The Falling Petals...🌺

God-will-save-your-love....

Her condition showed a little improvement in the next ten hours. The plasma count in her blood was better than before. But she was not in a stage where the doctors could say that she was out of danger. They could not be sure of a positive development, but they gave us hope.

Back in my hometown, my family was worried about me. It was a week since I had left them. First, my Mom was concerned about Dae, and then for me. She was worried about all that must be going on in my mind amid all this. She knew I was not doing well. Mom wanted to be with me at this time. She could make out that I needed her. She too wanted to be with me. My father said she had not been feeling well for the last two days. She wanted to see Dae, the girl she had been talking to for months.

When I called her up, she asked me if I could come back to her and then, both of us could return to Busan. I had no idea what I should do, though I wanted her to be with me. Then, something else came to my attention, as I was living with her family. The people visiting her home were making me self-conscious.

When her family was questioned about my identity. When they were asked, "So he is staying with you? Since a week?" Such questions made me apprehensive. Was I making their life uncomfortable? People at times talk shit, I knew that. I was not bothered about myself, but I didn't want to be the source of trouble and gossip about their family.

In next twenty-four hours, a few more units of blood platelets were given to her. We managed to get the support of everyone in her office. Their HR asked for donations through mails from the employees. Soon things seemed to be getting better. Our endless efforts were showing results. Her blood platelet count was returning to normal.

Later that evening, Dae's dad told me that my mom had called him up. He said that my family needed me.

"Your mom was so worried. She wants to see you and she wishes to be here. If you wish, you can go back and bring her with you."

"I understand her situation. But I don't want to leave Dae in this condition."

"We all are here to take care of her. Let's think wisely and handle things well. I will leave the decision to you."

"I will talk to the doctors and then make my decision." I went to the doctor's chamber. There was a lady doctor whom I had sometimes seen diagnosing Dae. She was part of the team handling her case.

"Ma'am, can I talk to you for a while?"

"Yes." And before I could walk up to her desk, she asked, "You are from the family of the patient on bed number 305, right?"

"Uh ... Yes, Ma'am."

"Tell me."

"Ma'am, due to certain reasons my family wants me back for a short time. My mom needs me and I have to bring her here along with me. As I'm not mentally prepared to do this, I want your suggestion." I was silent for a moment, then added, "You understand what I mean?"

"I do," she said and asked me, "May I know your relation to the patient?"

"She is my fiancée."

"Oh, I thought you were family."

"By now, I am a member of her family," I said very clearly.

She looked at me for a while and then looked at my hands.

"Just two days before our engagement, she met with this accident. It's just the ring that's left, otherwise she is my fiancée," I clarified for her as she looked for the ring on my finger. She looked aside and thought for a while, then turned back to me, smiling with affection, and said,

"Thank you."

"Sorry?" I wondered what she meant.

"You know, her face, her brain and her entire body have suffered so much damage ..."

"Yes, I know."

"We are trying our best, but there is no guarantee that, for the rest of her life, she will be as beautiful as she was before. You know that too?"

"Yes, I know."

"That you are standing by her, knowing all this, is what made me thank you ... In my profession, I have seen several instances where the girls' in-laws tend to break things up with them at the earliest. Being a woman, I understand how much that girl and her family need your support. And more than that I understand how much you love her."

I was silent for a while.

Then, in a shaking voice, I asked her, "Can you save my love?"

"God will help us all to save your love."

She put her hand on my shoulder, trying to comfort me and raise my hopes. Then I asked her what I had come to ask her. I explained the condition back home and asked if I should go back to get my mom.

"I am not sure what I should do. I don't want to leave Dae here in this condition to get my mom."

"Listen. She is going to need you the most when she opens her eyes. And, with God's grace, if everything goes fine, it will still take four or five days."

"Four or five days?"

"Yes. Till then, she will be on sedatives. So, it's better that you go back and do whatever needs to be done, so that you can come back at the right time. I can understand your mom's state too and I would advise you to go back home, meet your mother and then bring her here." Hearing her answer, I made up my mind to go back to my parents and then return to Busan by the next week.

The next morning, I saw Dae for the last time before boarding my plane back to Gwangju. She was calm and unconscious. I kept staring at her face for a while. In my heart, I talked to her. "I will come back and you will see me when you open your eyes. See you soon, my dear!" I kissed her hand and I left that place.