Mortality

The main character of this story learns that he has a condition that could be corrected, but without surgery he will die. Silver makes the choice not to have surgery. As Silver deals with the fallout of this decision, he finds himself facing his own mortality. Twice Silver finds himself surprised to be alive upon waking in the morning, one morning convinced he is dead because he cannot immediately move his limbs. Later, Silver seems to laugh off arguments in favor of living because his life has become nothing but an emotionless pit of despair.

It is not until Silver finally makes the decision to have his surgery that he begins to fear the possibility of his death. Silver has been dead inside for so long that it took the reality of death, the idea that a lifesaving surgery could end his life, to make him...