If u could measure the length of life how long would your life be? Does it really matter to have a long life? who knows maybe or maybe not....
My name is Halle. Currently I'm in a hospital. You wonder why.. it's simple, like any other patient, I'm sick. I have a heart disease (a hole in heart, or at least that's what doctor said) which can't be cured and probably I'm living my last few days ( though no one told me directly I could figure out by looking at my mom's face). But I'm actually quite relaxed after hearing I'm gonna die, sounds idiotic right? but I myself don't know why so.. haha.. I'm being kept in a general ward though I still have those large machines beside me that help me live a little more (maybe my mom wanted me to feel at ease so she kept me in a general ward). there is a large window by my bed from where I can see the beautiful world clearly, sunrise and sunset would never miss a chance to stun me, the clouds changed shapes as if they were telling me stories of the great heroes in the world, trees were always rustling as if they were holding a concert just for me, every part of Mother Nature presented a beautiful performance to me everyday as if I were a VIP.
I could see the seasons changing, n with the seasons my condition was taking twists and turns. in a flick of time it was already 2 years after being hospitalized. and it's rather funny that I remember all the routes in the hospital but I can't remember clearly which direction my room was in my house. the old woman near my bed is about get discharged in two days after a successful surgery. she is a cheerful old lady who has all sorts of interests that old folks should have. the day before she was supposed to get discharged, she sat near my bed as she always did whenever she felt like a round of good talk. she was facing the large window, I could see the golden sunset rays fall upon her wrinkled face and red cheeks. 'I have lived seventy years of my life, rather happily. I had great parents who loved me very much.', she said. 'are u in for a story little Halle? ', she asked. I didn't had anything better to do anyways and as a matter of fact her stories were very interesting so I nodded my head and she began her tale.
'my parents were very ordinary people. my mother was a housewife and my father worked for some company and had to go on tours for business purposes, he was seldom home, but he used to get leave of a month after every 4 months (or that's what I counted) so it was always my mother and me.
I used to help my mother since young, it was like a hobby for me. but as I grew up more hobbies were added and those all came from school and friends. time ran faster and I turned 17 . now I was focused on my studies and started to dream of becoming a police officer but who knew that fate had different plans for me. one day during sports day at the school, I was supposed to run a 400 meter race for my class ( I was quite athletic back then) . the race started at the sound of clapper and off I went, it was a good start and I was at the first position and a few meters away from the ribbon when there was a sudden pain in my chest and the next thing I knew was I woke up in a hospital.' ....'what had happened to you? ', I asked her with a mixed expression of interest and worry. she chuckled and replied, 'what happens is not so important my dear but what important is the remaining story' and she continued with her story. ' after I woke up the first person I saw was my mother, she looked rather worried. I thought that it was because I fell down and got hospitalized. ( I was a healthy child when I was younger). I smiled at her and said "its OK mother it is just one race, doesn't matter much if I loose one" ,hearing this she broke down and I was puzzled as for what the reason could be. little did I know that I would be saying goodbye to my dream of becoming a police officer because my heart had some complications. at first, I thought it was a joke and that how could I be so unlucky to have such a misfortune, but things took serious turns as days passed and the white coat man said that I needed to be operated quickly or I might die. I then confirmed that it was indeed a joke. my parents worked hard to get the fees for the surgery but as the days went by my condition worsened. the white coat man said that the chance of success was only 1%-2%. but my parents were not gonna give up on me yet so they agreed and the date and time for the surgery was fixed now we were to wait for that day which surprising came very soon. as the white coat man was preparing for my uncertain surgery I lied motionless on my bed. maybe it was nervousness of my first surgery or maybe the fear of death. I closed my eyes and suddenly a flood of memories ran like a documentary film on my life. I realized that just in my 17 years of life I had so many memories, with people I know and people I didn't know, happy, sad, confusing every sort of event that happened in my life. then the nurse came to inform me to get ready. I was laid on a stretcher and on the way to OT. my mother hold my right hand and my father ( who took leave of 2 months this time for me) held the left. it felt as if I was going to a war. I closed my eyes again as the doors shut behind me. I thought I was gone already.'
I was so immersed in the story that I couldn't speak a word but only stare at her. looking at me being speechless she asked if I could guess what happened next. ' you are right in front of me so of course the surgery was a success. ' I replied. she chuckled yet again and said, ' yes, it was a success. I was somehow given a extension of life.' 'wow grandma, you are really lucky that you were saved, but it's a pity that I have to leave here someday' I said with a relieved but sad tone she smiled lightly and then she asked me, ' so little Halle, what did you understand from this story?' I was thinking rather hard as to what it would be ( a little girl of 13 has a hard time figuring out what an old woman was trying to say) she then answered the question herself saying, ' dear Halle, life is short indeed, it is never enough to make memories with people who love you and who you love. but when you remember each memory you will find that the life you already lived has so many events, people, friends and family, each memory holding a special meaning. maybe they are even enough for the rest of your life. we never realise that life is never short or long, in fact we can never measure it but we can always cherish it. dear Halle cherish your life and memories, old or new. though we never know for sure when we are going to take our last breath, live it to the fullest. make every day a beautiful memory that you can cherish.' that is what she said and went to sleep after her dinner. I finished my dinner and went to sleep without speaking a word. I couldn't fall asleep that night, all I could do was remember her every word and analyzed her story.
the next morning her son and daughter in law came to fetch her. Before leaving she patted my head and said, 'bless you my dear Halle'. I smiled and said goodbye to her.
everything was quiet again. and I turned to look at the natures performance for me. but this time it was different. it was as if I was eager to capture every moment to make it a cherished memory. grandma was right, who knows when the end will be. but just because you will be dead someday in future doesn't mean you stop living your present. at that time I finally understand the phrase, "the yesterday is history, the tomorrow is mystery but today is a gift that is why it is called a present so cherish it. " ...
THE END
