I looked at him on the bed. He coughed once and a trail of brownish dead blood came out of his mouth and ran down the side of his chin. Then he stopped breathing. And I thought, I'll make sure I never end up here, either.
In this scene from "Engleby," the narrator observes a man lying in bed who is suffering from a terminal condition. As the man coughs, blood escapes from his mouth, marking a stark moment of his deterioration. When the man ultimately stops breathing, it prompts a profound realization for the narrator, who vows to avoid a similar fate.
This moment reflects themes of mortality and self-awareness, as the narrator contemplates the fragility of life. The visceral imagery emphasizes the dread of illness and death, leading to a determination to live life intentionally and avoid the despair represented by the dying man.
