My unexpected miscarriage had taken a toll on my body. Fearing any lasting effects, I scheduled a check-up at the hospital.
The next morning, just as I was about to leave, my mother’s neighbor called.
The news had taken me aback. It was said that my mother had suffered a sudden heart attack and was now in the hospital. Trembling with shock, I rushed to be by her side.
Outside the emergency room, the neighbor explained that my mother had received a strange phone call early that morning.
Whatever was said infuriated her to the point where she dropped her basket and stormed out, arguing with the caller on the street.
My mother, a gentle and kind elementary school teacher, had never shown such anger.
The neighbors said they had never seen her so upset, shouting, "How could my daughter do such a thing? If you keep slandering her, I won't stand for it!”
At that moment, my heart was in turmoil. I stood frozen, staring at the red light above the operating room door, barely able to breathe. Everything felt confusing and unreal.