A Mother’s Love
[Author's Note: Dedicated to all mothers who love their children. Based on an email about a thoughtful mother.]
The crash was devastating. The car was destroyed beyond repair. The fire engine could not extract the metal. There was blood and oil on the road. A fire was about to start if there was enough heat for combustion. A cry was heard among the noises. A young boy was still trapped inside the car.
Using the tools to cut through the metal, the rescuers quickly got through the scrap to rescue him. He was bleeding in the head. “Daddy!” he wailed loudly. Apparently, he was with his father. The front of the car was crushed into a ball and there was no way they could see the prospect of the driver still being alive.
Someone shouted, “FIRE!” The explosion was about to come. Everyone ran away from the car as fast as they could. The explosion shook the ground. The boy was still crying. His eye looked injured. Worried, the rescuer hurried him towards the ambulance.
Hours later, a mother was seen crying softly in the dim ward. Her son was injured and the doctor said he would not see out of that eye. Her husband was dead. There was no one else to depend on. She had no family as she was an orphan.
Her husband’s family were staying overseas and they had never liked traveling. The loneliness crept in. Alone and afraid for the future, she sobbed. As dawn crept into the room, she heard birds chirping. Standing up, she went to the doctor’s room and stated her request.
“Madam, are you sure?” She nodded.
4 years later, he was seen running and jumping around with his classmates. It was the last day of school. He didn’t want to leave the school as he hated going home. His friends often laughed at him for having a ‘pirate’ mother. He hated her for daring to show up at school and still smile at him as though nothing happened.
However, there was no where else to go so, when it was time to go home, he went to her side in stony silence. She chatted with him even though he was silent. She carried on her monologue and they finally reached home.
He went to his room immediately and locked the door. She went to the kitchen and prepared for lunch. After she placed his lunch on the table, she left for work. This went on for years. He left home as soon as he completed his degree. He couldn’t stand the thought of living in the same house as her until she was old.
When he got married, he didn’t invite her. She only knew of it through a friend of hers whose son was his friend. Happy, she went to visit him when she saved up enough money for the flight to California as he has migrated there.
When he opened the door, he screamed at her. His children were scared of her. His daughter was screaming, “Mommy! Monster! Monster!”
“I’m sorry to disturb you.” she left quietly, glad that he was living in a large house that she had always dreamed of giving him but unable to afford.
The doctor told her that her cancer was spreading. She nodded quietly. She had left her letter with her friend and months later, the letter arrived in California. When he saw the handwriting, he was angry. However, at the back of the envelope, it was written by his friend. She had passed away.
He didn’t know if he should be relieved or sad. With hands shaking, he opened the letter.
“My dearest John,
I’ve always loved you with all my heart. I’m so happy that you are now living in a large house and with a family. I’ve always wanted to travel around and with you living in California, I’m so glad that I had a chance to travel.
Your father always loved you and he would take you out for rides. That night, when you were only 2, the both of you were out for a ride again. However, he never returned home. Only you were back home. The doctor said you had lost your eye during the accident.
My heart ached at the thought of you growing up with just one eye. So, I told the doctor that I wanted to give you mine. I’m so glad I did that. You now have a wonderful life and lots of friends. Seeing that you have made your mark in life, I am now at peace.
Love,
Mom.”
He cried out. His wife came to see the commotion and gently took the letter away from him. After she finished reading, she realised why he was in pain.
No love is greater than a mother’s love.
