Pomme Terre

Not being able to reach her was tormenting.

I packed my bag with simple necessities and quickly thought of what else to sort out in my emergency absence. O crap... work.

I slept poorly. My whole being was too worried about my mom that I dared not fall asleep. How could anyone sleep soundly knowing someone they love is in the Intensive Care Unit?

Mom... hang in there. I'm coming.

My tears flow uncontrollably until I have no strength left, wondering what if I arrive too late?

When morning came, I took my luggage with me, locked up my apartment and went straight to the clinic.

I waited outside until I saw my boss arrived. I didn't want to wait for her inside the clinic to spare me the agony of explaining my puffy eyes to other colleagues.

"Dr Jade... I am sorry but I have to resign." It was so sudden for all of us. Naturally she demanded to know why. 'Personal reason' is not good enough.

I explained the little that I knew to her and concluded that with "... I am sorry, I know you are short of staff. If I am to ask you to grant me leaves, I couldn't give a time frame as in when will I be able to come back to work. I might as well... resign. My mom needs me now. She is all I ever have."