Chapter 52: Dying Man's Last Breath

Mr. Wang could still remember that dying man's face. He was covered with sweat, dirt, and blood, but the pain behind his eyes was crystal clear.

At the last breaths of that enemy, he cried, "I… I don't wanna die! I don't wanna die yet! Please save me!" He sobbed and begged. "Please, please! I have a family back home and they're waiting for me! They need me! My wife… I miss her so much. And I haven't seen my child yet. I didn't even know if it's a boy or a girl! Please, I want to see my child at least once! I'm begging you, save me. I'm scared of dying…"

And soon after those words, he died with tears trickling down his cheek and temple.

It was a common sight, but it ripped Wang's heart then. Those words and that face were engraved in his mind for as long as he lived.

It was only a few months later that the war was finally letting down.

It's almost a year since Mr. Wang was able to return to his home. He survived except for his right leg. It was replaced with a prosthetic, but he was more than thankful that he even got out of that place alive. He was alright without a leg or two as long as he's still breathing.

He was warmly greeted by his parents, but his young siblings were already estranged from him. He understood it, though. He thought he must gain their affection once more for the time to come.

When he returned to his house, he wasn't able to see his wife, so he thought she must've been out to her job or something.

When he laid down, the memories of that dying man appeared everywhere he went and it scared him so much. He cried and cried for hours until he heard a sound from outside.

He turned around and saw his wife on the verge of breaking into tears.

She ran towards him and embraced him tightly.

"You're safe!" She cried. "You're alive! I'm so glad… Thank goodness you're okay…"

Mr. Wang nodded and embraced her back as he cried, feeling so torn and wounded.

He wasn't okay, he thought. And truly, he wasn't okay.