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Mark had a dilemma. He was cursed by a demon. Every time he did a good deed, a piece of his heart vanished—he could even see it happen, watching as each chip fell off and rotted before his eyes.
It all began when he chased an annoyed crossroad demon who, instead of granting a wish, gave him a curse.
At first, the problem seemed easy to solve: all he had to do was limit his interactions and make sure never to do another good deed. But the real problem was that Mark had already decided his life’s purpose—to help people. Ironically, it was his eagerness to help that led him to find the demon in the first place, ultimately causing his downfall.
Mark tried the first solution that came to mind. He prayed. He prayed for an entire month, calling on every known angel and saint. He prayed to different gods, reciting all the good deeds he had done in his life to prove why he was the most deserving person on earth to receive help.
His prayers went unanswered.
