Hope

The air was tense and misty. The day was as a knife, piercing through the heart of many. The sun shot down fiercely at the earth as if not caring about her present predicament. With a snobbish snort, the clouds also moved away as if to say, we can’t be too bothered about what goes on down there. Fellow heavenly elements struck wickedly down on earth as if insinuating that the father wasn’t listening.

 Sitting with hands clenched to her jaw Mariam Dina looked up at the heavens with a feeling of hope. It was a moment of heightened tension and for once she saw the need for hope. Even everything around her seemed to say ‘why bother about this situation? You know what’s going to happen! Forget about hope and faith they are not worth the stress.’ But Mariam was reverent in her short prayers.

22^nd of may 2005 was a day she had been silently been praying wont come.  She had prayed, cried and rolled. She didn’t want the day to come. Her visit to the doctor yesterday was short and quick because she was afraid of everything around her. The breeze blew allowing chills run through her spine.

Letters to God.

It had created a somewhat sort of hope in her heart that she would live past 22^nd with smiles on her rosy cheek. She picked a pen after watching the movie. one could say that life had given her a big blow but she knew her time wasn’t up yet. Then she wrote to God.

Her letter was brief.

‘God I don’t want to die. Not because I am self-centered. I just have a lot yet to accomplish. Give me sometime more. I am hopeful that you would change things. Plus, I love you.’

She closed her eyes and enclosed some money into the envelope. She gave it to the maid to find a way to mail it that night. She was sure God would get it.

Having cancer and being the daughter of a well honoured preacher didn’t go together. But they had all been praying for her. Some had given up, but she was hopeful.

She was very hopeful that God would make away.

It was the hardest year of her life.

Ding-dong!  it was operation time.

The bright nurse led her into the ward. It wasn’t the OR. She was worried. Maybe something was wrong.  The operation was scheduled for a few minites and- she just didn’t want to die.

Those operations, if not done well, ended up affecting the whole body.

The pathologist who had conducted the blood tests, X-rays, CT scans and endoscopy walked over to her with a bright smile. ‘funny how, I received your letter to God, few minutes before I received the results of the test.’ He said ‘I said a prayer for you when I got the letter in shock. And, I got a call from the hospital that your test results were out. Sorry, we cannot operate you’ he said beaming.

She didn’t understand. She started crying in confusion until he spoke those words that made her jump for joy. ‘you don’t have cancer’

Then she remembered her prayers to God.

And the glint of hope in her heart.

And the friendly cloud which told her to ignore the fierce sun.

And the reassuring smile of her parents.

Then she thanked God.

And hope too.