In the Next Life

"When she left?" Ben Cooper paused, then let out a cold laugh. "I hope you mean she's dead."The host hesitated, then gestured toward the screen behind him.On the giant display behind him, my face appeared.In the footage, I slapped the camera. Rain soaked my hair and shirt, everything clinging tightly to my skin—I looked a mess. My voice was sharp and impatient. "Stop filming. I don't agree to this."Right after, a slightly husky voice came through, sincere, "I'm not a scammer, I swear. I'm a vlogger who documents real-life stories. I can help you."I turned from the trash can and pressed my face closer to the lens. "Really? Can you cure cancer?"The man was stunned.I gave a crooked smile and laughed. "Don't waste your time. Try someone else.""I—I can try!" He reached out and stopped me from walking away.I gave him a once-over.Then I laughed—just one short burst—and pointed from top to bottom."Shirt: twenty. Belt: sixty. Pants: forty. Shoes: fifty. Oh, and the camera?

"But the truth is… I was never really that pitiful. I still had my brother, and my friends…" I said.A gust of wind howled through the cracks of the run-down rental. I pulled the blanket tighter around myself as silent tears rolled down my cheeks.My reddened hand was suddenly wrapped in warmth. William had reached out, his gaze steady and serious."I've saved up a bit. Let's go to the hospital tomorrow and start your treatment, okay?"I sniffled, then let out a soft laugh. "You don't even have a hundred followers on your channel yet, and you still share instant noodles with me every day. How much could you possibly have saved?"His fingers curled into fists on the faded denim covering his knees. "It's… enough to help a little.""No need," I said with a smile. "Actually, I have good news. I've saved up two thousand dollars. That's enough for one round of chemo."William blinked in surprise. Then, he smiled. "Is it enough? I can chip in too."I shook my head stubbornly. "No need

"I know, I know… You don't have to forgive me. Don't ever forgive me. Just keep walking—walk all the way home. To a warm and peaceful home..."Dante closed his eyes.A sharp pain surged through my stomach, making me dizzy. I turned and stumbled outside, throwing up violently by the flower bed.By the time William found me, I was sitting on the bench beside the flower bed, dazed."Hailey!" He rushed to my side, panic in his voice. "How are you feeling?"I turned to him, my face streaked with tears. "You want the truth?""Of course.""I'm scared. I just… want someone to help me."He pulled me into his arms and gently wiped the tears from my face. "It's okay. I'll take you to the hospital right now. We'll hear what the doctors have to say. And while we're there, we'll do the chemo. I have money.""Thank you." I smiled and shook my head. "But I've already talked to plenty of doctors. The chemo… It's a lie. It stopped working a long time ago. Do you even know what 'terminal stage'

[I agree! Ben, cherish your adopted sis well!]…I kept scrolling through the comments, brushing past more comments just like that. Every now and then, I gave one a like.The next second, my phone was yanked from my hand.William clenched his jaw. "What's so interesting about this? People like him don't deserve to be called a brother.""Don't say that." I smiled. "He's the best brother in the world.""You're still defending him? Even now?" William's voice trembled with suppressed rage. "He practically congratulated you on dying."I was quiet for a moment. Then, I took back the phone and showed him the most recent seven-figure transfer."Anonymous. They come in every few days." My tone was light. "But I know it's him."William froze. The veins on the back of his hand bulged as he gripped the phone."He's always been like that—harsh words, soft heart. There's no way he doesn't hate me. He probably hates me more than anyone else. But… he's not someone who lets go of feelings eas

Another phone number was also flooded with calls. No one ever picked up, but a recorded message played in a loop, "I wish you peace and a happy, long life."The number Ben called the most was that one.In the dim study, as he listened to Hailey's voice over and over, tears slid silently down his face. It was a long time before he noticed Samantha standing at the door.…"Germany?"When he heard Samantha's request, Ben frowned. "Didn't you already pass the Concord Medical assessment? Why give that up? Wasn't this your dream?""Yes. But… I want to switch to gastroenterology and specialize in stomach diseases."At the word "stomach," Ben paused.Then he spoke, voice low and heavy, "So everything you studied in dermatology these past years… was for nothing?""I really want to switch to gastroenterology."The study fell into silence.Ben finally gave a small nod. "All right."As Samantha's plane took off, Ben drifted through the next six months in a kind of numbness.Meanwhile,