs, look at Mary, give her my last smile and drift off to sleep. I will die while sleeping and there will be no pain. I guess living was much more painful than dying, both emotionally and physiologically.

Mary keeps on weeping with the other staff who took care of me. I see the monitor and my pulse is gone. I am dead. But why can I see them, why am i here?

"You shouldn't be too shocked, eh?" A sound comes from my left, "You sure know that death is not the end."

"A human body stops functioning, death, there is nothing after it." I say in response.

There is a young girl on my left. She looks like a teenager, around 15 probably. She carries out a card and gives it to me... orchid gallery, Fiza, the card says.

"What..?" Before me asking she starts speaking.

"Orchid Gallery is an organisation that delivers souls. And your soul has been requested by a VIP customer of ours, so we cannot reveal very much."

"What do I need to do?" My voice breaks.

"For now, come along with me, I will explain a few things to you on the way." Fiza grabs my palm and we both starting floating.

Out the window, we go floating. The spring breeze hits my face and passes through it. Maybe I am not totally dead. Fiza and I go soaring through the sky at a really fast speed. She is taking me south of the city. I do try to ask her but she dismisses me and keeps going.

At last we reach a cottage, a shabby cottage. Its far away from the city and there are farms surrounding it. I did not know there was such a place left in the country. The government is so focused on urbanisation that rarely any villages or farms are left. All our food is also made in large sized laboratories.