I ran as fast as I could. The virus was spreading fast. Word had spread that an antidote was being released. It was the very reason I was running now. My paranoia had gotten worse. I soon made it to a supposed healer. "김 박사님, 해독제가 있다고 하던데요. 제가 가져도 되나요?" (Doctor Kim, they say you have an antidote. May I have it ?)

The doctor sat me down. He checked my pulse & everything. "How long have you suffered the virus ? Your pulse is very fast for someone on the brink of death." I rolled my eyes. I hadn't left home in such a rush to be told I am dying, "It has been a while since my paranoia started. I fear hysteria is next." 

Doctor Kim forced my sleeve up. This acting revealing many scars. "독살한 거 맞죠? 이 상처들은 감염된 사람에 의해 생긴 것이 아닙니다." (You've been poisoning yourself, right ? These wounds aren't inflicted from a infected person.) He saw right through me. He knew what I had done just by looking at me. He easily could tell that I inflicted my scars. But they weren't inflicted because of paranoia only. They were inflicted over the grief & pain I hold over my father' death. I yanked my arm back. "Like I said, paranoia got the best of me. Demons like that can warp your sense of reality."

Doctor Kim flicked my forehead. "You are utterly stupid. Killing yourself won't stop the virus, Daniel. Only an antidote can cure what needs to be corrected." This doctor was annoying. How is my issues any of his business ? Why must he know anything at all ? "정직해요. 해독제 있어요?"(Be honest. Do you have the antidote ?) 

The doctor proceeded to shove a stick in my mouth. "Bite down on that stick. First, I need to clean these wounds. Then I need to administer the antidote." I did as instructed. I held back tears at the sheer pain I was feeling. As soon as my wounds were clean & bandaged, the doctor made a special bland blend of tea. "이게 다예요? 해독제가 차인가요?" (That's it ? The antidote is some tea ?) 

The doctor of course then laughed in my face, "I can't just give this antidote out, Daniel. It is very difficult to make & I I am running low on the herbs I'd need for it. You're lucky you got to me in time." I looked over the doctor' home. " Yellow ? Why the need for this color ? Most places go with cyan or magenta." 

Doctor Kim smiled. It was genuine. "노란색은 저에게 새로운 시작을 나타냅니다. 후회는 없어요." (Yellow for me represents a new beginning. No regrets.) He then subtly directed me to drink my tea. "What will this tea do exactly ?" Doctor Kim sighed as I finished the whole cup. Dropping the cup to shatter on the floor. "It makes you drowsy. Sleep well, Daniel..." 

Did he poison me ? I didn't have much to ask before my eyes drooped close. I was asleep. No longer aware of the outside world. 

끝.

The End.