I had a stutter.However, I hadn't always had it. When I was younger, I'd been in a car accident. According to the doctor, the extreme shock had resulted in psychological trauma, causing me to develop a stutter.The doctor had also said that I just had to be patient and wait for it to slowly go away.My mother had felt so bad for me that she'd even spent hours coaching me to speak every single day.However, a long time passed, but nothing had changed.In fact, it had been ten whole years.Ten years later, I still hadn't recovered. In fact, it had even gotten worse because of my classmates' teasing.In the beginning, whenever I got mocked or bullied, my mother would rush to the school. She would kick up a fuss so that no one bullied me anymore.However, toward the end, she got annoyed. She said to me, "Would they even bully you if you didn't have a stutter? You're the one who's disappointing—it's been ten years, and you're not even cured yet!"I didn't know what to say, so I ju
Therefore, I asked, "H-Have you seen o-one before?""No," Lincoln answered, shaking his head. He pointed at the tree on the page. "I'd only seen them in books or on television."When I fell silent once again, Lincoln's eyes lit up like he'd suddenly thought of something. "How about this? Once you're all better, I'll take you to see the Nordmann firs."I was moved.Since that day, I would exchange a few sentences with Lincoln.He was really different from the other psychologists. The others would inundate me with questions and then try to psychoanalyze my mind as if they understood me.They had all thought that I had a problem, but I never did.I just didn't want to speak.However, Lincoln never thought that way. He also never pushed me to answer whether I was this way because of family reasons or because of the car accident.He also took me out on outings. He took me to experience the subway and see the newly transplanted flowers in the park. He even took me to see the sea alo
I was furious. I was so angry. Even though I didn't even understand what I was enraged about, I ripped up the drawing that I was supposed to give him in front of him.Lincoln didn't understand my reaction. He crouched on the floor and picked up the torn scraps.I turned away and secretly wiped away my tears. In my head, I swore to myself that I was going to ignore him from now onward. After this, no matter what he tried, I was going to act the same way I had at our first meeting.After a long silence, Lincoln finally let out a sigh and asked, "Can't we just have a normal doctor-patient relationship?"No.Of course not.All of a sudden, I felt like Lincoln didn't understand me at all. I didn't need anything else besides what I wanted.Moreover, I knew very clearly that I wasn't sick. I just hated showing attention to people.He was the only one I treated as a friend. He was the only person I liked. I usually trapped myself in a small metaphorical room. That first nod of approv
After reading my last wishes, Elliot said to the air, "Don't worry. I'll definitely help make this wish come true!"Looking at his determined face, I couldn't help but tear up. But since my soul couldn't muster tears, I just said quietly, "T-Thank you."Unfortunately, he couldn't hear me.Elliot set right into action. After getting changed, he left home. I floated behind him, watching as he hailed a cab straight to Brine University.The campus was very lively today with throngs of people coming and going. Many people were talking about how they had come just to see Lincoln.A huge red banner hung in front of the school. It read, "Welcome back to your alma mater, Dr. Lincoln Carter!"The hallways were plastered with Lincoln's photos. It looked like he was really well-known at Brine University.In a blink of an eye, it was nearly 6:00 pm. The student orientation was about to start, so everyone filed into the auditorium to find a seat. I floated in the air, quietly waiting for Li
However, Elliot couldn't hear me. He then went to the exit through which Lincoln would be leaving. With him, there were also many admirers who came in order to be able to interact with Lincoln up close.I never knew that he was this revered, as though he was a huge celebrity. It was so difficult to see him now. I regretted not appreciating this in the past and looking at him more.Soon, Lincoln walked out.Numerous guards standing there spread their arms, clearing a path for him.Expressionlessly, Lincoln listened to the crowd shout his name as he walked past them."Lord Lincoln! Lord Lincoln!" Elliot screamed at the top of his lungs. He had been pushed to the back of the crowd. "Ah, Lincoln!"The girl next to him gave him a strange look. She said, "I didn't know you liked Lincoln so much. As I thought, powerful men attract other men the most…"I couldn't stifle my laughter.Elliot was getting very worked up now. Seeing Lincoln get into his car to leave, he suddenly raised his
But that wasn't the case for me, because I wasn't sick.However, he knew for a fact that I wasn't sick, yet he still didn't believe that I liked him.Now, he'd even forgotten about me.The me from the past had wanted to prove that I really did like him, but the him from the past didn't believe me.I'd thought that so long as I waited long enough, everything would eventually work out.Unfortunately, I'd missed the fact that he'd only looked at me as a patient. He'd never even liked me.…Ever since the day I saw Lincoln, I realized that my body was becoming more transparent.I was probably going to vanish.It was just like what that woman had said—I was getting forgotten. Once I was forgotten by my fixation, I would disappear.I didn't try looking for Lincoln. Instead, I just kept following Elliot around.In the time I spent floating by his side, I could tell that he was a very bright and cheerful person. However, ever since that day, he'd grown quiet. From time to time, he'd
The doctor sighed and continued, "While Samantha was in the hospital, a woman had disconnected her oxygen supply. She ended up suffocating to death!""What?" Elliot said incredulously, stumbling backward. It seemed like he'd never imagined that this was how I'd died."It was really tragic. That woman hadn't been very old, but she'd developed Alzheimer's disease and couldn't think straight. That night, all the nurses happened to be very busy. For some reason, that woman unplugged Samantha's oxygen cable and even covered her face with a pillow… That young lady had suffocated to death," the doctor said helplessly.I remembered now.It was true.That day, I had very much been conscious. However, I'd had serious bone fractures all over my body and couldn't move."It's so noisy," she had said, walking to the beeping of the heart rate monitor. Thinking that the beeping was too loud, she'd unplugged my oxygen tube and then pressed the pillow down on my face harshly.Perhaps she didn't
Lincoln's EpilogueOn the day of my wedding, I received an envelope filled with cash as a wedding gift. There was no name on the envelope. I didn't know who it was from, so I just put it into the bag of wedding gifts.That night, I watched my wife open our wedding gifts while sitting cross-legged on the bed. Smiling, I jokingly called her a materialist.My wife glared at me. Then, she excitedly fished out the envelope of cash and counted the money inside of it."1430 dollars. What a romantic number."I gave her a smile. However, when my gaze landed on the envelope, I paused.For some reason, I suddenly remembered the young man I'd met when I gave a speech at my alma mater last month.I remember he'd shouted a name at me. What was it again? Samantha Kirk?Samantha Kirk…I remembered now.Samantha was one of my former patients. She had also been the final patient I had before I went abroad for my studies.Gazing at the dark night sky outside the window, I thought of her heartf
Lincoln's EpilogueOn the day of my wedding, I received an envelope filled with cash as a wedding gift. There was no name on the envelope. I didn't know who it was from, so I just put it into the bag of wedding gifts.That night, I watched my wife open our wedding gifts while sitting cross-legged on the bed. Smiling, I jokingly called her a materialist.My wife glared at me. Then, she excitedly fished out the envelope of cash and counted the money inside of it."1430 dollars. What a romantic number."I gave her a smile. However, when my gaze landed on the envelope, I paused.For some reason, I suddenly remembered the young man I'd met when I gave a speech at my alma mater last month.I remember he'd shouted a name at me. What was it again? Samantha Kirk?Samantha Kirk…I remembered now.Samantha was one of my former patients. She had also been the final patient I had before I went abroad for my studies.Gazing at the dark night sky outside the window, I thought of her heartf
The doctor sighed and continued, "While Samantha was in the hospital, a woman had disconnected her oxygen supply. She ended up suffocating to death!""What?" Elliot said incredulously, stumbling backward. It seemed like he'd never imagined that this was how I'd died."It was really tragic. That woman hadn't been very old, but she'd developed Alzheimer's disease and couldn't think straight. That night, all the nurses happened to be very busy. For some reason, that woman unplugged Samantha's oxygen cable and even covered her face with a pillow… That young lady had suffocated to death," the doctor said helplessly.I remembered now.It was true.That day, I had very much been conscious. However, I'd had serious bone fractures all over my body and couldn't move."It's so noisy," she had said, walking to the beeping of the heart rate monitor. Thinking that the beeping was too loud, she'd unplugged my oxygen tube and then pressed the pillow down on my face harshly.Perhaps she didn't
But that wasn't the case for me, because I wasn't sick.However, he knew for a fact that I wasn't sick, yet he still didn't believe that I liked him.Now, he'd even forgotten about me.The me from the past had wanted to prove that I really did like him, but the him from the past didn't believe me.I'd thought that so long as I waited long enough, everything would eventually work out.Unfortunately, I'd missed the fact that he'd only looked at me as a patient. He'd never even liked me.…Ever since the day I saw Lincoln, I realized that my body was becoming more transparent.I was probably going to vanish.It was just like what that woman had said—I was getting forgotten. Once I was forgotten by my fixation, I would disappear.I didn't try looking for Lincoln. Instead, I just kept following Elliot around.In the time I spent floating by his side, I could tell that he was a very bright and cheerful person. However, ever since that day, he'd grown quiet. From time to time, he'd
However, Elliot couldn't hear me. He then went to the exit through which Lincoln would be leaving. With him, there were also many admirers who came in order to be able to interact with Lincoln up close.I never knew that he was this revered, as though he was a huge celebrity. It was so difficult to see him now. I regretted not appreciating this in the past and looking at him more.Soon, Lincoln walked out.Numerous guards standing there spread their arms, clearing a path for him.Expressionlessly, Lincoln listened to the crowd shout his name as he walked past them."Lord Lincoln! Lord Lincoln!" Elliot screamed at the top of his lungs. He had been pushed to the back of the crowd. "Ah, Lincoln!"The girl next to him gave him a strange look. She said, "I didn't know you liked Lincoln so much. As I thought, powerful men attract other men the most…"I couldn't stifle my laughter.Elliot was getting very worked up now. Seeing Lincoln get into his car to leave, he suddenly raised his
After reading my last wishes, Elliot said to the air, "Don't worry. I'll definitely help make this wish come true!"Looking at his determined face, I couldn't help but tear up. But since my soul couldn't muster tears, I just said quietly, "T-Thank you."Unfortunately, he couldn't hear me.Elliot set right into action. After getting changed, he left home. I floated behind him, watching as he hailed a cab straight to Brine University.The campus was very lively today with throngs of people coming and going. Many people were talking about how they had come just to see Lincoln.A huge red banner hung in front of the school. It read, "Welcome back to your alma mater, Dr. Lincoln Carter!"The hallways were plastered with Lincoln's photos. It looked like he was really well-known at Brine University.In a blink of an eye, it was nearly 6:00 pm. The student orientation was about to start, so everyone filed into the auditorium to find a seat. I floated in the air, quietly waiting for Li
I was furious. I was so angry. Even though I didn't even understand what I was enraged about, I ripped up the drawing that I was supposed to give him in front of him.Lincoln didn't understand my reaction. He crouched on the floor and picked up the torn scraps.I turned away and secretly wiped away my tears. In my head, I swore to myself that I was going to ignore him from now onward. After this, no matter what he tried, I was going to act the same way I had at our first meeting.After a long silence, Lincoln finally let out a sigh and asked, "Can't we just have a normal doctor-patient relationship?"No.Of course not.All of a sudden, I felt like Lincoln didn't understand me at all. I didn't need anything else besides what I wanted.Moreover, I knew very clearly that I wasn't sick. I just hated showing attention to people.He was the only one I treated as a friend. He was the only person I liked. I usually trapped myself in a small metaphorical room. That first nod of approv
Therefore, I asked, "H-Have you seen o-one before?""No," Lincoln answered, shaking his head. He pointed at the tree on the page. "I'd only seen them in books or on television."When I fell silent once again, Lincoln's eyes lit up like he'd suddenly thought of something. "How about this? Once you're all better, I'll take you to see the Nordmann firs."I was moved.Since that day, I would exchange a few sentences with Lincoln.He was really different from the other psychologists. The others would inundate me with questions and then try to psychoanalyze my mind as if they understood me.They had all thought that I had a problem, but I never did.I just didn't want to speak.However, Lincoln never thought that way. He also never pushed me to answer whether I was this way because of family reasons or because of the car accident.He also took me out on outings. He took me to experience the subway and see the newly transplanted flowers in the park. He even took me to see the sea alo
I had a stutter.However, I hadn't always had it. When I was younger, I'd been in a car accident. According to the doctor, the extreme shock had resulted in psychological trauma, causing me to develop a stutter.The doctor had also said that I just had to be patient and wait for it to slowly go away.My mother had felt so bad for me that she'd even spent hours coaching me to speak every single day.However, a long time passed, but nothing had changed.In fact, it had been ten whole years.Ten years later, I still hadn't recovered. In fact, it had even gotten worse because of my classmates' teasing.In the beginning, whenever I got mocked or bullied, my mother would rush to the school. She would kick up a fuss so that no one bullied me anymore.However, toward the end, she got annoyed. She said to me, "Would they even bully you if you didn't have a stutter? You're the one who's disappointing—it's been ten years, and you're not even cured yet!"I didn't know what to say, so I ju
Seven years ago, there had been an earthquake. Because I had been asleep, I hadn't escaped in time and unfortunately ended up one of the casualties.My soul had floated in mid-air, watching as my body was covered with a white sheet and wheeled into the morgue.Since then, I'd been wandering around the place where I died for seven years.I'd always been curious why I hadn't been reincarnated yet. However, the third year after my death, I'd met an older woman who was also a wandering soul like me. She had told me, "When the person you care about the most in this world no longer remembers you, you will disappear."After that, she had slowly faded away before my eyes and then finally vanished.I couldn't leave this place, so the only thing I could do was wander every inch of this area alone. I stared at the broken walls that were covered with moss; no one came here anymore. Still, I couldn't figure out the answer.Who was it?Who was the person I cared about the most?How evil. I'd