The Last Spring

Chapter two: Faded

The consulted Algerian doctors were unable to diagnose the disease.

The day he went to see Dr. Irahim, Rabie fell destitute.

« I have never seen a case like yours before.

These symptoms may be the result of the fatigue.

Your workaholic confessions lead to this hypothesis for the time being.

Until I make my own research about the matter, here is a list of medicines that will strengthen your body's immune system and some vitamins to regain your strength. However, you need to rest for a while, don't put too much pressure on yourself, at least during this period. I already have your phone number and credentials; I will do my own research about your case, and if I find anything unusual, I will call you. I need you to come back every week until things get better » said Doctor Irahim after consulting Rabie.

Present during the consultation, Amel was intrigued, she was afraid instead of her father.

« But... is it bad? Is it going to become worse? Or is it going to remain like this? What do you mean exactly by I have never seen a case like this? Is it an unknown disease or something? » Amel kept questioning the doctor nonstop.

« I really don't know for the moment unless we determine which illness it is, but what I can see is that it is developing, but still in early stages, only time and the assessment that you are going to make can tell us how everything will evolve» replied Doctor Irahim.

« It happens sometimes only, and after a minute or two, I can move my hand normally» explained Rabie.

« This means that it is still immature. As I told you, I will give you another appointment for next week in order to check on your hand again, and see how it is going. Meanwhile, I will do my own research »tried to reassure him Doctor Irahim. "I am prescribing these analyzes for you to do, and I invite you to come back next week with a full report"

Listening to the doctors' words was not what I wanted to hear. Me and my Dad got very perplexed, but I was sure that it was a heavy burden for him more than anybody else. And, him not being able to get exact information about what is happening to him was not easy to handle. I was trying to comfort him in the best way I could, speaking about my university journeys, my friends' pranks, and my brothers and sisters' disasters at home. However, the reality is that it was intriguing me so deeply that it seemed to me that I was trying to comfort myself more than my father.

A week later, here we are me and dad again in front of Doctor Irahim, he examines the results of the medical analyzes, he telephones the laboratory specialist in front of us to confirm certain data and finally he declares outright that the balance sheet in his hands has not revealed nothing specific. We were both relieved and worried, relieved because for the moment nothing very serious has been revealed, worried because the truth escapes us and the doctor himself seems confused.

Months were passing by and still we could not determine the illness of my father. Things were getting drastically worse for him, and we could not do anything but watch the disease spreading out through his entire body. Yes, the virus that is attacking my father started taking other parts of Dad's body. Mainly, his hands and his feet, we were so worried about him, and we felt armless and speechless against his situation. Neither doctors that he went to consult could determine the illness, nor could the prescribed medicines do anything to him, neither to relieve him nor to stop the disease from spreading in his body.

Many family members and my Dad's friends came to check on him when they heard about his situation. They tried to comfort him, but nothing really could do that unless it was a better health situation. My dad's faith in God was so strong that he never showed signs of sadness or hopelessness. He always said that it was God's destiny; and that we can do only two things, pray for him and do whatever it takes to seek a medical solution whatever it is by imploring God to relieve him and help us. His spirituality