It’ll snow till May

“This is Alice. Well, I guess I’m busy right now. Please leave a message and I’ll get back as soon as possible. Have a great day.”

“It’s me, Andrew. Ah… I’m calling… ah… How should I say? I’m… I’m in the hospital. Ah… in the morning, I was in the garage and I was cleaning. I felt something isn’t right; I don’t remember the rest. Martha found me lying unconscious on the floor. She took me to the hospital. When I woke up, I knew it was normal because I’ve felt this before. I’ve gone through this before. And the doctor I was seeing, he told me I get these… episodes when I work too much. I also didn’t have my dinner last night, so I knew it all happened because of fatigue. I was sure. But these doctors here…”

(“Honey. Don’t cry. It’s going to be okay. We’ll go see the best doctors. I don’t believe these here. I don’t trust them. We’ll go. Please don’t cry.”

“Martha, can you give me some alone time? I just need to be alone to say everything. I’ll call you when I’m done.”)

“Sorry about that. Where I was?… Ah, the doctors here are saying I have some disease called congestive heart failure. The episode I got in the morning was because of that. Then… Then… Ah sorry, I should not cry over the phone. They said I have it for the last 3 years. Those episodes I got in the past, I wasn’t just getting them because of fatigue. The doctor I was seeing, that son of a bi…. sorry. Because of his negligence, because of his irresponsibility, the disease is not curable. They’re saying it is too late. They’re saying I only have few months left.”

(“Sir, ah…”

“I need some more time. Sorry…”

“It’s okay. Ah, then call us when you’re done.”)

“So I was, we were thinking of visiting you, or you visit us with everyone at Christmas. I heard he’s into music. I… I got him a gift. It is a guitar. I think he’ll like it. Ah… I’m also thinking of taking him to a football match if that’s okay? Last time I talked to Michael, he told me he’s in the football team. Does he still kiss your palm like that? He used to leave your palm wet and laugh. Does he still give you roses on your birthday? I’m… sorry… I’m really sorry. I… I didn’t want you to go through all that. I never thought it’d turn out that way. I’m sorry, Alice. I’m… I guess it doesn’t matter now. Will you and Michael come with him? Or if you don’t want to travel, we’ll come to visit you if that’s okay? Please give a reply. I’ll wait for the call. Bye.”