The clock on the wall seemed to mocking ticking away the seconds, minutes, hours left until my life would end. I had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and given only months to live. Everyday felt like an eternity and I longed for the end to come quickly.

I had made peace with my impending death and had even made arrangements for after I was gone. But as the days passed, I started to feel a sense of panic. I was no longer ready to die. I wanted to live, to experience more of life.

I refused to give up and fought for more time. Through a combination of medication and experimental treatments, I managed to extend my life by a few years. It was a matter of time before the disease took me, but those extra years were precious. I was able to spend more time with my family and friends, and truly appreciate everything life had to offer.