Beep... Beep... Beep...
In a room swallowed by darkness, the faint glow of a computer monitor reveals the silhouette of a young man. The shrill cry of an alarm clock pierces the silence, blaring through his ears like a warning he no longer has the strength to heed.
Suddenly, a young girl, around sixteen years old, walked into the room. "Brother, it's time for your medicine. I'll help you take it."
She walked over to one of the cabinets in the room to grab the medicine. The table beside it was cluttered with trophies and certificates. She let out a quiet sigh. The once-prodigy of sports and academics was now barely able to take his own medicine — a burden more than anything else. People used to envy her brother, but now, they only scoff and whisper behind their backs.
"Thank you, Mia," the young man replied softly. His name was Elian. He had been diagnosed with Kennedy's disease, a form of muscle atrophy. It slowly weakens the muscles to the point where even simple movements become impossible.
No words were exchanged after that. Mia quietly gave Elian his medicine, then walked out of the room, as if it were a routine she had repeated hundreds of times. She had been the one caring for Elian ever since the family learned he was sick. They were a wealthy family, and his parents had high hopes for him. So when the diagnosis came, they did everything they could to find a cure. But reality hit hard — there was none. Crushed by disappointment, they walked away and left him behind.
In that moment, he realized it was never about love — his parents didn't truly care for him. To them, he was just an investment in their future. Looking back, he couldn't recall a single memory of laughter or warmth, nothing that resembled a normal, happy family. His days were filled with training, studying, and constant pressure to be perfect. If he messed up, they scolded him. If he lost focus, they punished him.
Mia was the only one who had always looked up to Elian. To her, he was more than a brother. He was her only friend, playmate, and family. Ever since they were little, their parents had focused all their attention on Elian, determined to shape him into someone great. Mia, who showed no standout traits as a child, was quietly overlooked. It was that very neglect that brought her closer to Elian. He was the only person who ever truly noticed her, who gave her the time and care no one else did.
Now that Elian was sick, Mia took it upon herself to handle his medication, and whenever she had time, even his meals. The other tasks — things like baths and general chores — were mostly left to the maids.
Staring up at the dark ceiling, Elian was left alone with his thoughts, lost in the memories of his past. Fragments of old scenes flickered through his mind like a silent film.
***
*Cheers & Applause*
Standing on stage was a tall young man, sharp-jawed, bright-eyed, with a confident smirk tugging at his lips. He wore a plain white shirt, shorts, and sandals, casual to the point of defiance. Yet around his neck hung a gold medal, a symbol of his mastery over the others.
Beside him stood middle-aged men with silver and bronze medals, their faces tight with displeasure.
It was supposed to be a formal event, a ceremony honoring the nation's best in chess. But his appearance and attitude stirred resentment. To the others, his lack of preparation felt like a slap in the face, a show of disrespect toward their effort, passion, and the game itself.
But it couldn't be helped. For Elian, mastering new skills had always been like a walk in the park. It hadn't even taken him a month to dominate chess well enough to win a national-level competition. And this wasn't his first achievement. He excelled in everything, from swimming and martial arts like karate, to esports like Tetris and League of Legends, and many more.
It was clear to everyone that he possessed exceptional reflexes, sharp memory, and powerful cognitive abilities. His body coordination was often described as "monstrous."
This overwhelming talent bred the indifference and nonchalance he now displayed. It wasn't meant as an insult to those who poured their hearts into their craft, it was simply the quiet weight of someone who had always stood alone at the top.
Because of this, envy was inevitable. Many people watched him with quiet resentment, waiting, even hoping, for his downfall. And like the miracle he was, a miracle of a different kind happened.
While standing on stage, Elian suddenly collapsed. He wasn't unconscious, but his eyes were unfocused, and panic crept in as he realized he couldn't feel his body. The numbness struck without warning, leaving him confused and terrified.
The crowd erupted in chaos. Some watched with genuine concern as he was rushed to the ER. Others, however, looked on with thinly veiled satisfaction, their envy quietly fed by the sight of a star finally falling.
Humans can be petty sometimes, wishing misfortune on those who've never wronged them. But who knows? Maybe God did listen to their wishes.
Later on, he and his family learned the truth. He had been diagnosed with a genetic illness known as Kennedy's disease. From that moment on, he began to feel it creeping in. Slowly, day by day, he was losing control over his own body.
The once-glorious youth, once hailed as the most prominent figure of his generation, now lay bedridden — unable to move a single muscle.
Elian could only curse under his breath. "When they said you can't have it all… maybe this is what they meant. What's the point of having talent if you can't even use it? It's like owning a pair of shoes you can't fit into. Fuck."
"God, this isn't funny. Is this your idea of a joke? Some twisted 'character development'? If it is, then I want out. I don't want to be the main character in your story. This… this is no different from being dead. Alive? That's a word made up by people who still have the luxury of doing things."