I've been lying in a hospital bed for five years. Five years of being a passive spectator to a life I once held tightly with rough, scarred hands. I, a forty-year-old man, now feel the cold of the hospital blanket more often than the warm sunlight that once burned my spirit.
The accident came without warning, turning my son's fifteenth birthday into a moment full of pain and unanswered questions. I'm paralyzed—not just physically, but part of my soul is trapped inside, dancing endlessly with memories that won't let go.
I have a story. A story about how my son and I built a world from scratch, from under a dark, damp bridge, where a red-and-white umbrella wasn't just protection from rain but a symbol of hope.
When my wife died giving birth to my son, I nearly drowned in endless grief. That baby, my only heir, became the reason I clung to life in this cruel world. I raised him alone, in conditions so harsh that even the word "hard" feels too soft to describe it.
I remember clearly—we lived under the bridge. Yes, just like you imagine: dirty, cramped, and smelly. Every night I clutched that red-and-white umbrella, our only "roof" against the rain and biting cold. That umbrella wasn't just an object—it was a symbol, a reminder of the dark times we survived.
From collecting scrap metal to starting a small business selling mineral water I took directly from the mountains, I began rebuilding our life. Every drop of sweat and every sip of water I shared with my son fueled our dreams.
Five years later, the company I built—named after that umbrella, Umbrella Corporation—has become one of the world's leading medical corporations. But don't get me wrong, this isn't a sci-fi horror story. This company is the embodiment of a father's hard work, hope, and love for his child.
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I remember clearly how I bought my childhood favorite game, Warcraft, for my son. We spent hours in front of the screen, fighting together against orc armies and dragons, while I taught him the most important thing: "Be kind to everyone. No matter who they are. Because behind it all, we once were the same—people with nothing."
But the world never stops turning, and on his fifteenth birthday, our world changed again. The accident came, putting me in a hospital bed and making me wonder if I could still protect my son, if our dreams could survive.
Every day, my son tells me about the Warcraft game he's playing. Even though I'm paralyzed and can't speak, he visits me faithfully once a week. At only fifteen, he already leads our company. When he visits, he tries to make me comfortable by sitting me up on the hospital bed, and we watch movies together—like the newly released Lord of the Rings in theaters.
Every time he comes, he talks non-stop about the novels and the world of elves he reads every night. The elves there bring him happiness and awe for their dedication to guarding Middle-earth. He even wishes, "If only the elves from Lord of the Rings could help the elves in the sad world of Warcraft."
My son also tells me about the new game he's playing, Dragon Nest, and his favorite anime, Fairy Tail. He hopes the elves from Lord of the Rings have magic powers they could bring to Azeroth to help the elves there.
I can only listen, unable to respond, because my body is completely paralyzed now.
When I breathed my last breath, with all my strength I hugged my son and said, "I love you completely." Five years lying in that hospital bed finally came to an end.
My son cried, heartbroken, losing a father who loved him deeply.
But my death didn't send me to heaven or hell as I hoped. I drifted in an endless dark void, directionless and timeless.
I don't know how long I stayed in that darkness until finally I saw a bright light shining far away, calling my soul.
I tried to move closer, entering the light. There was a huge, dazzling orb of light, and from it came a strange voice—I couldn't tell if it was male or female.
"I didn't expect a soul to reach this place," the voice said.
"Who... who are you? Haven't I died? Why do you take the form of a glowing orb?" I asked, puzzled.
"Calm down, young one. I don't have a form. But if you want, I can become anything you imagine," the orb replied.
I was silent. The voice and the way it spoke made me wonder, "Are you God?"
"I'm not God as you know. I've read all your memories—all that caught my interest. Do you have time to tell me about your world?" the orb offered.
"If you're not God, how can you read my memories?" I asked suspiciously.
"I told you, I'm not the God from your place. Come with me to somewhere more comfortable to talk," it invited.
I followed the orb of light. I didn't know where we were going or who this glowing being really was. After drifting so long in darkness, I had no choice but to trust and follow.
Loneliness made the conversation strange, but at least I wasn't alone anymore.
We arrived at a place surrounded by various strange flowers, a beautiful garden.
We sat on chairs with tea and cakes served on a small table in front of us. I wondered, do gods relax like humans? But the voice sounded again immediately.
"Stop thinking like that. I don't need these things, but I follow the customs you had in your old world."
"So, let me introduce myself, my name is Eru Iluvatar."
I was silent hearing the introduction of the orb. Isn't Eru Iluvatar the name of the creator god in Tolkien's work that my son used to talk about? It felt strange and amazing at the same time.
"Sorry, can you change your form first? I feel weird talking to a glowing orb," I said.
"Of course, that makes sense," it replied.
Suddenly, the orb transformed into an old man wearing all white clothes.
"Why did you choose to look like an old man?" I asked.
"Forget it, young one. I took this form randomly from your memories," he answered casually.
I nodded, trying to accept the explanation.
"Sorry for my earlier attitude. Let me introduce myself...," I suddenly stopped; I forgot my own name. I hoped I could still remember it, but I couldn't.
"Seems like you've been drifting here too long, forgetting your own name. Don't worry, it's normal," he said gently. "You are the first human to reach here. So it's normal you also forgot your mother."
I nodded slowly.
"Then, would you like to tell me about your world? I'm very interested," said Eru Iluvatar.
"I can tell you, sir. But didn't you already read my memories? Why should I tell it again?" I answered.
"No, I only glanced. It's better if you tell me directly," he said.
So I sat with the glowing old man and started telling the world I left behind. Various movies, games, and famous franchises I knew until 2025: Warhammer, StarCraft, Star Wars, Halo, Stellaris, Gundam Series, Lord of the Rings, Warcraft, and many more.
I don't know how long we talked. Strangely, the teapot on the table never ran out, nor did the cakes beside it. Everything felt a bit magical.
After quite some time telling, I asked, "You said your name is Iluvatar. Aren't you God in Tolkien's novels?"
"Yes, I am God in that world, but not God in your original world," he replied.
"You said you really liked the world I created?"
"True. But now I'm just a directionless soul, not knowing where to go."
"If you want to go to another world, which one would you choose?" I asked curiously.
"What do you mean by going to another world?" He asked back.
"You just have to answer whether you want to go or not. I give you a gift because you're the only one to come here," he said meaningfully.
"I want to go, but I don't know where. Can I go back to my old world?" I asked again.
"You can't go back. In your original world, there is a true creator God. The dead can't return, even if that God allows."
"That's why I said I'm not the God from your world. We were created from the emotions you have, and that's what forms everything," he explained.
"I understand, but I don't know where to go, like I said before."
"Alright, since you decided, I will send your soul randomly to one of the universes you mentioned earlier."
I was shocked hearing that. If I'm going to be moved to another universe, I asked, "So how will I live there later?"
"My child, I will give you power from a music. As long as your life energy is enough, you can create something like me."
"But there's a condition: you can only create two races, and all come from your imagination. But you may only create elf races. You will be helped by the Valar to manage everything, as long as you sleep deeply after creating the races—that will protect your original body later."
I was silent, shocked by the explanation. It turned out the old man in front of me really was the god from Tolkien's world.
"Do you think I'm strange, young one?"
"Of course not, I'm just shocked by the news I received."
"That's normal. Since this is our first meeting, you have the right to be suspicious. But as I said, you can't go back. I have to send your soul to another world so you won't vanish completely. Consider this my early gift for keeping me company."
"You're free to choose whether to enter or not, as I said."
"Alright, thank you very much, Lord Iluvatar."
"Hahaha, no need to thank me. Since you forgot your name, I will give you mine: Son Iluvatar."
"I hope by going to another world, you can do good things for that world."
I thanked him again, then stepped into the portal with the old man, heading to a universe unknown to me.