Every step felt hurt so much with my wound, that I felt like I was going to faint. I struggled to
move in the barren landscape of the Tibetan Plateau. As I ran longer, the ground changed underfoot
from grassy to a more rocky, sandy substance. I knew I was making the transition into the Gobi
Desert. And, with my few geography lessons, I knew that Altai was in the Gobi Desert. Just as my
hope was beginning to rise, I felt a sharp, shocking pain sear up my leg. I looked at my right leg
just in time to see an adder swiftly slithering away into the sand. Then it came.
First I felt a, not unpleasant tingling in my right leg. Then, slowly, it rose up through my body
till my whole body felt it. Then it increased. It went from a slight tingling to a searing pain, as
if my body was on fire. I wanted to scream out in pain. It felt like a million knives were carving
into my body. Yellow spots started dancing in front of my eyes. I knew this was the end.
Suddenly, the pain diminished greatly. I saw Kallik and John, waving at me in Seoul. I saw
my parents, also waving at me. Then I saw myself, winning the football tournament, in Seoul.
Finally, I saw myself being born. Then, as the images faded away, my eyelids started to feel heavy.
I remembered from my lessons that some people have visions before they die. There I was, the last
survivor, preparing to die. I could imagine God looking down on me and cruelly laughing and
jeering; “There he is, the last survivor, dying” I knew I was about to close my eyes. For the last time.
