My father lay on the sofa, his body gripped by a soft paralysis. His eyes were rolled back, his mouth foaming, and his face drained of color. A bottle of medication sat beside him, a silent witness to his desperate act. And there, next to the medication, was a short suicide note.
"Dad, I'm sorry, I couldn't preserve your hard work."
In that time, I was in a company meeting, engrossed in the details of a new project. After the call, I hastily explained to my supervisor and raced to the hospital, feeling shaken to the core.
My father had taken the medication in a desperate attempt to end his life. Though he had been saved, his condition remained critical, hanging precariously in the balance. And as if the weight of his suffering wasn't enough, my mother had suffered a stroke from the overwhelming shock, now confined to a hospital bed herself.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFdOSPxSWB
When I arrived, Mom was lying in bed, appearing surprisingly alert despite my expectations of tears and screams. But I found that all the more terrifying - such a major incident should have brought anyone to their knees, teetering on the brink of a breakdown. Yet, there were no tears, no trace of emotion on her face, and she remained stoic and unresponsive to anything I said.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIgXbpazmP
Dad had managed to survive the critical period that night, but he remained unconscious. The doctor's diagnosis revealed that he had suffered brain damage due to a lack of oxygen, rendering him in a vegetative state. The uncertainty of when, or if, he would ever awaken loomed over us. Meanwhile, mom's left side was temporarily paralyzed due to the shock, necessitating the use of a wheelchair for her mobility. However, after examination the doctor reassured us that she would regain her strength in time.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlL7xBkEWGn
But from that day on, my mother fell into a profound silence, seldom uttering a word. Once she was discharged from the hospital and we returned home, I made it a routine to accompany her on visits to see my father. Yet, more often than not, she would simply gaze blankly at him, her lips sealed shut. All I could do was remain steadfastly by her side, offering what little solace I could. Mom didn't have too many friends, and ever since Dad sank into his current state, she built an invisible barrier and withdrew into herself, as if she no longer desired any form of communication with the outside world.
Not even with me.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQ3kNPvX0u
Fortunately, she still maintained her appetite, watched TV, read books, and found solace in sleep. To ensure her well-being, I hired a daytime caregiver who not only attended to her daily needs but also shielded her from following in Dad's footsteps. I also made a decision: apart from the time we spent working separately, Lolly and I would strive to minimize our engagements and diversions, allowing us to devote more precious moments to Mom.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMaXVwzmqF
Lolly understood and was willing to cooperate. It might pose a challenge for her, as she had never been particularly close to Mom, and she was a person who valued entertainments and leisure activities. Nevertheless, with our shared emotional foundation cultivated over the years, I believed we could overcome this obstacle together.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5EdcHJyoN
In my heart, I vowed that on the day when Mom's condition improved, I would propose to her.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6CtfK6kKT
Unfortunately, my expectations were once again proven wrong.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcAU9zGB9i
Since Mom returned home, Lolly and I started to argue and even have cold wars over different things, big and small.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fZbS0Ep98
Though we would make up every time, an imperceptible crack had stealthily formed between us. This minuscule crevice gradually widened with the passage of days and months, until it became an insurmountable chasm.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBTgGeOsJI
One day she told me that she really couldn't go on like this any more. She had grown tired of this life, and tired of being with me.229Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtOFkMUFn6
Exhausted, she couldn't wait for the "day" and decided to break up with me.
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