Shanghai…

Huashan Hospital..

The office smelled heavily of antiseptic, a smell I had grown accustomed to over the past four years. It's sharp tanginess stinging my nose. The fabric seats were meant to be cozy, but all I felt was a piercing cold that seeped into my bones as I dreaded what was to come,same as every other time I had been here. You should be able to guess where I was already.

The hospital!

I loathed this place with so much passion,you could call me an extremist. Sadly it was my only source of reprieve from my fate.

Looking at the old and familiar Doctor Zhao leafing through my report,I felt as though time was being stretched, with each second dragging on for what seemed like an eternity. My heart was beating so hard it seemed about to leap out of my chest!

“ Say something already.” I thought, biting my lower lip. I wanted to speak out just that my throat felt too dry to push the words out.

Finally he set the papers down with a quiet sigh escaping his lips. Adjusting his glasses,he looked straight up at me gazing directly into my eyes.

The weight of his eyes made my chest tighten. My fingers clenching the armrests I dreaded what he'd say next.

Clearing his throat he started.

“Miss Xiao, I have the results here,” he began, his voice calm but laced with something I couldn’t really place—concern? Pity? Regret? My stomach twisted at the words that were about to be said.

“Miss Xuan,the results of your tests have arrived and I have to say it's …….pretty bad.”.

God!

I knew it,with the long silence there had to be something really wrong. How wrong exactly? I was also about to find out.

“Wha..wha..what is it Doctor Zhao,how bad is it?”

“Sigh,it pains me to say this MissXiao…..but I still have to. You only have five months left to live.” As he said this my heart literally went over the roof.

Shaking his head he continued speaking,the pity evident on his face. I could see it and it hurt me more.

“Your Terchnoraris has reached the last stage faster than we could have imagined. While we expected it to come sooner it was not supposed to come this fast! I am really sorry about this.”

Dropping my head down,a few tear drops couldn't help but escape my eyes. I knew this day would come and I have been dreading it’s arrival and today….it came.

But why me! Of all the billions of humans that could probably awaken the deadly chromosome thirty-four why did I fall into the one percent?!

Ever since I was little I knew I was different,I grew at a rate slower than my mates and seemed to always have fainting sessions like it was fainting buffet. When I entered puberty all these symptoms disappeared,giving me the fake illusion that it was just a childhood malady……but boy was I wrong. Just four years ago it resurfaced again with even stronger complications arising.

Each day felt like torture for me so much that I thought dying would be a great release for me,however,now that I had just five months left to live I suddenly felt a strong desire to live.

Sadly,that was just impossible now.

"At this stage," Doctor Zhao began gently, "I’d advise you to spend these last few months with someone you love—a relative, a friend, or maybe a boyfriend. Anyone who can make you feel happy and comfortable. Who knows? It might even extend your life by a significant amount."

He cleared his throat, his tone softening further. "Of course, it’s just a suggestion, but I highly recommend it. It’s harmless, after all. Surround yourself with those who matter to you and do the things that bring you joy."

Hearing his words, I couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

Family? I had none so to speak . My parents were gone,dead since I was nine and I didn’t even know if I had any relatives.

As I drifted into thought, an image of a smiling figure suddenly flashed before my mind’s eye, his laughter loud and raccuous. It brought with it a flood of memories—lively moments we once shared, moments I had loved and cherished deeply. But just as swiftly as the thought appeared, it faded into nothingness, like a candle extinguished by the wind. That was all in the past now—gone, over.

“Miss Xiao,Miss Xiao,Miss Xiao…..!”

"Huh?” I jolted when Doctor Zhao called my name.

"You seem to have lost yourself in thoughts,you don't really need that just take good care of yourself my dear and please don't think too much about it. Remember that there is always a chance of you getting better. Who knows it might even be a blessing in disguise!”

Blessing in disguise? Impossible! That could only happen in fantasy novels and my life has been anything but a fantasy.

If am to describe it it'll be more like a bland book written by a bland author,tasteless, unlike this one.

"Thank you so much, Doctor Zhao," I said, rising from my seat. "I really appreciate all your help all this while. I'll be on my way now."

" Alright,bye and take care of yourself.”

" Yes I will.”

BAM!

Slamming the door shut I took in a deep,long breath, inhaling that thick disinfectant smell which I had gotten used to. There was a certain calmness which descended upon me as stood in front of the door chewing upon my just concluded conversation.

I was gonna die! And there was nothing I could do about it.

Fate really was a sick joker because knowing the cause,reason and time of your death,yet being unable to prevent it was one of the worst feelings ever,trust me.

Straightening my slightly messy hair,I tossed the loose bangs hanging in front of my forehead behind my ears.

With a determined expression I walked out of the hospital an aura of melancholy radiating from me.

Fate may have dealt me a cruel hand.

But this time….

……..I would play the game—my way.