"Mom, are you already asleep?"
Noah held his mother's hand. Cold. Very cold.
Noah had just returned from his workplace. After working for 15 hours, he immediately went to the hospital to visit his mother who was being treated for a chronic disease, breast cancer. The doctor said the cancer was already stage 4.
Noah only had one person in this world, his mother. He loved his mother very much, his entire life was about his mother. He didn't want to lose her.
Outside, the rain hadn't stopped. The hospital lights kept flickering, making the corridor seem even more silent. Only the sound of the heart monitor could be heard, like a reminder that his mother was still fine.
Noah lowered his head. In his hand, a sheet of hospital bill.
$26,580.
That was just for this month.
His salary was only $6,280 per month after all deductions, but that still didn't cover apartment rent, transportation, food, and other needs. What was left was almost 40% of that. The cost of living was very expensive. Of course, paying $26,580, Noah would not be able to.
Noah sighed. He really wanted to complain, but he couldn't do it in front of his mother. "Life is so terrible."
He didn't understand why hospital bills were so expensive. He would apply for a bill reduction by filing some documents, but that still wouldn't be enough with his small salary. He had to find a way to earn more money.
His mother, who saw Noah's face, felt anxious. Noah realized that and said, "Mom, you don't need to worry. I will find an extra job. Maybe as a night guard or courier. I will manage everything. Just believe in me."
Those words felt like a promise. But deep inside, Noah knew it was like a lie. He kept lying in front of his mother. No matter how much he tried, it was never enough. He had many debts he still hadn't paid.
He had even sold his car, apartment, and some other belongings just to cover the enormous hospital bills, but still, the bills kept increasing. Never-ending.
His mother turned slowly. "You don't have to force yourself like this. If it's too much, let's just go home. I am fine."
Noah shook his head. "Mom, you don't need to worry," Noah replied. "Everything will be fine. Just believe in me!"
His mother only nodded. She knew that her son's mental state was not well. She even once thought about committing suicide, but when imagining Noah's face, it made her cancel the thought. Noah would be devastated and might also commit suicide if he knew his mother killed herself.
"Forgive me!" Noah's mother thought.
She turned to the other side. Looking at the window. Her tears slowly fell. She couldn't bear seeing Noah suffer so much because of her.
"Forgive... me!" she said once again in a low voice.
Noah smiled. He held his mother's cold hand. "It doesn't matter. Mom, don't worry!"
Noah tried to calm his mother's heart. When in fact, he himself was not fine. His chest felt tight. The fear of losing her squeezed him so hard.
"I promise. Mom will recover and we will go home. I promise," Noah said with tears slightly falling.
For some reason, the feeling of fear of death was so terrifying for Noah. He suffered terrible migraines in his head. Even several times, his stomach felt like being stabbed by needles. He should have checked his health condition, but Noah was too afraid to do that.
He was afraid if his illness was also a deadly disease. He didn't want to accept that fact. In the end, Noah ignored it.
"I am fine," he told himself again and again.
...
The small television in the corner of the room was on. The volume was low, but clear enough to hear what was being broadcast.
"...the mysterious phenomenon called Death Syndrome is starting to spread. Victims were found dead suddenly, without wounds, without illness, and without symptoms. They fell asleep and never woke up again. The government is conducting research, but hasn't found any result. Everyone is expected to be cautious. No one knows what causes this phenomenon!"
Noah stared at the screen. Watching the woman speaking inside the screen. He had heard about this strange case since a few days ago. Even one of his colleagues also experienced this strange phenomenon.
His colleague collapsed while holding tea, and was declared dead. Even though he was someone who exercised regularly and ate healthy food.
This death was too strange.
"Already more than 100 cases in the past five days. The government cannot provide an explanation. But everything will be fine. Do your activities as usual."
His mother shifted her gaze from the TV to her son's face. "Are you worried?"
Noah was silent. His jaw tightened.
Yes, he was worried, but he didn't want to show it.
He was afraid that if he fell asleep and never woke up. Because if that happened, who would take care of his mother? Just imagining that, his chest felt suffocated. He couldn't imagine what would happen to his mother if he died. Noah smiled, forced.
"Everything will be fine."
Dark.
His voice disappeared. His breath seemed to stop. Slowly, the sound of people screaming was heard. This was strange.
Noah immediately opened his eyes. At that moment, he was shocked.
He was no longer sitting in the hospital chair. There was no longer the sound of monitors, television, or rattling window. And the scariest thing... his mother was no longer in front of him.
Noah was stunned. "This... where is this?"