Chapter 1: Life
"Is he eating instant noodles once again?"
"He's been eating the same food ever since I've been employed here in the hospital..."
"What an unhealthy lifestyle..."
"He needs to eat more vegetables and meat..."
A pair of female nurses whispered to each other as they both stared at a glass window where they could see a young man eating in bed.
Although the nurses are whispering to each other, the young man can tell that they are talking about him.
The boy was neither angry nor irritated with the nurses, as he frequently gets the same stare when people pass by his room.
'Why am I eating instant noodles again and again every single day instead of healthy foods? Simply put, I cannot afford meals like that.'
'Why do so many people pass judgment on others without analyzing the situation first?'
'One of the things I hate about human nature is that people tend to see things in a superficial light. They never attempt to understand the situation in its entirety. People are really bound to judge a book by its cover.'
'Sigh. Anyway, it's also my fault for always ordering cup noodles every single day.'
'Well, I also decided that buying cup noodles is more efficient for myself because it's tasty, easy to eat and it's way cheaper than other foods.' The young man thought to himself as he savored each mouthful of the steaming broth and tender noodles.
The young man who is eating in bed is Ray.
Ray was born with a rare illness that left him bedridden since birth. As a result, he has spent his entire life confined to his bed, unable to move or explore the world around him like most people can.
To make matters worse, Ray doesn't even know who his parents are.
He has no idea what they look like or what their names are. He doesn't know why they abandoned him or whether they even care about him at all.
He has no one in the world that he can call family. He has never known the love and support of a parent, nor has he had any friends or close relatives to turn to in times of need.
Ray had been living in the hospital for as long as he could remember.
Still, he is not entirely unlucky because someone is shouldering his expenses in the hospital.
It was a random rich guy who donated to a charity dedicated to disabled people.
Ray is one of the people who has been chosen to be sponsored.
Despite the fact that the charity only covers his medical expenses, he is thankful.
He was also given free food every day before. The food was provided by the government. However, when Ray turned 18, things changed.
He was no longer eligible for the free meals, and he had to start paying for his own food.
At first, it was a difficult transition because Ray had never had to worry about meal expenses before.
Ray was in a state of panic at that time, as he was brainstorming on how to earn money.
His financial situation was dire, and he needed a way to make ends meet. Luckily for him, he still had his own phone, which was provided by the government.
With his phone in hand, he began searching for possible job opportunities.
As he was browsing the internet, he stumbled upon a website where people could read novels online.
It was then that he had an epiphany - he could be a web novel writer himself.
Ray had always been an avid reader, with a passion for books that had existed since birth.
His imagination was vast and he was intelligent enough to grasp complex ideas easily.
He had learned how to read and write on his own just by reading books and spent most of his time studying different subjects on his phone.
With all these skills at his disposal, Ray felt confident that he had what it takes to be a web novel writer.
He began writing stories that were inspired by the books he had read, and soon, he had a small following of readers who were eagerly anticipating each new chapter.
Ray was able to earn a barely decent living from his writing but he still felt a sense of pride and accomplishment knowing that he had been able to turn his passion for reading and writing into a career.
Currently, Ray is 19 years old and of course, he still earns his money from writing novels online.
His earnings are modest, and he relies on them to cover his daily necessities.
From paying for food and purchasing basic necessities, such as clothes and toiletries, every money he earns from his writing is crucial to his survival.
As he finished his noodles, Ray couldn't help but feel grateful for the small joys in life.
His writing gave him a sense of purpose and the noodles, though not the healthiest, were a comfort to him.
He knew that he had a long road ahead of him, but he was determined to make the most of his circumstances and live life on his own terms.
As the days turned into weeks and the weeks turned into months, Ray's life continued on.
He spent most of his days in his hospital bed, writing stories and dreaming of a life beyond the walls of his room.
And now, as he looked at the calendar, he realized that tomorrow was a very special day.
Tomorrow was his 20th birthday.
Ray couldn't believe how fast time had flown by. It felt like just yesterday that he was a teenager, dreaming of the day when he would finally be able to leave the hospital and start his life.
But now, as he approached his 20th year, he knew that his dreams were still far from becoming a reality.
Despite this, Ray refused to let his spirits dampen. He was determined to make the most of his special day, even if it was just like any other day.
He began to plan out how he would spend his birthday, thinking of ways to make it memorable.
Perhaps he would write a special story, or maybe he would treat himself to a special meal.
He had even thought about asking the nurses if they could decorate his room with balloons and ribbons.
Anything to make his birthday feel special.
As he drifted off to sleep, Ray couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement for what tomorrow would bring.
Even if it was just another day in the hospital, it was still his birthday, and that meant something.
He was grateful for the life he had, despite its challenges, and looked forward to seeing what the future would hold.
March 9th year 2022, today is Ray's birthday, he wakes up not because of excitement but to a sharp, throbbing pain that shoots through his body.
Although he is awake, the pain he is experiencing keeps him from opening his eyes.
Ray was no stranger to pain, but this sensation was particularly excruciating.
He tried to shake it off by screaming, hoping that the sudden outburst would somehow help him to overcome the agony.
However, to his disappointment, the feeling persisted, unwavering in its intensity.
Ray clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, determined to endure the pain.
He tried to take deep breaths, hoping to calm his nerves and alleviate the discomfort.
But every time he thought the pain was easing up, it returned with even greater force, making him feel like he was being torn apart from the inside.
He wanted to cry out for help, to call for the nurses or doctors to come to his aid, but no one was answering him.
Ray realized that the pain was something he had to endure on his own.
After a few minutes of suffering in pain, Ray lost consciousness.
Many hours had passed since Ray passed out when suddenly Ray's eyes slowly opened.
As he looked around, the only thought that entered his mind was, 'Where the f*ck am I?'