Leaning on my knees, I’d crouched and panted for what felt like ages—but the Old Man hadn’t stirred. Finally catching my breath, I stood up. “Old Man,” I said, “lunchtime’s almost here. We’ve had our fun. Time to head back?”

Silent. Head tilted against the wheelchair back, perfectly still—as if he hadn’t heard a thing.

I’d asked nearly three times already. Nothing.

Even my thick nerves finally registered: something was wrong.

Staring at his motionless form, a cold dread gripped me. My legs went numb, moving on their own, inching toward him.

Eyes closed. A faint smile on his lips. Hands resting on the armrests. Suddenly, my knees began trembling.

My neck froze solid. The chill slithered down to my tailbone.

Mind blank. I whispered, “Old Man?”

No answer. Dazed, I stood there, then tentatively patted his shoulder. “Old Man?”

Still nothing. I patted harder. Shook him. His head lolled forward.

The road lay empty under bright sun. I felt plunged into an icy void. No passersby. No cars. Only a gentle breeze brushing past.

Clutching a last shred of hope, I trembled as I held a finger under his nose—

Waited. Lowered my hand.

Staring at him, the absurdity hit me.

No breath.

“Old Man… even on your final journey, you had to prank me?”

I raised a hand to slap myself—paused—dropped it. Hitting myself changed nothing. *What was I thinking?* He had a heart condition! Even if he begged… I shouldn’t have pushed him down that slope. Fuck.

I stared at the slope. Not steep at all—but the longer I looked, the steeper it loomed.

Hands on hips, mind blank. *What now?* Push him back to the hospital. Notify Lao Han. Arrange things… But how to face her parents? “He was fine this morning—I took him out, and now he’s gone?”

Tell the truth? *“I gave him a roller coaster ride”*?

And Lao Han… I remembered her on the rubber track days ago: pale, dark circles under her eyes, pleading, *“What if I kneel for you?”*

Yes, I came out of friendship. But this wasn’t a game fail. This was a life. I’d *killed* him. I’m a fucking murderer.

How would Lao Han see me? Her parents flying back from abroad… only to find she’d become a woman—

Ice flooded my limbs. Too many thoughts. I couldn’t go on.

Just go back. Hospital first. Let them handle it. Wait for Lao Han.

I sucked in a shaky breath. Forced calm. Murmured to him, “Old Man… I told you. No roller coasters. At your age, why clash with me like this?”

He sat serene, head lolling.

*Push him back.*

Deep breaths. Legs still trembling. I stepped forward, gently straightened his head against the backrest.

Sighed. Watched him. Turned to push the chair—

“ROOOA!!!”

“HOLY SHIT!!!” I shrieked, collapsing onto my butt, scrambling backward until my back hit the railing.

Trembling, I stared.

The Old Man sat grinning. “Scared you, didn’t I?”

“You checked my breath way too long… I almost suffocated,” he chuckled.

“…”

Speechless. Brain fried. I gaped at him, lips quivering, utterly mute.

Still smiling, he asked, “Thrilling?”

I clutched my chest, stared at the ground.

… Felt nauseous.

After a long silence, I stood. Noon sun warmed my skin. The slope behind him stayed empty. He wore a triumphant grin.

Rooted in place, reality feeling thin, I finally asked, “Old Man… are you actually dead?”

“Not yet. Why?”

I hesitated. “Could you have… died earlier? So this is all a hallucination…?”

He nodded. “Hmm. Who knows?”

Hand on my chest, voice earnest: “Next time… please don’t prank me like this. My heart’s not great either. Pull this again, and you’ll be burying me before your time.”

He tilted his head, pondering. “I’ll try.”

I looked at him. A torrent of curses rose in my throat—then sank, bitter and swallowed.