I blinked as I stepped out of the building and into the bright sun light. I stretched my arms and began me descend to the bottom of the stairs. Today was an awfully nice day. The sky is mostly clear, the birds are chirping and sun is shining brightly. Today was one of those reasons I enjoy life so much. I had just finished received my graduation diploma, this meant that in a short few months I would be in university. Nearly half of the schools I applied for had accepted me. I can’t say I have been any happier in my life than I am right now. Did I not introduce myself yet? My apologies, I got carried away. My name is Josh, 18 years old since January. Most people tell me that I am quite optimistic, I agree with them. It is hard not to be when life has so many wonders. Many people at school mock me for being a brony. I usually do not take their opinion into consideration, the episodes make me happy and that is what matters. I often imagine myself as a character in the show. It is one of those dreams people have even though they understand that it is never going to come true. Being in Equestria really would be great. Every pony seems to always be smiling, if only reality was as good.
My steps were small and slow as I walked down the sidewalk. I wanted to be able to have more time to enjoy this lovely weather. I thought about what life would be in university and what I would do after I leave. My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a woman screaming. I turned my head to see what has happened. The son of the woman seems to have ran into the middle of the street while chasing a dragonfly, a delivery truck was less than 10 meters away and also the driver slammed the brakes, there was no possibility that at the speed it was currently at it was going to stop in time. My instincts kicked in, I spirited and dove down in order to push the boy out of the way of the incoming truck. I sat up and tried to evade the truck, I was not fast enough. The world around me started to lose colour.
I slowly opened my eyes, the rest of my body was numb and my vision was blurry. I closed my eyes and opened them again. I noticed that I was inside a hospital bed, a nurse walked in and was surprised to see me with my eyes open.
“Are you feeling alright?” She asked me, “does anything hurt.”
I tried to tell her that nothing hurts but instead of words only coughs left my mouth.
“I’m going to tell the doctor that you are awake. Are you going to be alright on your own?”
I understood that talking wasn’t an option for me anymore. I couldn’t feel my neck to be able to nod, so I merely closed my eyes. I thought I had closed my eyes for but one second, but when I opened them again it was night time. I looked around the room more until I found an digital alarm clock on the bed stand. My vision was still too blurry to see clearly but I could tell that the clock said it was August 3rd. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw it but blinking reassured me that it was true. It seems I have been in a coma for over a month. I was thinking about time when a doctor walked in.
“Hello Josh, it seems you have decided to return to us again,” he chuckled at his own joke which was not funny in any way and didn’t deserve the title joke.
“I have some news for you. As you may have noticed, you are injured in many ways. Saving the child was an heroic that deserves praise. We are able to perform a procedure on you that has a 70% success chance. I am sorry to say the success chance is so low but you have many injuries that will be fatal if not treated ranging from a cracked skull to a heavily bruised lung.”
I was happy that I still had a chance. But it seemed that he was not done talking.
“However, there is a child of 10 years old who is currently fighting liver cancer. We have tried many times to cure it but failed. He needs a liver transplant and your liver is not damaged and is compatible. You already know that the procedure to be performed on you has a low success chance. If the procedure failed, your liver will no longer be available. We are not forcing you to do this, but we are giving you a choice to give your life to him. I will be leaving now to give you some time to think about it. I will ask you again in the morning, make sure that you are absolutely sure of your decision before making it.” The doctor sighed and left the room.
I just finished high school. I had an entire life full of adventures waiting for me. I had to go to university. I had ambitions of becoming a computer programmer and designing a new operating system. I planned to get married to the girl I love, start a family, have children. I planned to grow old by watching my children grow into successful adults. I had expected this choice to be hard but it was easier than any other decision I have ever made. I made up my mind and closed my eyes.
The next morning, I woke up to find the doctor sitting beside my bed.
“Have you made up your mind?”
“Yes.”
“What is your decision?”
“I’ll do it.”
“Very well, I will schedule for your friends and family to come so they can say their goodbyes.”
The days felt like hours and the minutes felt like seconds. Every day a member of my family came. All of them broke down into tears as they said goodbye. I never felt sadness, I simply smiled at them acknowledging them that I know I have made the right choice. On the day of the surgery, both the child I saved from the car and the child with liver cancer and their parents came to visit me.
“Hello Josh,” said one of the mothers, “We have come to thank you for your kindness. You are no doubt the nicest man we have ever met.” All of them talked about their gratitude and showered me with praised. After some time, the doctor appeared.
“Are you finished with your thank-you’s and goodbyes?”
“Yes,” I choked out.
“Very well, this world and it’s people are going to miss you very much. I am reluctant to do this but I understand it is your intention.” I saw him disable the machine to my left.
“Let this man be your role model, my son.” I heard the child with cancer’s father say to him. “He has given his life to save yours, I wish for you to grow up bearing an equal amount of generosity.”
This brought a smile to my face not because of the compliment. I loved life so much and there was so much to look forward to. But why would I choose to end my own life and prevent all of the adventures that could have happened from happening than. I have already experienced a good portion of life such as high school. This boy that I am about to save has even more of life left to look forward to than mine. I wish that he could have the opportunity to live the life that I have dreamt of living. My choice was quite ironic. I loved life so much that I ended my own for the sake of another person’s life. He had a lot of his life left, a lot more adventures, more than me, so I decided that his life was worth more than mine. The world slowly turned to white. I smiled as the colours around me faded.
I sat up. Where am I, I thought to myself. I can’t be here, I’m dead. I remember it as plain as day. I realised that I was in a forest. It looked oddly familiar despite the fact that I am positive I have never been here. The sunlight broke through the space between the trees. I got to my feet. I decided that no matter what happened, I should focus on leaving this forest. I ran fast and far, no matter how much I ran I did not feel exhaustion. In fact, I felt like I was gaining energy with every step I took. Soon, I saw the end to the forest. It was too bright outside to clearly see what was out there. The light hurt my eye as I stepped out into the brightness. I blinked a few times and looked in front of me. There stood a purple pony with a horn on its head, it was no taller than my chest. It looked familiar somehow. That’s when it hit me. This was Twilight Sparkle from my favourite TV show. I had just left the Everfree forest. How could this all be true? Question flowed through my mind faster than a waterfall.
“Hello Josh,” Twilight said to me. I was stunned by the fact that she knew my name. It seemed like she was able to see the surprise on my face.
“I have been informed of who you are and what you have done. You are a good man, Josh. I am sure that we are going to become great friends.” She said before her horn shined brightly with a purple light. I saw a flash. I felt different. I looked down and realised that I now had hooves. Twilight made me a pony. I looked at her and smiled. She smiled back to me.
“Alright, Josh. Come, follow me. Adventures and the wonders of life await us.”