All Chapters of His Countdown Ended, but I Died: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

I suddenly felt my body become weightless. I looked through the old, weathered wooden door panel and saw the warm light in the living room.Mom and Dad, Linda Mills and Frank Nash, were sitting close to Eli Nash, my elder brother, on the couch. Mom gently patted Eli's back, while Dad kept his head lowered, his shoulders trembling slightly.Eli wore his only new tracksuit, which was pale blue with a few small star emblems embroidered on the chest. He looked exceptionally pale under the light, his lips almost entirely devoid of color. He asked softly, his voice thick with a nasal tone, "Is Ash really fine, Mom and Dad? I heard him crying out that his head was hurting…""You should just leave him be," Dad said.Mom agreed with Dad's sentiment. She reached out to tenderly caress Eli's cheek, tucking away the loose strands of hair from his forehead. "Your father is right, Eli. He clearly doesn't have a fever. He's just pretending to be sick to gain sympathy. You have only one day left

Dad slammed his cutlery on the dining table and yelled, "Ash Nash! How can you be so spoiled and unreasonable?"He rose to his feet, his face livid. "Do you not know how bad Eli's health is? Do you not know that Eli…"He trailed off, unable to finish what he intended to say.I had no idea what they were talking about back then. I only knew that Eli always had a pale complexion, that he would occasionally cough, and that Mom and Dad had always looked at him with those sorrowful eyes of theirs. I didn't understand what it all meant back then. "Why does everything belong to Eli?" I jumped off my chair and pointed at Eli, who was sitting across from me, sobbing while yelling, "You should just drop dead and give me back what's mine!"Eli tried to speak, but nothing came out.Mom stood up abruptly and slapped me hard across the face.That was the very first time I had been struck so hard.Eli tried to throw himself forward to shield me, but Mom held him back with a firm grip, saying

Grandma's voice rose, tears welling up in her eyes. "What about Ash, then? Hasn't Ash had it tough too? What has he ever received growing up? He merely got Eli's hand-me-downs and leftovers—even your love, the vast majority of it goes to Eli!""Mom, I…" Mom tried to defend herself, but her voice was weak and carried no confidence."They're both good children! What have you done as their parents? Do you not feel indebted to Ash? Does he not deserve to be loved at all?" Grandma asked.Mom sank weakly into the chair and covered her face, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably.Grandma said hoarsely, "How can you not allow the two brothers to see each other one last time? Eli is leaving tomorrow. Ash is his only brother, the one he's protected since childhood! How can you let Eli go just like that? Do you want him to leave the world with regrets?""I-I'm not doing that…" Mom sobbed behind her hands, her voice cracking. "I just wanted Eli's last day to be a happy one. I didn't want Ash t

Dad's hand remained frozen in place for a very long time. He then slumped to the floor, bawling like a child. He cried as he spoke, his voice hoarse and nearly impossible to make out. "H-He's dead… Ash is actually dead… Ash is dead…"Eli was still standing in the doorway. His hand on the doorframe was shaking, while his whole body was trembling. He looked at Mom and Dad crying inside the storage room, then at the small, lifeless body in the corner. He then murmured, "Ash…"He suddenly blacked out and collapsed to the floor."Eli!" Mom shrieked, throwing herself forward and catching him right before he collapsed onto the floor.In that instant, chaos erupted in the living room.…It was already noon when Eli regained consciousness.Mom sat on the side of the bed, her eyes swollen and bloodshot from all the crying. She held his hand and said repeatedly, "You're alright now, Eli. It's all over now. It's good that you're alright, Eli…"Eli opened his eyes and stared at the ceilin

Grandma sidestepped to avoid Mom. She then glared coldly at her and said, "Ash is already dead. You were the one who locked him up for the night. How long are you going to live in denial, Linda?"Mom slumped to the floor, covering her face and sobbing uncontrollably. "I'm so sorry. It's all my fault. I'm so sorry, Ash. Please come back to me..."Dad kneeled on the floor and repeatedly struck his forehead against the ground with a heavy, rhythmic thumping sound."Please don't do this, Dad…" Eli cried, reaching out to pull him back, only to be violently pushed aside by Dad."It's all my fault! It's entirely my fault!"Grandma took in the family and the sheer absurdity of the scene before shutting her eyes. She regained her composure once she opened her eyes. She then carried me to the door and said, "I'm going to buy Ash's burial clothes.""Mom!" Dad suddenly ran over and clung to Grandma's leg. "Please don't take him away! Please don't leave with Ash!"Grandma looked down at Da