We The Living Few

Description

From: VITA ([email protected])

To: Do Kyungsoo ([email protected])

Subject: Welcome to VITA!

Hello, Kyungsoo!

Welcome to VITA, the world's first methodological, and industrial physician-aided-dying program.

You are about to participate as a DONOR.

By signing up, you are taking your first step towards giving the gift of life to a recipient hand-picked by our specialized panel of psychiatrists. Thank you for allowing us to show you a life that is teeming with purpose. By clicking the link below, you are confirming the application that you submitted through our website.

 CONFIRM REGISTRATION 

Link won't work? Copy this to your browser tab and hit enter:  https://bit.ly/2ZnK9jn 

Once again, thank you for participating in our program. We look forward to working with you!

Live on,
VITA

 

Foreword

Working Title:We The Living Few
Genre: Psychological, Drama
Rating:
Main Characters: Do Kyungsoo, Byun Baekhyun
Supporting Characters: Kim Minseok, Kim Junmyeon

Content Warning: Mentions, depictions of implied and applied self-harm, character death, and overall discussion of mental health issues (ig., depression, anxiety)

Author's Notes

  • June 30, 2020
    Hello, everyone!

    Thank you for patronizing my work. I have been working on this story for quite a while and haven't gotten to the writing part until I came across an EXO writing contest. With that said, yes, I am writing this as an entry to the contest. Honestly, I don't need karma pts or anything but an in-depth review sounds like a promising reward. Moreover, this is an opportunity for me to push myself to come up with an output with all the free time I have in my hands. I am a pretty lethargic writer and there are many reasons why. But with a contest like ESCAPE to push me beyond my limits, the challenge is on.

    ​Another challenging thing for me is to confront realities and write about topics with the utmost sensitivity. However, certain issues need to be addressed one way or another. That is the reason why I came up with the plot of 'We The Living Few'. This is not just the story of a boy attempting to escape life itself; this is a story of a human being with urges that may be difficult to grasp for many. With this story, I aim to raise awareness of mental health and especially advocate suicide prevention. I have personally gone through dark times in my life and I still do every once in a while. I have a few people to thank for keeping me from going through it. That is why it is so important to me that whoever is reading this would know that they are not alone. You have me and a whole community to listen, embrace you, and ultimately guide you off the ledge. "We are one," EXO would say and I know you know that the boys mean it whenever they say that.

    If you're going through something or know someone going through something, please don't hesitate to contact a friend or me, or call these hotlines.

    Once again, thank you for giving my story a chance.
  • July 5, 2020

    I removed the story from the Mature tag because I believe this story needs to be seen. I realized it's not as dark as it is supposedly inspiring. I hope you guys find as much inspiration in this story as I do. I will mark triggering chapters as necessary.

Cover Artworks

     

Credits

ESCAPE — An EXO Writing Contest

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Comments

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Lakanamihan #1
I just read the foreword and now I'm looking forward to reading this. I'm definitely intrigued!
BlackWhiskers #2
Chapter 11: The ending seems a bit vague. Why do they want to take it down? It seems that it helps people, and there hasn’t been a reason for them to make it seem as if Junmyeon’s a bad person. The fact they’re two people in one body is a side affect, and it can be worked on if they just told him, or it can work as a bonus?
So many questions
BlackWhiskers #3
Chapter 10: So the two are now sharing Baekhyun’s body? Hmm, it seems like a pretty good result, although it’s also a singular thing? I mean, tney’re the only one who are like that considering none of the VITA patients have delivered anything of such notions?

It’s pretty interesting!

I’m a bit astonished with how close they actually seem. I didn’t think Kyungsoo would cry? He seemed like a stoic character and he barely knew Baekhyun. It seems like more of their scenes together and solidifying their relationship for the reader would put us into clearer perspective
BlackWhiskers #4
Chapter 9: I thought it was a dream???? Wtfff. Did Baekhyun really try to kill him self?
Damn, that’s a plottwist
BlackWhiskers #5
Chapter 8: This makes me sad :(
The fact Kyungsoo describes Baekhyun as ‘very clumsy’ gives him actual dimension for the first time. I think the better way to connect with characters it to give them a personality. Sometimes the characters say things and I don’t feel anything because I don’t really know them, y’know?
BlackWhiskers #6
Chapter 7: I wonder if VITA is an economic cooperation, and perhaps it is because it’s so big and has so many branches that it has to be a capitalist institution. I’m interested to know how their money process works!
This whole donation of live actually does work like a donation process, huh? The bodies or the DNA needs to match first? Is that why Baekhyun had a lot of time staying without the hope of good news?
I wonder if Kyungsoo stays or leaves.
BlackWhiskers #7
Chapter 6: Hmmm
BlackWhiskers #8
Chapter 5: The characters all seem a bit neutral? Almost passive? I hope Baekhyun has some sort of in-depthn characterization so I know what kind of a person he is.
It appears that the receptionist isn’t really on her first day? I feel like things are staged to test his mentality? Lmao, am I reading too much into it?
The bods seem like a nightmare. I’m not a BIG claustrophobic but I don’t like enclosed places at all. But if forced, I think I can calm myself down? Idk man I never tread such dangerous area.
Is it actual science, though, this REST? I gotta google it sometimes to see its efficiency.
I thought doners and donee may have different time periods in staying in the institution considering the latter is on a waiting stance or something? Like in actual donation programs for organ transferring? But by Kyungsoo’s question, it seems they too, have a time limit of six months?
BlackWhiskers #9
Chapter 4: This chapter makes me feel sad. Kyungsoo’s answer, even though are stiff and have no emotional package, still manages to stir something in me.
Didn’t expect Minseok to be a survivor himself — but I did think he’d definitely be liscened in Psychology.
I feel that the conecpt of taking lives of people unwilling to live is morbid? If they’re sick enough to not want to live it means they’re not exactly in command of their own choices, and so it’d be sort of abuse to abide to their wish of death; and i can’t imagine a healthy person wanting to die unless sacrificing a life for someone else?
BlackWhiskers #10
Chapter 3: The sense of monotony continues. I feel that eveeything feels stale, dry, and robotic. If you intended for this to be in this way, you’re brilliant. If not, I’d recommend some flavoring— even if it was unrealistic. Perhaps Minseok acting like a clown? Hehehe. It’s give the story spice. But I figure it’s my own perspective. I like diverse characters.
I’m very anticipant of Kyungsoo’s live as it changes or progresses in the institution, and I wonder what Baekhyun’s role play in all of this.
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