North Family Letters

At the bedside, a sense of relief dissolves a lifelong estrangement.

Life was slowly settling down under the careful care of the six sisters, but no one could have imagined that the illness he suffered while alone at home was far more than just a simple cold and fever; it was the final hurdle that broke his father's body.

When Song Dongxue found her father, he was no longer simply weak from a high fever; his consciousness was blurred, half of his body was stiff and numb, he could barely speak, his mouth was slightly crooked, and his breathing had become rapid and weak. Dongxue was so frightened that her limbs went weak. She hugged her father and called out several times, but he could only blink weakly, a helpless tear sliding down his cheek. He didn't even have the strength to raise his hand in response.

In a panic, Dongxue frantically dialed 120 while simultaneously trying to contact Song Xiahe, her voice trembling uncontrollably on the phone: "Second sister, Dad is dying, come back quickly!" Song Xiahe, who was busy serving customers at the restaurant, turned pale upon hearing this, nearly dropping the plate in her hand. Without bothering to explain to the customers, she turned and ran home, tears streaming down her face.

At the same time, she quickly dialed the phone numbers of her eldest sister Song Chunyan, her third sister Song Qiuling, her fifth sister Song Xiaoman, and her sixth sister Song Xiaoya. With just one sentence, "Dad is critically ill, come to the hospital immediately," the six sisters' hearts were instantly gripped in their throats. They all dropped everything they were doing and rushed to the hospital.

The red light in the emergency room was blindingly bright. The doctor quickly finished the examination, then called the six sisters aside with a grave expression. His tone was urgent and serious: "The patient's condition is very bad. It's not a simple cold or fever. She has pre-existing health problems, and coupled with previous neglect and physical weakness, she has suddenly developed a severe blood clot that has blocked a vital blood vessel. Her life is in danger at any moment. She must have surgery immediately to implant a stent to clear the blockage and save her life. The surgery is very risky. Be prepared and sign the consent form immediately."

These words struck the six sisters like a thunderbolt, instantly shattering their spirits. Song Chunyan, the eldest, struggled to stand, tears streaming down her face, the surgical consent form in her hand feeling like a ton of bricks. Song Xiahe leaned against the wall, covering her face and weeping silently, filled with self-reproach for being too busy with the restaurant to stay by her father's side and for not noticing his illness sooner. Song Qiuling and Song Dongxue lowered their heads, trembling, remembering how they had taken turns bringing him meals, focusing only on his basic needs without noticing the hidden pain in his body, and were filled with guilt. The youngest, Song Xiaoman and Song Xiaoya, huddled together, sobbing softly, repeatedly pleading with the doctor to save their father.

Without the slightest hesitation, the six sisters nodded in unison. The eldest sister, Song Chunyan, signed her name with trembling hands, repeatedly saying, "Doctor, please, no matter how much it costs, no matter how great the risk, we must save my father, we must save his life!"

The operating room door slowly closed, the cold metal separating father and daughters, and also separating life and death. The six sisters waited outside the operating room from the scorching sun until nightfall, none of them willing to leave, none able to eat or drink a single bite. They huddled together on the cold bench, their minds filled with their father's lifelong toil: in his youth, he toiled day and night in the fields, supporting the family with his rough hands, raising his six daughters; he scrimped and saved his entire life, rarely enjoying a moment of peace; in his old age, he suffered the loneliness of marriage; finally, with his daughters by his side, he was now tormented by this illness.

Every minute and every second of waiting felt like torture. They prayed silently, apologizing to their father again and again in their hearts—apologies for their youthful ignorance, for the past estrangement and distance, and for not taking better care of his health sooner or more attentively. Song Xiahe kept wiping away tears, blaming herself for leaving her father alone at home, for focusing so much on the restaurant and ignoring his health signals. She secretly vowed that as long as her father could get out safely, she would never leave his side again. It didn't matter if the restaurant had to close a few fewer tables or earn less money, as long as her father could live a good life.

After an unknown amount of time, the operating room lights finally went out, and the doctor walked out wearily, took off his mask and said, "The surgery was very successful. The stent has been implanted and the blood clot has been cleared. He is temporarily out of danger, but he will need to be observed in the intensive care unit. He is extremely weak and needs long-term careful care. We cannot afford to be negligent in the slightest."

Upon hearing the words "surgery successful, out of danger," the six sisters instantly collapsed to the ground, their pent-up emotions finally bursting forth. They hugged each other and cried loudly, feeling relief, heartache, guilt, and above all, immense joy at having been reunited with their loved ones.

My father was transferred to the intensive care unit, his body covered in tubes and connected to monitoring equipment. His face remained pale, and he remained in a coma for several days before slowly waking up. The moment he regained consciousness, he slowly opened his eyes, his gaze laboriously sweeping over his six daughters gathered around his bedside. From his eldest sister, Song Chunyan, to his second sister, Song Xiahe, and then to Song Qiuling, Song Dongxue, Song Xiaoman, and Song Xiaoya, not one was missing. They were all by his side, their eyes bloodshot and their faces haggard, yet all looking at him with deep concern.

His lips moved slightly, his voice so faint it was almost inaudible, yet with all his might, he softly uttered a few words: "My...daughters..."

Those few words brought tears to the eyes of the six sisters once again. They gently held their father's withered hands, caring for him with utmost care, not daring to be careless in the slightest. Song Chunyan coordinated the follow-up care, clearly assigning tasks to ensure no one was overworked; Song Xiahe temporarily closed her restaurant and devoted herself entirely to the hospital, staying by her father's side every step of the way, tending to his bodily needs, feeding him, massaging his limbs, and taking on all the dirty and tiring work; Song Qiuling and Song Dongxue were responsible for delivering soft, easily digestible, and nutritious meals every day to ensure their father's diet; Song Xiaoman and Song Xiaoya stayed by his bedside, speaking softly to him, telling him about small things at home, about the small vegetable garden on the balcony, trying to rouse his consciousness.

Lying in the hospital bed, having just survived a brush with death, the father completely let go of all his obsessions, regrets, and past sorrows. His lifelong attachment to his hometown, the estrangement and neglect from his second marriage, and his inability to express himself to his daughters in his youth—all the barriers and knots in his heart melted away during this life-or-death ordeal, and with his daughters' unwavering companionship and care.

He finally understood that his rural homeland, fields, and old house were merely places he had come from, while his six daughters were his only support in his later years, his most precious treasure, and his true roots and home. With his loved ones by his side, never abandoning him, even when he was bedridden or endured hardship, he finally found peace and fulfillment.

This life-or-death ordeal completely dispelled the estrangement that had existed between father and daughter for half their lives. The love and concern hidden over the years were fully revealed at the bedside. There were no more barriers, only the bond of blood and the belated yet ever-deepening joy of family life.