The phone call came one late evening. As for my lack of understanding, I have only myself to blame. My uncle\u2019s voice sounded out of the ordinary. I, however, did not pursue the situation with any query. \u201cYour mother is back in the hospital; she had some fluid collecting in her abdomen; doctors have done a procedure to give her some relief. Don\u2019t worry. She is alright.\u201d I forced myself to take his last words literally. \u2018Could I possibly fly there soon\u2019, he then inquired. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
My semester was about to end. I had several loose ends to amend. But there was no doubt: I had to go. Though sketchily, the hidden message in his voice told me so. One German professor, who knew about my excuse, threatened me with a failing grade \u2013 if I left my semester paper curtailed. He wouldn\u2019t give me an extension. I zoomed out of his office with a growing tension. I was ready to face any consequences. I wasn\u2019t going to stay there to listen to his ethnicist offenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a student, my budget was rather limited. Airfares to Germany were no easy feat. I felt defeated. But then, my friends pitched in. Thanks to them, my ticket was now intact. The next obstacle, a visa for a Turkish citizen, constituted a nightmarish fact. We had already reached the weekend. No consulate was open on a Saturday or a Sunday. Besides, New York was hours away. I exhausted some connections in a panicked urgency. In Detroit, still long-distance, I located one authorized employee. He reassured me that he would wait; no matter when I make it there, no matter how late. That true human being greeted me with compassion, and took care of my paperwork fast and as if he was on a mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seven and some lonely hours on the plane . . . all along writing scenarios in my head: Will you be in a stretcher, Mom? A wheelchair? You are tough. You will make sure to smooth out the distance between us. You will add hours to our remaining time. You will be fine!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There was no sight of you at the airport. Two family friends were waiting for me behind the security line with pretense-smiles on their otherwise expressionless faces. Before I could reach my ride, I had to put my pride aside: The check-point officer tossed my non-German passport to a hard hit on the ground \u2013 the split-second its cover revealed my ethnicity. As nasty as he might have been, his treatment of me distracted my anticipation of an unbearable sorrow. After all, I still was in the dark as far as your tomorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For about an hour’s drive on the highway, one of my companions steered the wheel, while the other avoided giving me even one single glance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the hospital, your only surviving brother greeted me first. He had once again served as your anesthesiologist. Your surgeon \u2013 a longtime acquaintance of yours, along with assisting doctors, welcomed me under predictable pleasantries. A large medical personnel entourage was also present. They all led me to a room in Intensive Care. Supposedly inaudible whispers surrounded me regarding me: \u201cHas she ever been to a unit like this before?\u201d \u2013 \u201cNo\u201d, I heard my beloved uncle reply, \u201cbut my niece is utterly strong.\u201d He could not have known back then that he was dead wrong. Dead wrong!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Too long of a corridor . . . bare walls . . . then, your eyes, when they saw mine . . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I made it, Mom. I made it to your deathbed alright. Hence, the end of this story. For, there is no happy ending. The rest is gory.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The phone call came one late evening. As for my lack of understanding, I have only myself to blame. My uncle\u2019s voice sounded out of the ordinary. I, however, did not pursue the situation with any query. \u201cYour mother is back in the hospital; she had some fluid collecting in her abdomen; doctors have done […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":2035,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2033","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-poems"],"yoast_head":"\n