CHAPTER 1
"Fall"
I woke up to sunlight on my face and that annoying hum of the electric fan wiggling on low speed like it's tired of life too. For a moment, I didn't move. I just lay there staring at the ceiling, letting the rays warm my eyelids. You know that half-awake moment where you're not thinking of anything yet? It felt peaceful. Quiet. Safe.
If I had known it would be my last normal morning, maybe I would have stayed in bed longer.
My alarm finally decided to scream, ruining the soft atmosphere.
"Okay, okay, I'm alive," I grumbled, slapping my phone until it shut up.
I stretched my arms above my head, bones popping like cheap bubble wrap. My hair felt like a nest — honestly, I think a bird could've lived in it. I rolled out of bed, walked like a zombie to the bathroom, and washed my face. Cold water hit my skin and I gasped.
"Good morning to me," I mumbled to the mirror, still looking like a potato who saw the ghost of responsibilities.
After brushing my teeth, I tied my hair into a messy ponytail. No effort today. I wasn't in the mood to impress anyone. I didn't even plan to see anyone special. Just errands, normal stuff, typical day type vibes.
I could still smell breakfast when I walked out of my room. Garlic rice, eggs, coffee — the kind of comfort smell that hugs you before you even sit down. Mom already left for work but she always cooked for me. On the table, there was a plate and a small sticky note.
*Eat before you leave. Love you.*
I smiled while chewing my first bite. "Love you too, Ma," I whispered to nobody.
While eating, I watched the sunlight move slowly across the floor tiles. It felt warm. Familiar. I liked mornings like this — slow, quiet, ordinary. No drama. Just life happening calmly.
I finished quickly, washed my plate, grabbed my bag, and checked myself in the mirror near the door. Casual jeans, white shirt, clean sneakers. Face looking okay enough to be seen in public. Good.
Outside, the world was already busy. Tricycles passed by, vendors shouted "tahooo!" and kids were laughing somewhere down the street. I put on my earphones and started walking. Music low. Hands in pockets. My mind drifting.
I wasn't rushing. I had nowhere special to be.
Sometimes, normal feels nice. Stable. Safe.
I didn't know it was the kind of normal I would replay in my head again and again later — wishing I could go back.
I walked to the convenience store first. Grabbed shampoo, snacks, random small things I probably didn't need but bought anyway. After that, I stopped by a small bakery. Fresh bread smell hit me like a hug.
"One cheese roll please," I said.
Simple joy. Soft bread, warm filling, powdered sugar on top. I ate while walking, crumbs on my shirt, totally not caring. Life was simple in moments like that.
I passed a group of students laughing loudly, holding iced coffees. I saw an old man feeding stray cats near the corner. A kid chasing his balloon. Everything looked so alive. So normal. It was one of those days where the world feels kind, even if it's just in little ways.
I was thinking about maybe getting milk tea later when my phone buzzed.
Mom:
> Don't forget to buy medicine later. And message me when you get home.
> Yes ma, don't worry 😏
I smiled and kept walking. I didn't know that text would become one of the last things she sent me before everything turned upside down.
The sky was bright — the type of blue that makes everything look hopeful. I didn't feel scared. I didn't feel anything strong. Just content. Just there.
I crossed the street near the intersection. The pedestrian light blinked. Cars slowed. I waited, foot tapping, humming with my earphones on.
Green light.
I stepped off the curb, looking ahead, thinking about nothing serious. Maybe lunch. Maybe laundry. Maybe whether I had enough coins for a jeep ride home.
Then—
A rush of wind.
Tires skidding.
A shout somewhere.
My heart jumped.
I turned my head —
and everything exploded into noise.
The blinding flash.
The roar of a horn.
The world suddenly spinning too fast.
I didn't even have time to scream.
Just one thought, sharp and small:
This can't be happening.
Then impact — a heavy crash like the sky dropped on me. Something sharp. Something cold. My body felt weightless, then not at all.
Sound faded.
Light dissolved.
Everything slowed, then disappeared.
I felt nothing.
And the world slipped away from me, like I was falling into a place deeper than sleep.
Dark.
Quiet.
Still.
This can't be happening.
to be continued...