"Who's there?"

"You need not fret, for I am a friend." The voice spoke much clearer and sounded almost like a child.

Victor became even more curious of the owner of the voice and asked. "Who are you?"

"I'm the Watcher."

"Watcher?"

"How should I explain this? Well, I'm just like you. However, I have been around for a long time. I see everything in this world, I also have the ability to control someone's time in this world." The voice continues to explain everything to Victor. "Sometimes, I help those who are lost and help them find their way. Those who linger because they feel like they need more time, so I come to take them with me."

Victor was speechless for a moment as he pondered on what the Watcher was saying. He soon realized this and replied in a depressing tone. "So you're saying I'm dead."

"Yes, you are, and I'm sorry about that…"

"So what's next?" Victor asked, as he now knows his time has come and since the Watcher is here, that means he must go with him as well.

"Well, it's up to you? What do you want to do next?" The young voice asked.

Victor was stunned for a moment confused by what the Watcher meant. "Didn't you come..."

"Well, that's true, but what would you like to do?"

"I want to live, pay back those who did this to me." He cried angrily as he recalled back all the people who had hurt him, "But it's too late now..." Victor bitterly smiled.

"Well, technically yes... Also, is revenge really necessary?"

"Of course, they have degraded me like some trash and tortured me. They who live in pride and prejudice, without even showing me any mercy. Not a day in my life I was not cover in bruised. Not a day in my life, I was talk down upon. Not a day were my mother didn't cry." Victor continued to unleash his fury, recounting the countless hardships he had endured. Realizing that he had not even reconciled with his mother added an additional layer of difficulty to his journey of moving forward.

"Was your life really that meaningless?"

"I thought you could see everything, I'm sure you've seen how miserable my life was. If you didn't, then let me tell you, my life was nothing."

"Then, what would give meaning to your life?"

"To get revenge to those who bullied and torture me, at the same time, and to..." Victor didn't finish what he wished to say, for what he hoped for was far too impossible. But still, how he wishes what he dreamt of could happen.

"And to what? Could you possibly be in love?"

"It's not like that."

"So, once you get your revenge and win the girl you love. Would that bring meaning to your life?"

"Of course, what is life without a purpose? What's the point of living if you can get what you want?" He sounded so different as if the Watcher was seeing a whole different side to the man.

"So then go, live the life you want, but once you achieve everything. Tell me, tell me if your life before was really that meaningless."

"What do you mean?" Victor asked.

"I'll be watching you." The voice became faint, as if it was far away.

"Wait, what do you mean?"

"Hey, are you still there?"

As soon as the voice disappeared, Victor soon saw a bright light flashing in front of him.

Ah, what is happening; why is my body in so much pain. What happened to the kid?

Moments later...

Ah, why does my head? Where am I?

As he slowly opened his eyes, his vision was still blurry and he could make out the white ceiling above him. Turning his head, he saw the silhouette of his mother and an unfamiliar figure beside her. 

"Victor?"

Despite feeling lightheaded, he recognized the voice that called his name.

"Mia," he softly replied with a smile.

"Auntie, Gramps, Vict-Victor, his awake." Amelia loudly called out their names in shock that the man was finally awake, and even called out her name.

The doctor immediately checked on Victor's condition, explaining to his mother that he might not open his eyes again and that his condition was critical.

"Doctor, how's my son?" The woman asked still in shock to see his son finally awake and alive.

"How is he?" Even the old man was shocked that he kept staring at Victor as if he was seeing a ghost.

Both the woman and the old man were eagerly waiting for the doctor's diagnosis, as he was momentarily explaining to then that the boy was no longer with them.

"It's a miracle." Was the word that came out of the doctor's mouth as he could not explain how the boy could wake up? Neither the boy's brain nor heart functioned just a moment ago, yet now... It seems as if the boy was in no danger at all.

"I knew you'll make it through." Amelia cried her eyes out, as she held back on hugging Victor as he was still injured.

"Boy, you worried us for a second. I knew you weren't the type to just let go so easily." Gramps, too, was in tears, pleased to see the boy was doing fine. He recalled how badly beaten the boy was when he saw him lying in the back, covered in trash and blood. He was unable to grasp the situation at first, and it took a while before he called for help. When they were bringing him to the hospital, he was already declared dead on arrival. However, Amelia insists that he was not dead and that they should give him time to wake up.

If it wasn't for Amelia's plead and persistence, Victor should have been in the morgue already.

Amelia, grasps her hand together as she thanks the heavens for answering her prayer.

Victor's mother couldn't hold back as she went over and embraced her son. "Victor, my poor child. I'm sorry, I'm sorry that I couldn't protect you."

Amelia and Gramps, accompanied by the doctor, left the room, recognizing the need for mother and son to spend some time together. They had all witnessed that Victor was fine, and with rest, he would soon recover his usual self.

"Mother, please calm down. This is not your fault, but mine. I'm sorry for causing you pain, for always making you cry," Victor expressed tearfully, realizing he was alive and breathing. He held his mother tightly, grateful for the opportunity to do so once again.

"No, it's all my fault. You deserve a better life than this. If only..." His mother's words trailed off, and she clung to her son. "I'm to blame for all of this."

"Mother, please stop blaming yourself. You are not at fault. Please, don't say such things about yourself."

"Alright, but Victor, know that I'm always here for you. Even when the world is cruel, remember that I love you and will do anything for you. Just promise me one thing," she paused, looking directly into her son's eyes and holding his hands. "Promise me you'll never give up. Never give up easily."

"Mother, I promise, so please stop crying already." Victor embraced his mother even tighter, trying to recall what had happened to him. He wondered if the voice he had heard earlier was just a dream.

In the following days, unexpected visitors arrived to see Victor. Sitting on his bed, with Amelia peeling fruit for him, a group of uniformed men approached.

"Are you Victor?" one of the officers asked.

"Yes, how can I help you, officer?" Victor replied, curious about their visit and accepting the peeled fruits from Amelia.

"It's about your mother," the officer began, struggling to find the right words to deliver the news to the fragile young man who was still bandaged. 

Sensing something terrible had happened to his mother, Victor interrupted, "Did something happen to my mother?"

"Kid, we're very sorry to inform you, but your mother..." The police officer couldn't finish his sentence before Victor jumped out of bed, pulling out his IV drip. "Hey kid, wait..."

Two officers quickly restrained Victor, trying to calm him down. 

"Let me go," he cried, pushing them aside as the realization of his mother's fate sank in.

"Victor, please wait," Amelia hurried to his side, attempting to console him despite her own shock and tears upon hearing the news.

Unable to leave him in that state, the police officers stayed and waited until Victor was more composed before explaining the entire situation to him.

After calming down, Victor returned to his bed, realizing there was nothing he could do. With a grave tone and a direct gaze, he asked, "So tell me, was it the old man?"

"Sadly, yes, your father killed your mother."

"Thank you." Victor said nothing more and didn't even bid the officers farewell as he lay in bed, seeking solace in rest.

Amelia escorted the officers out of the room and stole a glance at Victor, who remained motionless. Upon her return, she saw that Victor was unresponsive and silent. "Victor, I'm sorry."

He didn't reply and continued to stare out of the window, lost in his thoughts.

"I know you're in pain right now, so please, don't do anything you'll regret," Amelia pleaded, alluding to the possibility of Victor contemplating suicide due to the loss of his beloved mother. "Victor, I'm still here for you."

Amelia wept, feeling as though her words were meaningless in that moment. Gathering her belongings, she understood that her presence was not desired. "Victor, please rest well. I'll be back tomorrow."