In the middle of the night, a sudden wave of sharp pain gripped my stomach, leaving me pale and drenched in cold sweat. Over the years, these stomachaches had become more frequent, but I had brushed them off, thinking it was just my gastritis acting up.

However, after nearly fainting from the pain yesterday and visiting the hospital for tests, I realized it was far more serious than I had imagined.

Desperately, I banged on the wooden door of the balcony, crying out for Mom...

In moments of despair and suffering, it’s instinctual to call out for that person, the one who once shared your very existence.

The night was...