I started in horror at the body lying in the hospital bed. It was old, strangely altered by disease. I looked around at my brother and sister, both had tears in their eyes. My brother whispered something. The last word echoed around in my head. Dad. It was my dad lying there. Ten years had passed since last I saw him. And now he was dead. It felt strange standing there, looking at a face I hardly recognised. I took a deep steading breath, then turned and walked out of the room. I let my mind wander over the events of the past two weeks. Our world was turned upside down when my brother received a letter from a social worker telling him that our father was in the hospital. This was difficult for us to believe. Last we knew about our father that he went missing abroad. Years ago he had left our little country to try his luck somewhere else. Illegally, that is. Our father had told my brother that he was ill and that when his time would come he would disappear into the jungle never to be found again. So when he went missing we assumed that he had done as he said. My brother still tried to find our father, without luck, I might add. So, my brother's first response when he received that letter was anger and disbelief. We didn't know what to do or what to believe. My mom was boldest of all. She pretended to be our father's assistant and pretended he had lost the date of his next appointment. She found out that he was reciding in the hospital and was undergoing treatment.
Chibi Neela
