Ron's ESL Blogs

Father came back from the Heaven

I didn’t know whether you had suffered from almost losing your family before, but I did. I would never forget that night, it was dark, cold and long; it seemed that the sun would never come out again.

That year, I was 16 years old and studied in grade 11 in The Attached High School of GuangZhou University, Canton, China. I was a boarder at school because my home was far away from it. Usually, it took more than three hours to get to school. And as usual, I came back home once a week on Fridays.

It was summer, but that night was extremely cold. Around 9:30 pm, I came back home after taking a long bus, dragging my tired body and heavy school bag. As I expected, my mom worked late at night, sometimes even overnight, and she was responsible for checking the quality of clothes in a clothing factory. When I came back home, everything seemed the same as usual, dinner was prepared on the table and my one-year younger brother was playing computer game. When he noticed me, he said: “Sister, a policeman called just now, said that father got into an accident and now he is in hospital, but he rejects to see a doctor, and insists on going home.” “What? When did he call you? Have you told mom about it?” I was so worried and shocked. I knew it was going to be worse. I didn’t know why, I just knew and felt that. “It was two hours ago and I did not call mom yet.” He said quietly. I looked at him for a second, anger was full filled my eyes, but he did not look at me back. Might be he was so afraid to. I called mom, my uncle and aunt immediately, they rushed to the hospital. “Why don’t you call mom? Don’t you know it is urgent and you maybe lose your dad?” I tried to stop my anger. “I don’t know what to do?” He said. “What the hell are you thinking? Are you idiot? You are already 15 years old.” He kept silent. It was too hard for me to believe a 15-year old boy did not know to call his family for help when his dad was in an accident. I did not even know what to say. I called mom instantly to see what was going on. “Mom, what has happened to daddy? How’s going with daddy? ” “When your dad rode a motorcycle outside, a car suddenly came out, and he made a turn in order not to crash on the car. But he fell and sank into a coma after suffering a brain concussion.” When saying this, she tried to take a breath and still could not stop crying. I was listening, tears already wet my face, but I did not know how to comfort my mom. Then she spoke with difficulty, choking back more tears.  “But the driver did not stop to check and call an ambulance, just kept leaving. Luckily, someone found your dad and called. Now you dad seems fine and is examined by the doctor.” After hearing this, I took a deep breath. “I need to see your dad now, take care of your brother.” She said. “Hmmm, I will. Keep me updated, mom.” Then she hung up the phone.

The house was dark and silent, and we did not even speak a word. Every second seemed to be a torture.  I could only hear the sound of the clock “tita…tita…tita.” Half an hour later, a rushed phone call broke the silence. It was mom. She was crying and could not even speak a word. After a minute, she said “Your dad kept spitting out blood and it must be brain hemorrhage. Now we are going to send him to central hospital in downtown. I have to leave now.” Before she hung up the phone, she said “Daughter, don’t worry. You dad will be fine, take care of yourself and brother.” At that moment, I cried aloud. That night, I was so scared to close my eyes. I was so afraid that I would lose my dad when I reopened my eyes.

The next morning, mom called me and there was a tremble in her voice. “Daughter, I am so afraid and don’t know what to do. Doctor says your dad is so dangerous now, and he will not get over it if his brain keeps bleeding…. Doctor says he might be  need a surgery, but it depends on his situation.” Suddenly, my mind was empty. Also, I was so afraid to think “Am I going to lose my dad? No way….no way. I don’t believe that. It is not true.” I kept telling myself.

That week went through like a year in my life, I wanted to see my father, but my mom told me “You need to stay at school and study. Your dad does not want you to leave behind, and this semester is so important for you to prepare for the entrance examination of university.

That week, I was at school, but my heart was following him.

A few days later, my mom called me excitedly, “Daughter, tell you a good news. Your dad woke up this morning and more amazingly, he has already stopped bleeding.” I slapped myself a little bit. Then I believed that it was true, everything was going to be fine. “Mother, it is so awesome. Thank God!”

I rushed to see my dad on Friday, dad seemed much better now. When he saw me, he told me a little secret, “Daughter, I was in the heaven already, but I heard your voice there. I kept looking for your voice, and I saw you were waiting outside for me. When I touched you, then I woke up.” I cried aloud, “I love you, dad!”