Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 2020complete | Page 367

That day, I returned to our crowded two-bedroom apartment. I didn’t need it anymore. I was about to pack my
bags but I realized that I could just stay... I had nowhere to go. I only had my 60-year old mum, who had to stay
back at home because of her job, to return to and I couldn’t bear to see her despair when it sunk in what had
happened. We had been so hopeful about the move to the Greater Bay Area and that it would save dad. I didn’t
want to be the one to break the news to her. At the moment, I didn’t want to go anywhere, let alone, return to
grieve with her. I couldn’t accept the fact that he was no longer there.
The following month, the whole month of August, I barely went out of the apartment except to get the little
portions of food I needed every day. All I could do was think of dad and all I did was grieve: crying, shaking
with sadness and anger. I couldn’t imagine what my mother was going through. I was supposed to phone her
before she heard the news from someone else. She was alone and I wasn’t returning any of her calls. I know it
wasn’t right but I needed to grieve by myself.
It was early September. I was coming back from the market when I checked my computer. It was filled with
emails all addressed from the same place, the bank. I read slowly and was shocked to hear that we were in debt. I
began to think about all the missed calls from my mom. Maybe she wanted to tell me and ask for my help. All
the guilt rushed back; I knew I had to contact her.
I pick up the phone and instantly hesitate. I haven’t talked to my mother in months. Although my mother was a
hopeful optimistic person, my father’s illness had made her tired and pale looking.
“Hello?” I say
I wait silently for a response.
“Li Wei?” my mother replied.
We spoke for hours. I explained to her what I was going through. She forgave me. She said that she understands
because she went through the same thing and didn’t want to talk to anyone; anyone except me. All she needed to
know was that I was alright.
Finally, I brought up the many emails I have received. She told me not to worry about it. She said she was taking
care of the situation but I knew that she would need help. I offered to come back home and find a job. She
argued. She told me to stay where I was to try to make the most of the situation. The Greater Bay Area had
better opportunities than back at home and we were in financial problems. Those were the reasons I agreed.
After finishing the call with my mother I went out and began looking for a job. I started off by working in a
small Chinese medicine shop. The shop owner welcomed me and I worked there for around two years due to his
agreeableness. He had a shy daughter, once we got to know each other we fell in love and a year later got
married. Eventually I left the shop and continued my studies.
I became a doctor in the Greater Bay Area; just like the ones who treated my father.