Visiting her mother at the home, where her mother lies, in a, statuesque state, translated…
As I was headed out, the sun is still high up in the skies, only the cumulonimbus in the distance looked, more than apparent. There’s that raincoat inside the seat compartment of my scooter, and I’m not the least bit worried, if there will be, rain that poured down. I rode in a straight line toward Taiwan Route 17, with not much in my mind, and, as I’d waited for the light, I’d, taken out that icy cooled bottle of water to drink, and nothing was, out of, the ordinary.
And, if there’s a need for something that wasn’t out of the ordinary, it’s that I’d gotten lost twice, maybe, I trusted my own instincts too much, turned at the wrong fork, and as I’d turned back, I’d, taken the wrong turn again, and accidentally, entered into the industrial area, and as I found that I wasn’t on the right roads, down came the rain. I’d, had the need to rush to my destination quickly, so I’d, not put on my raincoat and kept going.
illustration from UDN.com
There were the immobilized people, sitting, lying down, inside the place, and it’s time for the noontime break, those who are still lucid, are watching television, don’t know if they’re, being stared at by the news anchors, or are they, staring AT the news anchors, there’s the news of the solar eclipse on the channel, and, the shocking footage from someone’s, dash cam. The world outside is played on inside the home, there’s, that sense of, parallel, awkwardness to it.
Toward those who aren’t aware, but still lucid? They’d, stared, with those unfocused, dispirited eyes, toward the ceiling, like they’re, seeing through it.
“The outbreaks of MERS-CoV is currently getting serious right now, and there’s, no known cure yet!”, I’d wanted to help her catch up in the news, so I’d, described what was going on outside with the most simplified sentences, and told her why I’d come to see her, three days late, “because of the outbreak, fearing getting infected, the facility limited the time for visits, and I’d had to make an appointment to come and visit you! And, I shall come by, whenever I have the time!”
There’s only one hour for the visiting time, and, in this hour, I’d needed to, be keen on her moods, her mental, physical statuses, as well as how well she’d, interacted with the hired help, to make sure, that she is, well taken care of here. And, don’t know if it was because she was so worked up, she got red in the eyes, and started, crying.
I thought that I would be flustered, but, I picked up the phone, told her, I’m filming you for someone, you need to look pretty, so, dry your eyes, it’s not pretty with your eyes all red. I’d helped her dried her eyes, coaxed her, and, taken footages of her, like I was, her mother.
From before, I was, her baby, and now, she’d become, my big, baby.
Before the visiting time was up, I’d told her, to behave herself, to work hard, that I shall, visit again soon.
I will, come back, come rain or shine, I will!
My shirt that’s dried and wet again, the sunny and rainy days alternated, so ordinary, but, there was, that group of people who can only, stare at the T.V. screen, or at the ceiling, like they’re not, a part of, this world that we live in. Finding the way from getting lost, not wearing my raincoat on the rainy days, the forefront was that you need a free body, and free spirit. And, I’m willing, to stay by her side, who’s been, locked in her body, and I will, cherish every moment.
As I set foot out of the home, the skies are now, sunny.
And so, this, is the exchange you have shared, with someone you loved, that couldn’t, respond back to you, but you are still, persistent, in visiting her, because you love her so, and, you will keep on, visiting this person that you love who’d, taken care of you when you were young, until she’s gone, because, that, is what a good offspring does, caring for one’s own parents, no matter what, because the parents cared for you too when you were, little.
Life, the Obstacle Course 