Autumn Afternoon Missing Dad - Tuoi Tre Online

I think the love between my parents is beautiful, caring for each other until their last breath. I think living like that is a life worth living.

Illustration: DANG HONG QUAN

After finishing my youngest uncle's wedding, my father became seriously ill. At that time, the COVID-19 epidemic was spreading rapidly, and disease control in hospitals was especially strict.

During the pandemic, my father was seriously ill. He needed a PCR test certificate to go anywhere, had to wait in line, was miserable when taking samples, and was very expensive. After going through many checkpoints, when he got to the hospital, only one family member was allowed to take care of him and camped out in the department. I took my father to the hospital and took care of the paperwork for surgery.

Before leaving for Hanoi , my dad bought a bag of brown rice for my mom because she has diabetes. If there was any work at home, my dad told my mom to wait for him to come back and then take care of it together.

The night before the surgery, Dad was still laughing and talking happily with everyone in the hospital room. Early in the morning, at 6am, Dad's surgery was scheduled. Without giving each other any time to tell each other anything, Dad and I quickly put on warm clothes and ran after the doctor. That was the last time I heard Dad speak clearly.

After a while in the hospital, Dad was finally able to go home. He was bedridden and unable to speak. Dad was sick and tired just turning over. Mom took care of Dad day and night.

I still remember the day my mother said: "Just bring your father back here and no matter how hard it is, I will take care of him." I know my mother doesn't often say affectionate words, but deep down, there are few people better. A lifetime of hard work for her husband and children, many times she cried so much.

Then I wondered if that sacrifice seemed to be another "natural duty" of many Vietnamese women. Only by living and experiencing it from my family did I truly understand and appreciate it.

Mom is tired, lying next to Dad, watching over Dad's sleep, but my love for Mom and Dad is endless. Going through almost a cycle of life, how many days are there of happiness and leisure? But I believe, with Mom's love, for Dad, for me, for my daughter-in-law and grandchildren, Mom, despite the hardships, still has joy. Living for others is a noble and beautiful way of life, isn't it Mom?

The wind is cold, the night still has a bit of the cold of Miss Ban, I hope tonight the wind will be less so that dad can sleep well, and mom will have to turn less. Night after night, just that small wish...

I still remember clearly that evening, my father suddenly said to me and my younger brother who were sitting next to the bed, although his voice was not clear: you two must take care of your mother. I sadly remembered those words forever. A few days later, my father passed away.

I think the love between my parents is beautiful, caring for each other until their last breath. I think living like that is a life worth living.

Over time, all pain will gradually subside. And gradually the pain will be replaced by a burning longing.

One afternoon, I was rushing down the street when I suddenly felt a cool breeze. I stopped and was suddenly confused. Oh my! It was already autumn.

Then suddenly the rain came. The rain poured down like a waterfall. I felt the night getting colder and thinner. I thought life was like the four seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter. It was long but also short. I thought I would forever be immersed in suffering, but then the suffering gradually subsided, and happiness slowly rose.

From childhood to adulthood, on the path of life I always had my father and missed him. The other day my little daughter asked her: "Grandma, will grandpa still see me after he passes away?"

My mother smiled and gently told me: "Yes, my child! Grandpa in heaven is always watching your every step. Be a good boy to make him happy!"

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/chieu-thu-nho-bo-20241027100747204.htm