"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.

"The day I left, I tore into him, called him every name under the sun. In the end, he held onto my arm, crying, begging me to stay. He said things would get better soon, that he'd bring us back to how things used to be. You see him now, all polished and put-together. You'd never imagine how pathetic he looked back then," I said as I recalled the past.

William spoke in a low voice, "Why did he finally let you go?"

I thought back. "I told him he was a failure. That everything he'd achieved in the past was just because of our parents. And now he was just disgracing their name. I said if he still remembered what family meant, he should let me go and find my own happiness. And then, bit by bit, he loosened his grip on me."

The New Year's bell rang. Fireworks burst outside the window. I raised a hand and wiped the tears off my face.

…

[In the Next Life — January 1, 2024, 12:00 AM — I Hope You Live a Long Life, Part Three]

William turned to the window.

"Happy New Year."

"Thanks."

"Aren't you going to wish me something too?"

I looked up. "You want a blessing from someone who's about to die?"

His hand rested gently on my thin, dry one. "Please."

I looked at the golden fireworks outside, as if I were bathing in hope. I smiled. "I hope you live a long life."

The hand on mine clenched slightly, trembling. William kept his gaze on the window, his expression hidden.

The frame shifted—we were each lying down, settling into the silence. But then, in the dark, I reappeared on screen.

I leaned toward the camera, frowning slightly. "Forgot to turn this thing off."

I reached out to stop the recording, then hesitated.

After a pause, I dragged a chair over, sat in front of the lens, and adjusted it, a trace of confusion in my eyes. "Will anyone actually watch this?"

Another firework lit up the sky. Warm yellow light washed over my face. I took a deep breath and gave the camera a small smile.

"If someone sees this… then, I wish you peace and a happy, long life."

I waved at the lens and shut off the camera.

[In the Next Life — January 2, 2024, 10:01 AM — Don't Say You Forgive Me, and Don't Ever Forgive Me]

"Hailey! Wait! Hailey! Hailey!" William rushed behind me, his voice urgent as he grabbed my arm. "Didn't you say you were going for chemo? What are you doing with the money?"

I held the barely breathing Dante in my arms. "Putting him down."

"And what about you?"

"I've made up my mind." I brushed past him and handed Dante to the vet.

"Hailey!" William gripped my arm tightly. "What's more important, the dog or you? You're in pain too, you know that!"

"Exactly because I know what the pain feels like… I'm putting him down."

His grip slackened. I took the chance to push him aside and walked into the exam room.

Dante lay weakly on the table, a plastic cone around his neck. He'd been howling all morning, and now he was just barely breathing.

When he saw me, he still tried to get up, dragging himself toward me like he always used to.

"It's okay, Dante. The pain will be over soon, alright?"

I bent down, gently holding his paw. The vet had already prepared the injection.

The needle went in.

Dante's breathing turned sharp and rapid. He struggled to his feet, then collapsed again.

He looked at me, his belly rising and falling fast. His throat let out a wheezing cry, thin and helpless.

I held back my tears. "I know… it's my fault. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry…"

His breathing slowly calmed. He looked at me, quiet now, as if he had never been sick.

A single tear slid from the corner of his eye into his fur, and he let out a faint whimper.

I stroked his head. "Sleep, Dante. And when you wake up, find yourself a good home and live a sheltered life. And if you ever miss me… come see me in my dreams."