There,sitting cross-legged on the cold marble was a frail lady. Her frizzing hair out-lined her sallow face. The dark rings around her downcast eyes showed that she had not been sleeping well. Even her cheek bones could be seen under her sunken cheek, her listless eyes stared into the air as she fingered a checked cloth. She, is my mother. She was once a ravishing beauty, with her long,silky, black hair, slim, prominent nose, eyes like chocolate drops and pale slim hands. She seem like she had just stepped out of the fashion magazine. However, an incident changed her life completely, she was no longer the mother I had known.
Her hair lost its luster, her eyes were dull and lifeless, her hands were rough and chapped, she looked completely different. Glancing across the room at her, I fought back tears as i recalled the incident. She had gone for high tea at Raffles Hotel with her friends. They went window shopping soon after that. Being not able to resist the temptation, Mum bought bags and bags of clothes and shoes. After she was done, I received a call from her. She wanted me to take her home but i was too tied up with work, so I told her to take the public transport.
The next thing i knew was receiving a call from the police. I was told that my mother was involved in a car accident and was seriously injured. I was dumbfounded. I stood rooted to the ground for a few seconds before rishing to the hospital. I was informed by the doctor that my mother had injured her spine and was paralysed waist down. Upon hearing the news, i broke down uncontrollably. Kneeling down beside her, i begged for her forgiveness but all she could do was to give me a weak smile through her feeble lips. Hot tears were whelling up in my eyes as I held her trembling hands.
She was soon discharged but had to depend on a wheelchair to move around. Each time when i look at her, a pang of guilt will shoot pass me. I felt that it was all my fault. If I had fetched her, all this would not have happened. As I cried my eyes out, I saw a tear trickling slowly down her cheek, I felt worse than ever. If only I could turn back time! Now, I am still living day by day in guilt. Nothing is more agonizing than seeing her all helpless and weak. Walking over her, I often embrace her thin frame lovingly. Nobody can ever replace her in my heart, forever.
