Nanaten here... is something I would say as an opening greetings for every post, but I don't think could say it now in my usual tone. On May 20th at 4 am, Hj. Hajrah Dg. Tamanya, my grandmother passed away. It was such devastating, I can't even find the right word to describe it.
Around the beginning of 2020, she had a mini stroke. After extensive physical therapy, She managed to recover some function of her body. We were relieved or her recovery. We started to visit her more often, spending some quality time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, while still trying to keep her safe during the pandemic.
But sadly, last month, she had another episode. That was it. She's completely bedridden. She couldn't move or speak anymore. She lost control of her physical body. I saw enough Grey's Anatomy episode to figure that out. I thought she could keep going for at least a year, but I think deep down I know I was fooling my myself by being in denial.
The last time I saw her was during a surprise visit me and my brother made last week (hence why this update is a week late). It was Eidl Fitr holiday and we really wanted to visit her. And it was heart wrenching for me to see her looking so frail like that. I thought translating Umakawa would at least prepare me for this, but I guess nothing could prepare you when reality strike. I was so in denial, I couldn't even stay in the same room for too long.
Then I went back to the city on the 17th because I had this exam and other stuff. But then her condition got worsened. Me and my siblings wanted to take the trip back so we could be present for her final moment, but it was midnight and my scooter is in no condition for nightriding. When we (my brother and I) heard the news of her passing, we immediately took the 6 hour trip on my scooter there.
We barely made it for the funeral service. I've never seen my bother hit the throttle of my scooter that hard before as we're turning at the last block approaching my home where the service was. When we arrived, he quickly rushed inside, dropping our bag and helmets. When we looked at my grandmother's body, that's when it hit me: my brother was shaken from her death, perhaps more than I was. And that's when the reality finally sink in for me as well, of all the time I could've spend with her, all of the hugs and kisses I could've given her, all of the small bedside talk we do. All of that, just... gone. That was my thought as me and my brother stood next to my grandmother's body, sobbing at her funeral.
Sorry for the messy post. I just had to get it out there. I am probably going to need a couple of days to grieve. I was planning on releasing the next five chapters as part of my don-a-thon stream, but now I'm not so sure...
So here's the chapter and I'll see you next time.
Ake no Tobari Chapter 201:
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Shout-out to this month's patrons:
Tracy Umeda
MrIncognito
TWil
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