Suicide

Albert had already lost all the interest on everything. He just sat in his home ``to decay,'' as he put it. Nevertheless, his best friend was strong enough to push him to travel. ``Going to some new places, meeting some new friends will do you good. You will get a new life.'' That was why he was now in a hotel in a country totally unknown to him.

After a few days, he concluded, ``This world is not my home. I have suffered enough.'' He went to fill up the bath tub with warm water, took the kitchen knife, sat in the tub and sliced his own wrist.

When Albert woke up, he knew that he was not in the hotel anymore. A lady, which was a nurse, noticed that he was up and came forwards, ``Don't worry. You are OK now.''

``Where am I?'' Albert said.

``You are in a hospital.''

``Oh.'' Albert looked at his wrist. It was wrapped with bandage.

``What happened to you?'' the nurse asked.

``Hmmm,'' Albert said with a sad smile, ``I even failed to kill myself.''

The face of the nurse turned pale. She stepped back a little and said with a shaky voice, ``Do you know that suicide is illegal in this country?''

``No. What are they gonna do? Put me in jail for the rest of my life?'' Albert did not care.

``No, not in jail. They will hang you to death.''


Jan 11, 1996.
kmlee@lily.physics.hku.hk