We spend our whole lives chasing ambitions, always wishing for more. But is the entire world really like that? Perhaps it depends on how you choose to see it.

This is the story of a man lying on his bed, who comes to know that this day is the last day of his life. He will never return—and even if he somehow does, all his memories will be gone.

It is a quiet morning. The moment he realises this truth, he keeps staring at the ceiling, lost in thought. His mind drifts through the fragments of his life—memories of where he has been, what he has done, and what he has truly lived for.

Now his mind drifts back into memories. Moments begin to replay, one after another, as if his entire life is unfolding before him. He goes back to a time when nothing else existed—only simple days and innocent happiness.

He remembers his childhood, when he didn’t go to school. He spent his days at home, surrounded by toys and family, playing without any worry. Those days were peaceful, pure and untouched. There was no guilt, no panic, no fear, no tension, no stress. His life was simple: eat, play, and sleep. And in that simplicity, he found true happiness.

But time changed. Soon, he began going to school.

The first day of school felt strange and unnecessary at the time, but now he understands its value. He spent the entire day crying, wanting nothing more than to go back home.

But slowly, things began to change. After a few days, he made friends. The fear faded, and school became a place of laughter and belonging. He started enjoying his days with his friends, creating small moments that would later become precious memories.

In that phase of life, he had everything—family, friends, peace, and happiness. He would wait the whole year for his birthday, and when it finally arrived, he celebrated it as if it were the first time ever, filling the day with joy and unforgettable moments.

Some memories were good, some embarrassing, some simple—but all of them mattered, because they became a part of him.

And as we all know, time moves fastest when we are happy.

He grew. Adulthood began.

Now he begins to grow more mature. He learns the difference between right and wrong, but life starts to feel confusing. This is adulthood—the phase where everyone struggles, where people rise and fall, again and again.

It is a time of constant change. Slowly, the peace and happiness he once knew begin to fade. In their place come stress, tension, pressure, and the quiet fear of failure.

Like everyone else, he wants to grow. He wants to earn money, gain respect, and build a name for himself. But somewhere along the way, it feels as if the simplicity of happiness has been left behind.

He no longer waits for his birthday. In fact, he has lost interest in celebrating it at all.

The fear inside him grows stronger—fear of failure, fear of not being enough. He enters the world of “what if,” lost in endless overthinking.

Time moves on, somehow.

And before he realises it, he finds himself stepping into college.

He grows more mature, and responsibility begins to settle on his shoulders. Expectations rise rapidly. He starts to understand the difference between dreams and reality, both standing clearly in front of him.

During this time, he falls in love. Looking back now, it feels like a foolish thing he did. Yet, it gave him countless memories—moments he once cherished deeply.

His circle of friends expands, and his ambition for money, success, and growth increases. But slowly, responsibility begins to consume his dreams and desires.

He starts to question everything.

What did he lose along the way?

What did he gain—and at what cost?

Time never stops for anyone.

After college, he got a job.

And with that, he steps into the rhythm of a structured, repetitive life—the life he once never imagined for himself.

Now life feels like a loop.

Wake up, get ready, go to work, return home, sleep—then the cycle repeats.
Tension, stress, fear, and panic reach their peak. Responsibility and maturity grow, but peace, happiness, and enjoyment slowly disappear from his life.
He gets married.
Now, he carries the responsibility of not just himself, but another person too.
In what feels like seconds, this phase of life passes. He doesn’t even realise how quickly it slips away. Time moves on, and he grows old, weak, and slowly becomes irrelevant in the eyes of society, especially after retirement… when he stops earning.

Now, he sits and thinks about his life.

How did he spend it?

And where did it all go?

As he drifts through his memories, a single thought keeps returning—What if?

What if he had truly lived… instead of spending his life worrying about a future he was never even sure would come?

Now, he no longer wants money, fame, or respect.

All he wants is peace.

Peace… and only peace.

He turns his head slightly toward the open window beside his bed.

Outside, he sees children playing in the park. Their laughter fills the air—carefree, innocent. He smiles faintly.

“I just need that happiness again…” he whispers, “but I can’t bring it back.”

His eyes shift again. A group of students walk together, talking, laughing as they head to school. He watches them and smiles once more.

“That was the best phase of my life,” he murmurs. “We knew so little… yet carried no responsibility. There was happiness, peace… and countless memories—good, bad, embarrassing… it never mattered.”

A moment later, he notices young men standing at a bus stop, waiting quietly. He looks at them and nods slightly.

“I lived that phase too… difficult, demanding… full of responsibility.”

He closes his eyes for a second, lost in thought.

“What if…” he exhales softly, “I had lived those moments fully… instead of drowning in fear, stress, and endless worry?”

Silence fills the room.

He looks at himself—at the life he lived—and a quiet realisation settles within him.

“We spend our whole lives chasing more… wishing, fearing, waiting… but we forget to live the moment we are in. We fear a future… without even knowing if we will ever reach it.”

Now, there are no ambitions left.
No wishes.
He doesn’t want money anymore.
He doesn’t want success.
He only wants peace.
Slowly, he closes his eyes… as if this time, they will never open again.
He takes 
one deep breath.
And whispers to himself—
“Is this… the definition of life?”

.    .    .