"Won't you feel guilty?" Yasmin asked, baffled. "You could save so many more people, do so much more. You could even achieve the next medical breakthrough. If you live long enough, you'll explore the world's mysteries." She longed to live longer, to see and learn more.

Dominic sighed, shaking his head. "What for? Isn't the world depressing? Have we not seen enough horror at our age? Besides, how long are we supposed to live? Are we to watch everyone around us die while we remain old?" He shook his head again. "I don't want to become an old monster."

"Well, if there's a drug that grants immortality to you and your loved ones—that you could live together forever—"

Dominic burst out laughing. "Are you nuts? Have you imagined that? You, me, our family, friends—forever? " Tears welled in his eyes. "How many people can the world support? If we don't die, we'll continue to marry and have children, who will have their own... Just one family would be too many humans!"

Yasmin, never having considered this, was stumped. "Then...we only use the drug for ourselves," she offered after a moment.

"Then we're back to square one. Are we just to watch our loved ones die?" Dominic sighed. "This is pointless. Our world is beautiful because of the cycle of life. Even leaves wither and fall, becoming compost that nurtures new plants. Why should humans be different? Imperfections like death and separation—they make our world perfect," he said, his voice thick with emotion.

This was his true belief, honed by years of treating patients. He had learned that what mattered most was living an exciting life. Death wasn't the end, but a necessary part of it.

Yasmin fell into deep thought. She disliked being dissuaded from immortality, yet his gentle urging to go easy on herself was something she hadn't considered. His words echoed Lily's.

Quietly, she wheeled herself to the door, pausing. Turning, she asked gently, "You know who I am, right?"

"Yes," Dominic nodded. "You're someone who's lost their way."

She smiled. "Well, whatever it is, thank you."

"Thank me? What for?" He laughed. "I should thank you for chatting so long. I was terribly bored."