It was New Year's Eve. We were streaming live when my brother called.

I spoke first, "I wish you peace and a happy, long life."

He gave a cold laugh. "Yeah, well, I don't want you to have any of that. I hope you spend the rest of your life in misery."

I'd cut him off the year he was flat broke. Now that he was successful, this was the first thing he did—get back at me.

I kept my tone calm. "I wish you peace and a happy, long life."

He sounded annoyed. "Cut it out. There's no way I'm wishing you well. If I have to say something, then I hope you stay miserable forever."

The host hesitated, then chimed in, "Ben, that was just a recording of Hailey's message. And yes, when she left… she was in a lot of pain and quite miserable, just like you hoped for."

"When she left?" Ben Cooper paused, then let out a cold laugh. "I hope you mean she's dead."

The host hesitated, then gestured toward the screen behind him.

On the giant display behind him, my face appeared.

In the footage, I slapped the camera. Rain soaked my hair and shirt, everything clinging tightly to my skin—I looked a mess. My voice was sharp and impatient. "Stop filming. I don't agree to this."

Right after, a slightly husky voice came through, sincere, "I'm not a scammer, I swear. I'm a vlogger who documents real-life stories. I can help you."

I turned from the trash can and pressed my face closer to the lens. "Really? Can you cure cancer?"

The man was stunned.

I gave a crooked smile and laughed. "Don't waste your time. Try someone else."

"I—I can try!" He reached out and stopped me from walking away.

I gave him a once-over.

Then I laughed—just one short burst—and pointed from top to bottom.

"Shirt: twenty. Belt: sixty. Pants: forty. Shoes: fifty. Oh, and the camera? You got that secondhand, didn't you?" I held up five fingers to the lens. "You know how much my treatment costs? Fifty grand."

He stopped breathing for a moment.

I turned, smiling, and walked back into the rain, bending down in front of trash bins. "Dante? Dante, where are you?"

He caught up. "What are you looking for?"

"A dog."

"Yours?"

"No. I passed out earlier, and he licked me awake. I thought it was a pretty good name."

The man didn't say anything.

I looked up. "If you're not doing anything, don't waste time here. There are plenty of people in the world you can help. Don't waste it on me."

I placed my hand over the lens.

The screen went black.

…

[In the Next Life — Oct. 11, 2023, 9:32 AM — I Don't Need Anyone's Pity]

"You're Hailey Cooper, Ben Cooper's sister, right?"

I was sweeping the back kitchen of a café. I frowned when I heard the voice. "You again?"

His voice came from behind the camera. "People online are saying you betrayed your family, but they don't know you have cancer. I want to film a documentary series about you. Is that okay?"

I shook my head. "Betrayed them? Fine, let it be that. Took me long enough to build this image. Are you here to ruin it?"

"Wait!" He grabbed my arm. "But you don't have a dime right now. How are you going to pay for treatment? Let me help. I still have some savings."

I turned and smiled. "Take a guess. Why do you think I cut ties with Ben?"

He froze.

I pulled my arm back, waved him off. "I've got a job. I don't need your help. Just go."

"I asked around. This job only pays two hundred a month."

"Still don't need it." I turned away and smiled over my shoulder. "I don't need anyone's pity."

The words had barely left my mouth when I suddenly dropped to my knees.

"Hailey!"

The camera shook violently.

On the ground around me, there was a large pool of blood.

"You—!"

William Keen's voice trembled as the camera was tossed aside.

The camera caught a tall man rushing forward, catching me in his arms.

"Come on, I'll take you to the hospital!"

Just as William was about to lift me, I raised my hand and pushed him away.

I grabbed a rag, wiped the floor, then used the back of my hand to clean the blood from the corner of my mouth. "No need."

Then I walked over to the sink and rinsed the blood from my face.

William's voice trembled slightly. "Please… just let me help you…"

I wiped away the last trace of blood, turned to him, and looked him straight in the eyes. "I don't need anyone's help."

And with that, I stepped out of frame.

…

[In the Next Life — Nov. 15, 2023, 3:21 PM — A Puppy Doesn't Know It's Dying, It Just Knows It Finally Has A Home]

"What do you mean?"

Inside the pet hospital, I stared at the vet in disbelief.

He sighed and shook his head. "Most likely, his owner abandoned him because they knew he wouldn't make it. He's been starving every day, bullied by other strays. He…"

I gave a small smile. "I know. You're about to say he doesn't have much time, right?"

The vet hesitated, then nodded.

It was the same reaction my doctor had given me.

William frowned. "There's really nothing we can do?"

"…Just give him good food, treat him well."

The room fell into silence.

I gently stroked Dante's head. "No wonder the two of us met."

Dante wagged his tail wildly, rubbing up against me, tongue out, his bright black eyes looking straight at me.

William gave a bitter smile. "He thinks you're his owner."

I paused. "Is that… something to be happy about?"

He nodded, patting the dog's head. "A puppy doesn't know it's dying. All it knows is, it has a home now."

I was quiet for a moment.

Then I patted the dog's head. "Your name's Dante."

"Woof!" Dante barked once.

As I held Dante and walked out of the pet hospital, I turned to face the camera. "You were the one who found him and brought him back to me. In return, I'll let you film me."

…

[In the Next Life — Dec. 31, 2023, 9:00 PM — I Hope You Live a Long Life, Part One]

"Where'd you get that?" I looked at the videotape William was holding and frowned.

He gave it a little shake and smiled. "A good documentarian should know their subject."

Then he popped the tape into the camcorder. The screen—an old TV left behind by the previous tenant—lit up.

A girl in a pink dress with long hair leaned toward the camera.

It was me. Back then, there was still hope in my eyes.

"Happy New Year, everyone! Wishing you all a fantastic 2015 filled with peace, happiness, and making all your dreams come true!

"You were really lively back then." William sat beside me, a smile in his eyes as he watched.

I curled up with a pillow on the torn-up couch in the rented apartment, head peeking out from under a blanket. "So you went through all my old Instagram videos?"

"I thought they were interesting. Figured I'd take a look."

I didn't say anything.

On-screen, the younger me sat surrounded by presents, a little crown clipped to my hair.

A familiar voice came through, "Don't rush—let your brother help."

Ben entered the frame and sat cross-legged next to me.

I raised my hand, making a "stop" gesture. "No! I always do things myself!"

The camera cut to him clasping a necklace around my neck. "Happy New Year, little princess."

Click! The sound of a snapshot. The screen froze on my wide, beaming smile.

Then came the sound of laughter—chaotic and loud—as I smeared cake on my brother's nose.

He froze for a second, then smiled. "Stop messing around. Your hair's a mess. Come here, I'll fix it for you."

The video was filled with my laughter, my joy.

And outside the video, I suddenly laughed too.

Wiping the corner of my eye, I let out a shaky sigh. "After our parents died, everyone just assumed I was pitiful."

"But the truth is… I was never really that pitiful. I still had my brother, and my friends…" I said.

A gust of wind howled through the cracks of the run-down rental. I pulled the blanket tighter around myself as silent tears rolled down my cheeks.

My reddened hand was suddenly wrapped in warmth. William had reached out, his gaze steady and serious.

"I've saved up a bit. Let's go to the hospital tomorrow and start your treatment, okay?"

I sniffled, then let out a soft laugh. "You don't even have a hundred followers on your channel yet, and you still share instant noodles with me every day. How much could you possibly have saved?"

His fingers curled into fists on the faded denim covering his knees. "It's… enough to help a little."

"No need," I said with a smile. "Actually, I have good news. I've saved up two thousand dollars. That's enough for one round of chemo."

William blinked in surprise. Then, he smiled. "Is it enough? I can chip in too."

I shook my head stubbornly. "No need. I never accept help from others."

I tilted my chin up with pride, shooting him a grin. "Relax. I'm earning enough now to cover my meds. Look, these are what I bought with my salary."

I scooped up a handful of colorful pills, tossed them back, and swallowed without hesitation. Then I frowned, falling into a long silence as I pressed a hand to my chest and finally exhaled in relief.

When I looked up, William was staring at me. His eyes were faintly red at the corners.

I let out a sudden laugh. "Impressed?"

He lowered his gaze. His smile was soft, but it carried a quiet bitterness. "Yeah."

…

[In the Next Life — December 31, 2023, 11:45 PM — I Hope You Live a Long Life, Part Two]

The camera rolled on the two of us, full and warm after dinner, nestled on the couch waiting for the New Year countdown.

William turned to me. "Is that really all you're eating?"

"My stomach hurts," I said, weary. "Any more and I'll throw up."

He was silent for a moment before speaking again, "Ben… he succeeded. His new project made tens of millions."

I kept my eyes shut. "I know."

"You should go back to him. He could afford to cure you."

I shook my head.

"Why not? Do you really want to die like this?"

I opened my eyes and looked at him. "Did you think, when I cut ties with him, I still had hope I'd survive?"

That left him speechless. He took a deep breath before asking, voice trembling, "Why cut him off? Wouldn't it be better if he faced this with you?"

I gave a soft, bitter laugh. "Our parents had always taught us to be independent. To not accept help from others. But our family was always helping all our relatives."

My voice was calm, but my hands clenched beneath the blanket.

"Yet when my brother went bankrupt, not a single one of our relatives lifted a finger. Do you know what it felt like… watching him bow and scrape, begging them to help pay for my tuition?"

I choked on a breath, teeth clenched. "My brother… he never begged. But after that rejection, he took me to a tiny rental—barely twenty square meters, not unlike this place. And he told me, even with nothing, he'd get us back to where we were. That's the brother I admire. Even with nothing, he'd never give up his pride."

I turned to look at him, tears sparkling in my eyes. "Now guess, what do you think he'd do if he found out I was sick?"

William couldn't answer.

"He'd get on his knees to those relatives. He almost did before, for my tuition. I stopped him just in time…" I laughed softly, wiping at my eyes.

"By the time I left, he and his partner were finally starting to make it. So now tell me, if he finds out I've become a sick burden, do you think his partner would still invest in his business?"

William's voice cracked. "Hailey…"

I lifted a hand, stopping him. "Cancer might kill me. But fifty grand… that would kill him."

William clenched his fists tightly.

I let out a soft sigh and smiled.