第一章：我死去的那一天
Chapter 1: The Day I Died
那個寒冷的一月早晨醒來時，我腦海中唯一的念頭就是：今天整天我都不用上建築工地的班。那天是星期六，我決定要好好把握這一天。我甚至沒有想到要打電話告訴媽媽我有多愛她，也未曾顧慮那些未完成的事、那些將被我遺留的朋友，以及會思念我的家人。我從未預感到，那一天，我會走向死亡。
The only thing on my mind when I woke up on that cold January morning was that I had the entire day off from my construction job. It was a Saturday, and I was going to make the most of it. I didn’t think to call my mom to tell her that I loved her. I didn’t think about all of the things I had left undone, the friends I would leave behind, and the family who would miss me. I didn’t know I would die that day.
我從床上輕快地翻身起來，立刻沖進浴室，心中規劃著一天的行程：與摯友 Rob 見面、匆匆吃個便餐、在健身房鍛鍊，然後前往鹽湖城市中心參加一年一度的國際汽車博覽會。
I rolled out of bed and hopped in the shower, envisioning my day. I planned to meet up with my best friend Rob, grab a quick bite to eat, work out at the gym, then go downtown to the annual International Auto Expo in Salt Lake City.
我匆忙完成晨間例行公事，抓起車鑰匙、披上冬季外套，便走進刺骨的寒冷之中。我的 Mitsubishi Eclipse 珠光白的車身，在那彌漫著猶豫是否下雪的雲層下竟顯得近乎灰暗。我滑入駕駛座，啟動引擎，然後倒出車道。
I rushed through my morning routine, grabbed my car keys, threw on my winter jacket, and stepped out into the cold. The pearl white of my Mitsubishi Eclipse looked almost gray under the blanket of clouds that couldn’t decide whether or not to snow. I slid into the driver’s seat, fired up the engine, and backed out of the driveway.
開往好友家的路程如此短暫，以至於車內那冰冷的空氣甚至還沒有被暖氣溫暖，但這段行程卻讓我有時間回味 Rob 在短短數月中如何徹底改變了我的生活。Rob 引燃了我對健康與健身的熱情。我們在經營健康相關的生意、鍛鍊及增強體能上共度了數百小時，並互相分享各自的研究成果和發現，包括那些有助於我們變得更強壯、更健康的新型營養補充品。生活充滿美好與無限希望。
The drive to my buddy’s house was short enough that the car heater didn’t even have time to warm up the cold interior, but it gave me time to reflect on how much Rob had changed my life in just a few short months. Rob had ignited a passion for health and fitness in me. We had literally spent hundreds of hours together between working a health-related business, working out, and getting stronger. We shared our research and discoveries with each other, including new nutrition supplements that would help us be even stronger and healthier. Life was great, and full of promise.
Rob 住在 Orem 一個寧靜的小區，就在我家附近幾英里處。我把車停在他家前，衝到門前輕輕敲門，隨後便自顧自進入。
Rob lived in a quiet neighborhood in Orem, just a few miles from my house. I parked in front of Rob’s house and ran up to the door, giving a quick courtesy knock as I let myself in.
「嘿，Rob，你準備好了嗎？」
“Hey, Rob. You ready?”
Rob 的聲音從樓下傳來：「我馬上上來。」
Rob’s voice carried up from downstairs, “I’ll be right up.”
我注意到廚房桌上放著一個普通的棕色盒子，大約跟一個大號飲料瓶大小相仿，盒子上的白色運單標籤讓我猜到裡面裝著什麼。
I noticed a plain brown box, about the size of a large drink bottle, on the kitchen table. The white shipping label gave me a clue to its contents.
我朝樓下喊道：「這是你幾周前訂購的那款新補充品嗎？」
“Is this that new supplement you ordered a few weeks ago?” I yelled down to him.
Rob 一邊躍上樓梯一邊回答：「對啊，兄弟，我迫不及待要試試看了。」他的深色頭髮仍略帶濕氣，他肌肉結實而精瘦，比我稍矮些，一抹燦爛的笑容使他那灰綠色的眼睛充滿感染力。「去健身房前先來點吧。」
“Yeah, bro,” Rob said as he bounded up the stairs. “I’m excited to try it.” His dark hair was still damp. He was strong and lean, a little shorter than me. His infectious smile lit up his gray-green eyes. “Let’s take some before we hit the gym.”
Rob 撕開包裝，取出一個大號的白色塑料瓶。
Rob tore open the package and lifted out a large white plastic bottle.
瓶身上印有鮮豔的標籤，字體看起來充滿異國風情，像是亞洲風的文字。「這是從哪裡買的？」我問道。
Its colorful label was printed in a foreign, Asian-looking script. “Where is this from?” I asked.
他回答：「我從泰國訂的，美國供應商全都缺貨。不過這應該跟美國那款一模一樣。」
“I ordered it from Thailand,” he said. “All of the U.S. suppliers were sold out. It should be the same as the American stuff, though.”
Rob 小心翼翼地將那透明液體倒入瓶蓋中喝了一口，接著又量了一份遞給我，我一口氣吞了下去。平日我們服用的補充品嘗起來就像檸檬水，而這款卻顯得又酸又苦。
Rob carefully poured the clear liquid into the bottle’s cap and drank it. He measured another and handed it to me. I downed it in a gulp. The supplement we normally took tasted like lemon water. This one tasted sour and bitter.
幾乎飲品剛落進嘴裡，我就感覺到情況不妙。不到幾秒鐘，一陣冰冷自腹部蔓延至全身。我轉向 Rob 說：「你覺得這味道怪怪的嗎？」
Almost as soon as the drink passed my lips, I knew something was wrong. Within seconds, a coldness crept from my belly through my body. I turned to Rob. “Did that taste weird?”
他露出擔憂的神色回答：「這補充品似乎有些不同，我感覺不太對勁。」
He looked concerned. “Something’s different with this stuff. I don’t feel so good.”
「我也是。咱們去找點吃的吧，也許會好點。」他說：「好主意，我來開車。」
“Me either. Let’s get something to eat. That might help.” “Good idea. I’ll drive.”
我們一同走向 Rob 的 Nissan Maxima，他倒車離開車道後，我們便沿著路駛去。
We walked out to Rob’s Nissan Maxima. He backed out of the driveway, and we drove off down the road.
補充品的奇異作用逐漸加劇，顯示出事情非常不對勁。我的大腿感到冰涼，彷彿血液供應不足。沒開幾個街區，Rob 的頭就開始劇烈擺動，眼皮也開始打架，好像他正逐漸入睡。
The supplement’s peculiar effect intensified. Something was very wrong. My thighs felt cold, like they weren’t getting enough blood flow. We had only driven a few blocks when Rob’s head started to bob, and his eyes fluttered, as if he was falling asleep.
「Rob！」我抓住他的手臂搖晃著說：「我們去 Dairy Queen 休息一下。」
“Rob!” I grabbed his arm and shook him. “Let’s stop at the Dairy Queen.”
Rob 點了點頭，不一會兒便駛入該餐廳的停車場。
Rob nodded and a moment later pulled into the restaurant’s parking lot.
一陣刺骨的寒意沿著我的脊椎蔓延開來，胃中翻湧著噁心，我突然強烈地想去廁所。我擔心自己會弄得 Rob 的車一團糟。當他一掛上停車檔，我便跳下車離去。
The cold sensation wormed up my spine. Nausea turned my stomach, and I had a sudden, powerful urge to use the bathroom. I was suddenly afraid I was going to make a mess in Rob’s car. As soon as he put the car in park, I jumped out.
我說：「我要去洗手間。」然後跌跌撞撞地穿過入口，沿著短走廊走進一間單人男士廁所。我鎖上門，正朝馬桶走去時，藍色瓷磚牆面突然開始旋轉，我險些跌倒在地並失去知覺。
“I’m going to hit the bathroom,” I said. I stumbled through the entrance, down the short hallway, and into the one-seater men’s room. I locked the door then, as I walked toward the toilet, the blue tiled walls began to spin. I fell to the floor and passed out.
後來我才知道，Rob 也有類似的反應：他坐進一個卡座後突然倒在桌子上，然後嘔吐不止。
I later learned that Rob was having a similar experience: he slid into a booth, then collapsed on the table, and threw up.
年輕的輪班經理聽到 Rob 嘔吐的聲音，便好奇地從角落探頭探腦，發現 Rob 陷入昏迷並被自己的嘔吐物覆蓋，全身顫抖。他急忙跑回櫃檯後面並撥打 911 叫來救護車。
The young shift manager heard Rob’s retching and peeked around the corner to investigate. He found Rob lying unconscious in his own vomit, his body shuddering. He dashed back behind the counter and called 911 for an ambulance.
不幸的是，我是仰面躺下的，當我嘔吐時，胃中所有排出的物質都被吸入我的肺裡，堵塞了呼吸道。
Unfortunately for me, I had fallen on my back and, when I threw up, everything that came out of my stomach was sucked into my lungs, blocking my airway.
就在那時，我死了。
That’s when I died.
第1章：我死去的那一天
Chapter 1: The Day I Died
當我在那個寒冷的1月早晨醒來時，腦海中唯一的念頭就是我可以從建築工作中休息整整一天。那是個星期六，我打算好好利用這一天。我沒有想到要打電話給我媽媽告訴她我愛她。我沒有想到我留下的未完成的事情、我將要離開的朋友，以及會想念我的家人。我不知道我那天會死去。
The only thing on my mind when I woke up on that cold January morning was that I had the entire day off from my construction job. It was a Saturday, and I was going to make the most of it. I didn’t think to call my mom to tell her that I loved her. I didn’t think about all of the things I had left undone, the friends I would leave behind, and the family who would miss me. I didn’t know I would die that day.
我從床上滾下來，跳進淋浴，想像著我的一天。我計劃和我最好的朋友羅布（Rob）見面，快速吃點東西，然後去健身房鍛煉，最後去鹽湖城的年度國際汽車博覽會。
I rolled out of bed and hopped in the shower, envisioning my day. I planned to meet up with my best friend Rob, grab a quick bite to eat, work out at the gym, then go downtown to the annual International Auto Expo in Salt Lake City.
我匆忙完成早上的例行公事，抓起我的車鑰匙，穿上冬季外套，走出寒冷的室外。我的三菱Eclipse在雲層的覆蓋下看起來幾乎是灰色的，這些雲層還在猶豫是否要下雪。我滑進駕駛座，啟動引擎，倒出車道。
I rushed through my morning routine, grabbed my car keys, threw on my winter jacket, and stepped out into the cold. The pearl white of my Mitsubishi Eclipse looked almost gray under the blanket of clouds that couldn’t decide whether or not to snow. I slid into the driver’s seat, fired up the engine, and backed out of the driveway.
開車去我朋友家的路程很短，以至於車內的暖氣甚至來不及把冷空間加熱，但這段時間讓我反思了羅布在短短幾個月內對我生活的改變。羅布在我心中點燃了對健康和健身的熱情。我們在一起工作健康相關的業務、鍛煉和變得更強壯的過程中，實際上花了數百個小時。我們彼此分享研究和發現，包括能幫助我們變得更強壯和健康的新營養補充品。生活美好，充滿希望。
The drive to my buddy’s house was short enough that the car heater didn’t even have time to warm up the cold interior, but it gave me time to reflect on how much Rob had changed my life in just a few short months. Rob had ignited a passion for health and fitness in me. We had literally spent hundreds of hours together between working a health-related business, working out, and getting stronger. We shared our research and discoveries with each other, including new nutrition supplements that would help us be even stronger and healthier. Life was great, and full of promise.
羅布住在奧勒姆的一個安靜社區，距離我家只有幾英里。我把車停在羅布的房子前，跑到門口，輕輕敲了敲門，然後讓自己進去。
Rob lived in a quiet neighborhood in Orem, just a few miles from my house. I parked in front of Rob’s house and ran up to the door, giving a quick courtesy knock as I let myself in.
「嘿，羅布。你準備好了嗎？」
“Hey, Rob. You ready?”
羅布的聲音從樓下傳來，「我馬上就上來。」
Rob’s voice carried up from downstairs, “I’ll be right up.”
我注意到廚房桌上有一個普通的棕色盒子，大小約為一個大型飲料瓶的大小。白色的運送標籤給了我一個線索，讓我知道裡面的內容。
I noticed a plain brown box, about the size of a large drink bottle, on the kitchen table. The white shipping label gave me a clue to its contents.
「這是你幾週前訂的那個新補充品嗎？」我對他喊道。
“Is this that new supplement you ordered a few weeks ago?” I yelled down to him.
「對啊，兄弟，」羅布一邊跳上樓梯一邊說。「我很期待試試。」他的黑髮仍然濕漉漉的。他身材強壯而纖瘦，比我矮一點。他那傳染性的微笑照亮了他的灰綠色眼睛。「在去健身房之前我們先喝點。」
“Yeah, bro,” Rob said as he bounded up the stairs. “I’m excited to try it.” His dark hair was still damp. He was strong and lean, a little shorter than me. His infectious smile lit up his gray-green eyes. “Let’s take some before we hit the gym.”
羅布撕開包裝，拿出一個大型的白色塑料瓶。
Rob tore open the package and lifted out a large white plastic bottle.
它的彩色標籤上印著一種外國的、看起來像亞洲文字的字體。「這是從哪裡來的？」我問。
Its colorful label was printed in a foreign, Asian-looking script. “Where is this from?” I asked.
「我從泰國訂的，」他說。「所有美國供應商都賣完了。不過應該和美國的東西一樣。」
“I ordered it from Thailand,” he said. “All of the U.S. suppliers were sold out. It should be the same as the American stuff, though.”
羅布小心地將清液倒入瓶蓋中並喝下去。他又量了一些，遞給我。我一口喝下去。通常我們喝的補充品味道像檸檬水，而這個卻是酸苦的。
Rob carefully poured the clear liquid into the bottle’s cap and drank it. He measured another and handed it to me. I downed it in a gulp. The supplement we normally took tasted like lemon water. This one tasted sour and bitter.
幾乎在飲料經過我的嘴唇時，我就知道有些不對勁。幾秒鐘內，一種寒冷感從我的腹部蔓延到全身。我轉向羅布。「這味道怪怪的嗎？」
Almost as soon as the drink passed my lips, I knew something was wrong. Within seconds, a coldness crept from my belly through my body. I turned to Rob. “Did that taste weird?”
他看起來有些擔心。「這東西有點不同。我覺得不太舒服。」
He looked concerned. “Something’s different with this stuff. I don’t feel so good.”
「我也是。讓我們去吃點東西。這可能會有幫助。」他說：「好主意。我來開車。」
“Me either. Let’s get something to eat. That might help.” “Good idea. I’ll drive.”
我們走到羅布的日產Maxima車旁。他倒車出車道，我們沿著道路駛去。
We walked out to Rob’s Nissan Maxima. He backed out of the driveway, and we drove off down the road.
補充品的奇特效果加劇了。事情非常不對勁。我的大腿感到冰冷，彷彿血液流動不足。我們才開了幾個街區，羅布的頭開始點頭，眼睛也閃爍著，似乎快要睡著了。
The supplement’s peculiar effect intensified. Something was very wrong. My thighs felt cold, like they weren’t getting enough blood flow. We had only driven a few blocks when Rob’s head started to bob, and his eyes fluttered, as if he was falling asleep.
「羅布！」我抓住他的手臂搖晃他。「我們去Dairy Queen停一下。」
“Rob!” I grabbed his arm and shook him. “Let’s stop at the Dairy Queen.”
羅布點了點頭，片刻後駛入餐廳的停車場。
Rob nodded and a moment later pulled into the restaurant’s parking lot.
冷感沿著我的脊椎蔓延。噁心讓我的胃不適，我突然有了強烈的上廁所的衝動。我突然害怕自己會在羅布的車裡弄得一團糟。當他把車停好後，我立刻跳了下來。
The cold sensation wormed up my spine. Nausea turned my stomach, and I had a sudden, powerful urge to use the bathroom. I was suddenly afraid I was going to make a mess in Rob’s car. As soon as he put the car in park, I jumped out.
「我要去上廁所，」我說。我跌跌撞撞地走進入口，沿著短短的走廊，進入一間只有一個馬桶的男廁。我鎖上門，然後在走向馬桶時，藍色的瓷磚牆開始旋轉。我摔倒在地，失去了意識。
“I’m going to hit the bathroom,” I said. I stumbled through the entrance, down the short hallway, and into the one-seater men’s room. I locked the door then, as I walked toward the toilet, the blue tiled walls began to spin. I fell to the floor and passed out.
我後來得知，羅布也有類似的經歷：他滑進了一個包廂，然後倒在桌子上，嘔吐了。
I later learned that Rob was having a similar experience: he slid into a booth, then collapsed on the table, and threw up.
年輕的班次經理聽到羅布的嘔吐聲，探頭過來查看。他發現羅布躺在自己的嘔吐物中，身體顫抖。他迅速跑回櫃檯，打電話叫911叫救護車。
The young shift manager heard Rob’s retching and peeked around the corner to investigate. He found Rob lying unconscious in his own vomit, his body shuddering. He dashed back behind the counter and called 911 for an ambulance.
不幸的是，我摔倒在背上，當我嘔吐時，從我胃裡出來的所有東西都被吸入了我的肺部，堵住了我的氣道。
Unfortunately for me, I had fallen on my back and, when I threw up, everything that came out of my stomach was sucked into my lungs, blocking my airway.
就在那時，我死去了。
That’s when I died.
第1章：我死去的那一天
Chapter 1: The Day I Died
當我在那個寒冷的一月早晨醒來時，我腦海中唯一的念頭是今天我不用去工地工作。這是個星期六，我打算充分利用這一天。我沒有想到要打電話給媽媽告訴她我愛她。我沒有想到那些未完成的事情，那些我將要離開的朋友，以及會想念我的家人。我不知道我會在那天死去。
The only thing on my mind when I woke up on that cold January morning was that I had the entire day off from my construction job. It was a Saturday, and I was going to make the most of it. I didn’t think to call my mom to tell her that I loved her. I didn’t think about all of the things I had left undone, the friends I would leave behind, and the family who would miss me. I didn’t know I would die that day.
我從床上翻身起來，跳進淋浴，想像著我的一天。我計劃與我最好的朋友羅伯見面，簡單吃點東西，然後去健身房鍛煉，接著去鹽湖城參加一年一度的國際汽車博覽會。
I rolled out of bed and hopped in the shower, envisioning my day. I planned to meet up with my best friend Rob, grab a quick bite to eat, work out at the gym, then go downtown to the annual International Auto Expo in Salt Lake City.
我匆匆完成了早晨的例行事務，拿起車鑰匙，穿上冬季外套，走進寒冷的戶外。我的珍珠白三菱Eclipse在不確定是否要下雪的雲層下看起來幾乎是灰色的。我滑進駕駛座，啟動引擎，倒車駛出車道。
I rushed through my morning routine, grabbed my car keys, threw on my winter jacket, and stepped out into the cold. The pearl white of my Mitsubishi Eclipse looked almost gray under the blanket of clouds that couldn’t decide whether or not to snow. I slid into the driver’s seat, fired up the engine, and backed out of the driveway.
開車到我朋友家路程很短，以至於汽車暖氣甚至來不及加熱冰冷的車廂，但這讓我有時間反思羅伯在短短幾個月內對我生活的改變。羅伯激發了我對健康和健身的熱情。我們在健康相關的業務中一起度過了數百小時，鍛煉並變得更強壯。我們互相分享研究和發現，包括新的營養補充劑，這些都能幫助我們變得更強壯和健康。生活很美好，充滿了希望。
The drive to my buddy’s house was short enough that the car heater didn’t even have time to warm up the cold interior, but it gave me time to reflect on how much Rob had changed my life in just a few short months. Rob had ignited a passion for health and fitness in me. We had literally spent hundreds of hours together between working a health-related business, working out, and getting stronger. We shared our research and discoveries with each other, including new nutrition supplements that would help us be even stronger and healthier. Life was great, and full of promise.
羅伯住在奧勒姆一個安靜的社區，離我家只有幾英里。我把車停在羅伯家門前，跑上前敲了敲門，然後自己進去了。
Rob lived in a quiet neighborhood in Orem, just a few miles from my house. I parked in front of Rob’s house and ran up to the door, giving a quick courtesy knock as I let myself in.
“嘿，羅伯。準備好了嗎？”
“Hey, Rob. You ready?”
羅伯的聲音從樓下傳來：“我馬上上來。”
Rob’s voice carried up from downstairs, “I’ll be right up.”
我注意到廚房桌上有一個普通的棕色盒子，大約是大飲料瓶的大小。白色的運送標籤讓我猜到了它的內容。
I noticed a plain brown box, about the size of a large drink bottle, on the kitchen table. The white shipping label gave me a clue to its contents.
“這是你幾週前訂的新補充劑嗎？”我對他喊道。
“Is this that new supplement you ordered a few weeks ago?” I yelled down to him.
“是的，兄弟，”羅伯邊上樓邊說。“我很期待試試。”他的黑髮還是濕的。他強壯而瘦削，比我稍矮。他那富有感染力的微笑讓他的灰綠色眼睛閃閃發光。“我們去健身房前先試試吧。”
“Yeah, bro,” Rob said as he bounded up the stairs. “I’m excited to try it.” His dark hair was still damp. He was strong and lean, a little shorter than me. His infectious smile lit up his gray-green eyes. “Let’s take some before we hit the gym.”
羅伯撕開包裝，拿出一個大白色塑料瓶。
Rob tore open the package and lifted out a large white plastic bottle.
標籤上印著色彩繽紛的外國文字，看起來像亞洲文字。“這是從哪裡來的？”我問。
Its colorful label was printed in a foreign, Asian-looking script. “Where is this from?” I asked.
“我從泰國訂的，”他說。“美國的供應商都賣完了。不過應該和美國的東西一樣。”
“I ordered it from Thailand,” he said. “All of the U.S. suppliers were sold out. It should be the same as the American stuff, though.”
羅伯小心地將透明液體倒入瓶蓋中喝下。他又倒了一些遞給我。我一口喝下。我們平時喝的補充劑嘗起來像檸檬水，這個嘗起來又酸又苦。
Rob carefully poured the clear liquid into the bottle’s cap and drank it. He measured another and handed it to me. I downed it in a gulp. The supplement we normally took tasted like lemon water. This one tasted sour and bitter.
幾乎就在飲料過了我的嘴唇的瞬間，我知道出了問題。幾秒鐘內，一股寒意從我的腹部蔓延到全身。我轉向羅伯。“這味道怪怪的嗎？”
Almost as soon as the drink passed my lips, I knew something was wrong. Within seconds, a coldness crept from my belly through my body. I turned to Rob. “Did that taste weird?”
他看起來很擔心。“這東西有點不對勁。我感覺不太好。”
He looked concerned. “Something’s different with this stuff. I don’t feel so good.”
“我也是。我們去吃點東西。這可能會有幫助。”“好主意。我來開車。”
“Me either. Let’s get something to eat. That might help.” “Good idea. I’ll drive.”
我們走到羅伯的尼桑Maxima。他倒車出車道，我們駛上了路。
We walked out to Rob’s Nissan Maxima. He backed out of the driveway, and we drove off down the road.
補充劑的奇怪效果加劇了。有些事情非常不對勁。我的大腿感覺很冷，就像血液流動不足。我們才開了幾個街區，羅伯的頭開始點來點去，眼睛眨巴著，像是要睡著了。
The supplement’s peculiar effect intensified. Something was very wrong. My thighs felt cold, like they weren’t getting enough blood flow. We had only driven a few blocks when Rob’s head started to bob, and his eyes fluttered, as if he was falling asleep.
“羅伯！”我抓住他的手臂搖了搖。“我們停在冰雪皇后。”
“Rob!” I grabbed his arm and shook him. “Let’s stop at the Dairy Queen.”
羅伯點了點頭，片刻後把車停在餐廳的停車場。
Rob nodded and a moment later pulled into the restaurant’s parking lot.
寒冷的感覺沿著我的脊椎蔓延。噁心讓我胃裡翻騰，我突然有一種強烈的上廁所的衝動。我突然害怕會在羅伯的車裡弄髒。當他把車停好後，我立刻跳了出去。
The cold sensation wormed up my spine. Nausea turned my stomach, and I had a sudden, powerful urge to use the bathroom. I was suddenly afraid I was going to make a mess in Rob’s car. As soon as he put the car in park, I jumped out.
“我要去洗手間，”我說。我跌跌撞撞地走進入口，穿過短走廊，進入單人男廁。我鎖上門，然後走向馬桶時，藍色瓷磚的牆壁開始旋轉。我摔倒在地，失去了知覺。
“I’m going to hit the bathroom,” I said. I stumbled through the entrance, down the short hallway, and into the one-seater men’s room. I locked the door then, as I walked toward the toilet, the blue tiled walls began to spin. I fell to the floor and passed out.
後來我得知羅伯也有類似的經歷：他滑進一個座位，然後倒在桌上，吐了。
I later learned that Rob was having a similar experience: he slid into a booth, then collapsed on the table, and threw up.
年輕的輪班經理聽到羅伯的嘔吐聲，探頭查看。他發現羅伯躺在自己的嘔吐物中，身體顫抖。他衝回櫃檯後面，撥打911叫救護車。
The young shift manager heard Rob’s retching and peeked around the corner to investigate. He found Rob lying unconscious in his own vomit, his body shuddering. He dashed back behind the counter and called 911 for an ambulance.
不幸的是，我是仰面摔倒的，當我嘔吐時，所有從胃裡出來的東西都被吸入肺部，堵塞了我的氣道。
Unfortunately for me, I had fallen on my back and, when I threw up, everything that came out of my stomach was sucked into my lungs, blocking my airway.
就在那時，我死了。
That’s when I died.
第一章：我死去的那一天
Chapter 1: The Day I Died
那個寒冷的元月早晨，我醒來時腦子裡唯一想的是我不用去建築工地工作，整天都是自由的。那是星期六，我打算好好享受這一天。我沒想過要打電話給我媽，告訴她我愛她。我沒想過那些未完成的事情，那些我將離開的朋友，以及會想念我的家人。我不知道那天我會死去。
The only thing on my mind when I woke up on that cold January morning was that I had the entire day off from my construction job. It was a Saturday, and I was going to make the most of it. I didn’t think to call my mom to tell her that I loved her. I didn’t think about all of the things I had left undone, the friends I would leave behind, and the family who would miss me. I didn’t know I would die that day.
我從床上爬起來，跳進浴室洗澡，開始想像我的一天。我計劃和最好的朋友羅布見面，隨便吃點東西，去健身房鍛煉，然後去鹽湖城參加一年一度的國際車展。
I rolled out of bed and hopped in the shower, envisioning my day. I planned to meet up with my best friend Rob, grab a quick bite to eat, work out at the gym, then go downtown to the annual International Auto Expo in Salt Lake City.
我匆匆完成晨間例行事務，抓起車鑰匙，穿上冬天的夾克，走進寒冷的戶外。我那珍珠白的三菱Eclipse在陰雲籠罩下看起來幾乎是灰色的，天空似乎還在猶豫要不要下雪。我滑進駕駛座，啟動引擎，倒出車道。
I rushed through my morning routine, grabbed my car keys, threw on my winter jacket, and stepped out into the cold. The pearl white of my Mitsubishi Eclipse looked almost gray under the blanket of clouds that couldn’t decide whether or not to snow. I slid into the driver’s seat, fired up the engine, and backed out of the driveway.
開車到羅布家的路程很短，車內的暖氣甚至還沒來得及暖和冰冷的車廂，但這段時間讓我有機會回想羅布在短短幾個月內如何改變了我的生活。羅布點燃了我對健康和健身的熱情。我們一起花了數百小時經營健康相關的生意、健身和變得更強壯。我們分享彼此的研究和發現，包括能讓我們更強壯、更健康的新營養補充劑。生活很美好，充滿希望。
The drive to my buddy’s house was short enough that the car heater didn’t even have time to warm up the cold interior, but it gave me time to reflect on how much Rob had changed my life in just a few short months. Rob had ignited a passion for health and fitness in me. We had literally spent hundreds of hours together between working a health-related business, working out, and getting stronger. We shared our research and discoveries with each other, including new nutrition supplements that would help us be even stronger and healthier. Life was great, and full of promise.
羅布住在奧勒姆一個安靜的社區，離我家只有幾英里。我把車停在羅布家門前，跑上門廊，禮貌性地敲了敲門就自己進去了。
Rob lived in a quiet neighborhood in Orem, just a few miles from my house. I parked in front of Rob’s house and ran up to the door, giving a quick courtesy knock as I let myself in.
「嘿，羅布，準備好了嗎？」
“Hey, Rob. You ready?”
羅布的聲音從樓下傳來：「馬上上來！」
Rob’s voice carried up from downstairs, “I’ll be right up.”
我注意到廚房桌上有一個普通的棕色盒子，大約是一個大飲料瓶的大小。白色的運輸標籤讓我猜到了裡面的東西。
I noticed a plain brown box, about the size of a large drink bottle, on the kitchen table. The white shipping label gave me a clue to its contents.
「這是你幾週前訂的那個新補充劑嗎？」我朝樓下喊道。
“Is this that new supplement you ordered a few weeks ago?” I yelled down to him.
「對，兄弟，」羅布邊跑上樓邊說。「我很期待試試。」他的黑髮還是濕的。他強壯而精瘦，比我矮一點。他那富有感染力的微笑點亮了他灰綠色的眼睛。「我們去健身房前先吃點吧。」
“Yeah, bro,” Rob said as he bounded up the stairs. “I’m excited to try it.” His dark hair was still damp. He was strong and lean, a little shorter than me. His infectious smile lit up his gray-green eyes. “Let’s take some before we hit the gym.”
羅布撕開包裹，拿出一大瓶白色塑膠瓶。
Rob tore open the package and lifted out a large white plastic bottle.
瓶子上色彩鮮艷的標籤印著外文的亞洲字體。「這是哪來的？」我問。
Its colorful label was printed in a foreign, Asian-looking script. “Where is this from?” I asked.
「我從泰國訂的，」他說。「美國的供應商都賣光了。不過應該跟美國的東西一樣。」
“I ordered it from Thailand,” he said. “All of the U.S. suppliers were sold out. It should be the same as the American stuff, though.”
羅布小心地將透明液體倒進瓶蓋，喝了下去。他又量了一份遞給我。我一口吞下。我們平時吃的補充劑嚐起來像檸檬水，這次的卻酸澀又苦。
Rob carefully poured the clear liquid into the bottle’s cap and drank it. He measured another and handed it to me. I downed it in a gulp. The supplement we normally took tasted like lemon water. This one tasted sour and bitter.
幾乎在液體進入我嘴裡的瞬間，我就知道有什麼不對勁。幾秒鐘內，一股寒意從我的腹部蔓延到全身。我轉向羅布：「這味道怪怪的？」
Almost as soon as the drink passed my lips, I knew something was wrong. Within seconds, a coldness crept from my belly through my body. I turned to Rob. “Did that taste weird?”
他看起來很擔心。「這東西有點不對勁。我感覺不太好。」
He looked concerned. “Something’s different with this stuff. I don’t feel so good.”
「我也是。我們去吃點東西吧，說不定會好些。」「好主意。我來開車。」
“Me either. Let’s get something to eat. That might help.” “Good idea. I’ll drive.”
我們走到羅布的日產Maxima前。他倒出車道，開上了路。
We walked out to Rob’s Nissan Maxima. He backed out of the driveway, and we drove off down the road.
補充劑的奇怪效果越來越強烈。肯定有什麼大問題。我的大腿感覺冰冷，好像血流不足。我們只開了幾個街區，羅布的頭就開始晃動，眼睛眨個不停，好像要睡著了。
The supplement’s peculiar effect intensified. Something was very wrong. My thighs felt cold, like they weren’t getting enough blood flow. We had only driven a few blocks when Rob’s head started to bob, and his eyes fluttered, as if he was falling asleep.
「羅布！」我抓住他的手臂搖晃他。「我們在Dairy Queen停一下吧。」
“Rob!” I grabbed his arm and shook him. “Let’s stop at the Dairy Queen.”
羅布點點頭，片刻後把車開進餐廳的停車場。
Rob nodded and a moment later pulled into the restaurant’s parking lot.
一股冷感順著我的脊椎往上爬。噁心感攪動著我的胃，我突然有一股強烈的衝動要上廁所。我突然害怕自己會在羅布的車裡弄髒了。他一停好車，我就跳了出去。
The cold sensation wormed up my spine. Nausea turned my stomach, and I had a sudden, powerful urge to use the bathroom. I was suddenly afraid I was going to make a mess in Rob’s car. As soon as he put the car in park, I jumped out.
「我要去廁所，」我說。我跌跌撞撞地走進入口，穿過短走廊，進入單人男廁。我鎖上門，走向馬桶時，藍色瓷磚牆開始旋轉。我摔倒在地，失去了意識。
“I’m going to hit the bathroom,” I said. I stumbled through the entrance, down the short hallway, and into the one-seater men’s room. I locked the door then, as I walked toward the toilet, the blue tiled walls began to spin. I fell to the floor and passed out.
我後來才知道，羅布也有類似的經歷：他滑進一個卡座，然後趴在桌上，吐了出來。
I later learned that Rob was having a similar experience: he slid into a booth, then collapsed on the table, and threw up.
年輕的輪班經理聽到羅布的嘔吐聲，探頭查看。他發現羅布不省人事地躺在自己的嘔吐物中，身體在顫抖。他衝回櫃檯後面，打911叫救護車。
The young shift manager heard Rob’s retching and peeked around the corner to investigate. He found Rob lying unconscious in his own vomit, his body shuddering. He dashed back behind the counter and called 911 for an ambulance.
不幸的是，我是仰面摔倒的，當我吐的時候，所有從胃裡出來的東西都被吸進了我的肺部，堵住了我的氣道。
Unfortunately for me, I had fallen on my back and, when I threw up, everything that came out of my stomach was sucked into my lungs, blocking my airway.
那就是我死亡的時刻。
That’s when I died.