I grew up believing death led to an afterlife—an eternal reunion in heaven. That mindset carried me through a war zone without much fear. Yet a science degree and an abrupt shift in my beliefs made me terrified of death’s finality. Then came serious health crises, from Wilson’s Disease to a Mast Cell Disorder, and suddenly the idea of dying became more like an invitation to rest than a doom to avoid. The fear had dissolved, replaced by unexpected calm.