Death
Four years have passed, but the pain from my loss still feels like it happened yesterday. Sanyo and I always did everything together. Being the fun older brother he was, he always taught me new games like riding a bicycle, helped out with my homework, but mostly, he protected me from being bullied by other students at school. Our father was always busy and did not attend most school functions, as such in his absence, Sanyo cheered me up by attending every game at school in support. Interestingly, after every game, he had something to gift, as a cheer up from not being sad from our father’s absence. To me, Sanyo was not just my elder brother by I looked up to him in the image of a father. Everything a boy child needed to know, Sonya had taught me with a cheerful heart. Unfortunately, one fateful night as we were watching one of the games, Sanyo collapsed on the couch, in great fear, I screamed out for my mother to help.
Rushing down the stairs, mother immediately got hold of the phone, and it was not long before an ambulance arrived. Confused, I rushed in the car with my mother to the hospital. That night was a long one as we awaited news from the doctors. While waiting at the hospital receptions, one of the doctors walked towards us and forlornly said, “Your son has stage four cancer of the kidney.” Falling to the ground, my mother drenched in tears. Being young, I innocently asked the doctor if my brother was going to be fine. Smiling at me, the doctor said, “Be strong for your mother, little one.” For the next year, mother and I always visited, Sanyo in hospital. Immediately after school, I would rush to the hospital with my mother and play at least chess game with my brother. As time passed, Sanyo began improving, and the doctors declared he was free from cancer. I remember that day so well, as l could see the bright smile on my brother face again. Life seemed to be normal again, as we played as often as we did and attended different soccer games. It was like the terrible incident had never occurred. However, one Sunday afternoon, Sanyo relapsed and was taken to hospital. This time the condition was much worse. As days passed, Sanyo grew weaker, coughed a lot and laughed less. On January, 29th, two days before my birthday, I visited my brother in the hospital. Both of us acted friendly, and he played the cheese game like he did not suffer from cancer. His smile filled my heart with the hope of him recovering. As the game went on, he laughed hard, but suddenly, began to cry, he looked me straight in the eyes and told me these words, the words that still haunt and make me cry to this day;
“Chris, I need you to know a few things. Even if l die, please do not mourn for me. I want you to comfort mom and dad, and live your life. Sell everything in my room, and use the money to buy yourself gifts. They can make my bedroom into anything, as long as you agree. You are their only son, they will listen to you. Keep me in your heart and mind, even if I die today or tomorrow. It is your time to live and my time to go.” Tightly hugging me, I still could not understand the reason he said all those words. I thought maybe it is because he would not have the time later on, but that was only half the reason. On January, 31st, as we got ready to celebrate my birthday at the hospital, mother received a call from the hospital, and the person said Chris had died. I cried for hours but finally got control to tell them his demands, and they obeyed.
I did not write about it because, in all honesty, I did not want sympathy. I was angered, lost, overwhelmed with sadness and mad that I would not see him again. However, as time passed, I realized the beauty in grief. It helps us realize how enormous our love can be, which is the reason why it intensely hurts to lose a loved one. Remembering everything he told me, I stopped mourning and began to live a reputable life. Sonya had been told by the doctors he had two days to live, which is why on the 29th he said everything before passing on. While it is painful to lose my brother physically, countless miracles have happened since his passing. My father now frequently makes time for mother and me, and thanksgiving ceremonies are always filled with joy. It has been four years since Sanyo passed on. But his memory still lives on.