CLAUD

Saturday, October 10, 2009

A Lady

I want to write a story....i know u have heard it a million times, but i want to write it for me. Something happened, and I want to remind myself of my mum...moments that only belonged to her.

There was once a lady who did not have much confidence. She was short, short-sighted and very much far from being svelte. This lady did not think anyone would want to be married to her. But fate had other plans and shortly after meeting a tall and handsome man, she fell in love and married she did.

Her young brother approached her one day to ask a favour from her. He wanted to place his guitar in her husband's house. He said he was moving out and didn't have a place to place this instrument. My mother took it in. She didn't know what was inside that case.

One night, her husband returned to see a swarm of police at his door. His brother-in-law was handcuffed and being led into his house. He was afraid. He was hesitant. His wife was pale and tearing. The guitar held 24 thousand dollars which was stolen from a watch shop. His brother-in-law was charged for theft. He could not imagine the pain his wife was going through. They both helped to bail him out. They both helped to pay the fine.

The new couple were frugal. She knew that money was hard to come by and she saved whatever she could for a better life. However, it was not to be, when she lost her father to a heart attack. She had the weight of her family on her shoulders. She was only 28 years old. She was the eldest. She was also 4 months pregnant.

Her daughter was born later that year on the 16th of September, just after the Mid-autumn festival. She was elated and couldn't ask for a better gift that year. Her husband was pale from witnessing that long and hard labour and promptly dissolved any other thoughts of having a large family. His heart went out to her pain.

She had work in a company near her home. Just a 5 minutes walk. She was also happy to have found a wonderful retiree who could look after and love her daughter like she did. She worked hard and smart, made as much friends as she did enemies who were envious of her rosy life. This lady hardly complained. She looked after her siblings and her recently widowed mother. She knew she was the eldest. She was only 28 years old.

Fate had to intervene again. Her brother told her, "I think your husband is having an affair." She broke down. She couldn't imagine what that meant for her future. Her husband was shocked to be accused like this. He cleared the misunderstanding. He was forgiven and life went on. Soon, the issue was glossed over. Her daughter, precarious as she was, placed notes in their shoes to remind them of the love they share still. She was not the same young girl she is anymore.

Time flew by and her daughter grew into a responsible young teenager. She thanked god everyday that her family was well. Her job was giving her problems and she could not seem to stick with a single job for long. She wanted her family to be proud of her and thought that she disappointed her own daughter for not being able to provide for her. She worked long hours and missed her family. She started to grow apart.

It came to her one day that her family meant more to her. She left and decided to spend more time at home. She didn't have to work. Her husband didn't think there was a need either. But she wanted to. She felt a need to contribute to her family as well. She wanted to do a degree - her life's last goal.

Then on the 21st of November, she lost consciousness. The last thoughts in her head was the future of her family. How will her daughter cope? Will she be able to go overseas now? Is it her fault? What will her husband do without her? She said to her colleague, "My daughter will take care of my family." And then, everything blacked out. Those were the last thoughts she will ever have.

Her family rushed down to be by her side. For 4 months, her mother, daughter and husband kept vigil everyday. Then everything changed. Her brother came back from his overseas job. He wanted the best for his sister. He wanted her to get private treatment, he wanted her to be placed in a better ward, he wanted her to wake up. But the doctors, nurses and social workers all knew that she could not. The family understood, they had no choice otherwise.

He didn't accept and he didn't trust her husband. Having to accuse him of cheating 12 years ago. That issue was never settled in him. He didn't see that he was fit. He didn't know his sister's last thoughts. He didn't seem to care.

Another 5 months have come and gone. Her family is now estranged from her siblings and mother. They are fighting over control of her assets and her person. Yet, she lies in darkness and pain. She does not register what others have been whispering in her ears. She does not know. Her heart aches when her daughter cries. She tears fall when her husband touches her, for he have not done so for a long time.

Yet she lies in darkness and pain. She does not register what others have been whispering in her ears. She does not know. Her daughter feels for both of them now. Both trapped in darkness, both feeling pain. But one registers and the other does not.

Now her daughter has the weight of the family on her shoulders. She is only 20. Old enough to understand, young enough for her opinions to be ignored. She does not know what else to do but to tell others her story so that she does not suffer in silence. She hopes that someone can come and liberate her from this situation. She prays that the judge on this case can see and understand and end this pain once and for all.

There was once a lady who did not have much confidence. But people will tell you that she is a wonderful sister, daughter, wife and mother and she loved everyone. And I love her.

23:26