Last Friday, having finished the mid-term, I asked leave to go and visit my gran at Taihe Hospital. My parents did not tell me about her condition until I had gone out of the schoolyard. Gran had fallen accidentally at home and had sunk into a deep coma. For the past five days, she had been in an unconscious state. Closest to her among her grandkids as I am, I was the last family member to get informed. I could not have been more saddened.

No sooner had I arrived at her ward in the hospital than I rushed over to her bedside. Gran was lying there in bed with an oxygen mask over the face, motionless, as if in a deep slumber. Father tried to rouse her, saying, “Mum, wake up. See who is here. It is your favourite granddaughter, Scarlet. Open your eyes and have a look, Mum.”

Gran remained still. Father repeated his plea, but still there was no response whatsoever from the hoary lady in bed. Having seen it all, I felt my eyes moistening. My father asked me to talk to Gran, but I found I could not.

When it was time for me to return to school, I could not help bursting into tears. “Gran,” I said to her between sobs, “you promised to see me go to college. You promised to attend my wedding. You promised to look after my baby. …” As I was sobbing my words there over the bed, Father said, Gran stirred a bit, but no one really knew for sure.

I don’t know whether I have the power to bring Gran back to consciousness. I do sincerely wish my dear grandmother would come out of her coma as soon as possible.