The old man
Chapter One #
Would you choose to live forever or die as a normal human?
That is a question many people would ask me. A normal human would choose to live forever—but I would choose to die as one.
The old man
Year: 1345
When I was born, my mother died. I never met her, and my father abandoned me shortly after. I was raised by my uncle, but he and my cousin mistreated me. Every single day, they complained that I was living in my mother’s house with them. My uncle kept telling me that my mother’s death was my fault.
She died of depression after being abandoned by my father and rejected by my grandparents, who did not accept my birth because my parents were not married. In that era, having a child outside of marriage was a taboo. That is why my mother asked my uncle to take care of me. Since they had no home of their own, they accepted.
One day, they grew tired of me and threw me out. I did not know where to go or what to do. I spent five days walking, trying to find something to eat or drink, but I found nothing. I asked myself many times why I was born. Perhaps my uncle was right. Perhaps I was at fault for my mother’s death.
At one point, I felt my strength leaving me, my legs giving out. All I could think was, Forgive me, Mother.
Then I saw a light approaching. I thought someone had come to take me away.
A voice spoke:
“Die here or live forever.”
I wanted another opportunity to prove that the life my mother gave me had value. That is why I made the best—or perhaps the worst—decision of my life.
The next morning, I woke up completely healthy. I was confused by what had happened, but I kept walking. I no longer felt hunger or thirst. Inside my pack, I found a piece of paper. It read:
“Welcome to living forever—the worst punishment of all.”
I was scared and confused.
As you might expect, I no longer needed food or water. I had become immortal. At first, I was happy because I had another chance to live. I had obtained something that neither science nor religion could ever reach—eternal life, something everyone desires.
But I kept asking myself: What was that light?
After a few weeks of thinking about it, I faced my first great decision: What should I do with my life now?
While wandering, I met an old man carrying a heavy bag on his shoulders. I decided to help him. He told me he lived alone in an old house in the middle of a dark forest. When I asked about his family, he said they had left him long ago.
I asked if he was not afraid of living alone.
He answered:
“Life is too short to live in fear.”
He allowed me to stay the night. When I explained that I had nowhere to go, he offered to let me stay for a while. He did not want to die alone—no one wants to die alone. In exchange, he would teach me some medicine.
Even if I did not need a doctor, I still needed knowledge to survive—to earn clothes and shelter. So, I accepted. I believed that with my ability, I could help people and understand how my body worked now.
I studied hard and helped him care for the cows that provided milk and cheese. Some he kept, and some he traded for rice.
The old man always woke up with energy and a zest for life. It was contagious. He taught me simple remedies, and I helped him with his chores. To be honest, I was very happy I had accepted his offer.
Months passed.
One day, I went to the nearest town to trade for rice. When I returned, I found him lying on his bed. He never woke up again. But he looked peaceful, without regrets.
That was when I understood how fragile human life is.
For someone who had never been loved, he was the first person who treated me like a human being. I felt something I had never felt before. I felt empty. I felt sadness.
I realized then that I did not truly understand human emotions—even though I was one.
I buried him next to his house; the place he clung to even though it meant being abandoned by his family.
Before leaving, I thanked him at his grave. I regret not telling him how much he meant to me.
After a few days, I continued my journey.
