It wasn't raining.
But the rooftops were wet.
Maybe it was leftover rain from the night before. Or maybe just an illusion.
The streetlights glowed dimly, like they too mourned a life that was never fair.
A week ago…
"The patient's blood type is AB. We need a donor with AB negative."
The nurse stood stiffly. Her voice was firm, but her eyes couldn't meet mine.
I stood up. "I'm type O. I'll donate. I'm his father."
Silence.
The nurse took a slow breath and shook her head.
"I'm sorry, that's not compatible."
I turned to her sharply.
"What do you mean? I'm his father. I'm his father!"
She didn't answer. Just motioned for me to sit back down.
Like everything had already been answered by two words: not compatible.
My legs gave out. I slumped into the chair.
The world didn't spin, but I felt like I'd been thrown out of it.
My eyes stayed on the cold, stained hospital floor.
The ticking clock echoed through the room.
Hours passed. I waited.
No one explained. No one dared.
Until I heard a soft voice from inside the hospital room.
"Mom… I want my other dad…"
The world stopped again.
Those words. Like a slow bullet to the heart.
I didn't mean to hear it.
But I did.
Clear. Too clear.
I stood up and walked toward the room.
"What did you mean, sweetheart?"
Ayaka turned. Too fast. Too sharp.
Her face pale. Panicked.
"It's… not what you think. I can explain—"
I stared at her. I didn't blink.
"Ayaka. Let's talk."
I grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the room.
In the empty hospital hallway, I was still holding that arm.
The same arm I once held at our wedding.
The same hand that once wrote 'I love you' at the bottom of my research notes.
Now it felt cold. Distant.
"What do you mean, Ayaka…? I hope my instincts are wrong."
She said nothing.
The world held its breath.
Then she spoke. Quietly. Like every word was meant to hurt.
"Unfortunately, they're right.
You barely gave us enough money. You hardly helped around the house.
You were too obsessed with your experiments, your useless inventions.
You're a worthless husband."
"Ayaka…"
My eyes burned.
Not with anger.
With emptiness.
We fought after that.
Words flew. So did tears. Then came the door slamming shut.
The next day, the court gave its verdict.
Everything ended quickly.
Five years of marriage crumbled in fifteen minutes.
A week later, I saw them at the park.
My child—my former child—smiling on another man's shoulders.
He was tall, handsome, wearing a crisp white shirt.
Ayaka held his arm and laughed softly.
I stood across the street.
Frozen. Silent.
My tired eyes watched them for a second…
Then I looked away.
I couldn't bear to watch the ruins of my life rebuilt by someone else.
Why did it take me this long to see it?
Why didn't I realize that everything had already fallen apart?
That I was just living in the wreckage?
That night, I walked.
No direction. No destination.
Until I reached an old bridge.
The river below rushed fast.
Cold. Dark. But calming.
I stepped onto the railing. Looked down.
There was a strange peace waiting down there. Like maybe… it would all end.
Finally.
Then—
[Are you really going to jump?]
That voice. From behind me. Soft. Calm. Piercing.
I didn't respond. My throat was dry.
[Look below. Do you think breaking your body will fix your life?]
Still, I said nothing.
Not because I didn't know what to say—
but because I felt that voice was right.
I had no answers.
The wind howled louder.
The bridge was empty. Only the sound of water… and my heartbeat.
I didn't even know why it was still beating.
My fingers gripped the cold railing. Ice cold.
But not colder than the memories.
I remembered how it all began.
Maybe five years ago.
Not just Ayaka.
I started remembering even further back…
I didn't know why it came to mind now.
The people.
Their stares.
Their words—like invisible bullets.
"Look, it's that creepy scientist. Always messing with weird stuff."
"We don't want someone like you leading us."
"You call yourself a scientist? I think you're just a pervert."
I didn't even know what I did wrong.
I worked hard. I researched. I didn't hurt anyone.
But the world seemed to have a personal grudge against me.
I thought about giving up before.
But then she came to me. That girl.
Soft smile, dark hair, and a voice that… calmed me.
She was Ayaka. My wife.
Or… ex-wife.
I remembered it clearly.
That day, in the flower garden.
Petals surrounded us. The sky was a soft orange.
I think it was early autumn.
I told her,
"Ayaka… you're the only one who accepted me.
I love you."
Her face turned red.
I don't know if it was from love… or pity.
I couldn't tell anymore.
But she replied,
"I love you too."
Love… what part of me?
I had nothing to offer but useless persistence.
Now, those words…
Felt like sweet poison I let seep into me for too long.
Maybe because she was always there, I forgot the truth.
That the world hated me.
That I didn't deserve happiness.
It was all an illusion.
Happiness… was a lie.
And now, I stood at the edge of the bridge.
Looking down.
The river was still black.
But for the first time, it felt honest.
Then the voice came again.
Closer.
[So… you're really going to jump?]
Still, I didn't answer.
It wasn't desperate. But it wouldn't leave.
Like a shadow. Like a mirror.
I took a deep breath.
Then said quietly,
"If there's a hell… then I've already been living in it.
Because this world is hell."
The voice paused.
Then said—
[Do you want a chance?]
That voice again.
Soft, deep, like it spoke directly to my soul.
"What, a chance to break me more?"
[No… but maybe, yes.]
I sighed.
"What a vague answer."
[Wealth? Power? Beauty? I can grant them.
If you accept a task.]
I didn't reply.
My eyes turned to the sky.
Birds flew in strange but beautiful patterns.
"Now I get it… why birds are a symbol of freedom."
"Honestly, I envy them.
They fly together."
"I… am alone."
Maybe I was hallucinating.
But that voice felt real.
Not just in my head—
it felt like someone was standing right behind me.
[Will you let your story end like this?
Despised. Rejected. Broken. Is that what you want?]
"Who'd be dumb enough to want that…"
I bit my lip.
"I-I want to live a normal life too.
A warm one.
A peaceful one."
I looked down. My hand gripped the freezing railing.
Sweat rolled down my forehead.
"I've lived on my own.
Thrown away by my parents.
I thought… I'd found happiness."
"But I was wrong."
My eyes stung. I didn't know if it was from wind or the tears.
"Ah… well. Doesn't matter anymore."
Because peace was right there.
Below.
Just one step.
"Goodbye."
I closed my eyes.
The wind slapped my face.
Then—
No sound of water.
No crash of my body hitting the river.
Only darkness.
And that voice again, closer than ever.
[Alright then. I'll give you a chance.]
To be continued...