Yesterday when school was over, my parents picked me up, and we went to a hotel for the night. Because my folks reside in Fangxian, there is no way for me to go back and visit my parents over a shortened weekend. So they usually take the time to come over instead to keep me company.

Last night I was about to go to bed when Father broke the bad news. “Your uncle,” he went hesitantly, “has contracted a severe blood disease.” So out of the blue was it that I could not believe what Father was saying.

“Uncle? Zack’s father?” I asked. Zack is my cousin. I am one year senior to him.

“Yes,” Father confirmed it. “He has been hospitalised for one week.”

I still felt as if everything were a nightmare. It would be gone when I woke up. I had never expected such a thing could befall my folks.

“Why did you let her know about it?” Mother said quietly to Dad, with a trace of reproach in her voice.

Mother brought me back into reality. This was no nightmare.

Zack’s family is as simple as mine. His mother, my aunt, helps cook for other households and earns a meagre income this way. Zack will be graduating from junior high next year. He asked my father what disease his father had developed.

“Don’t you worry,” Father comforted him. “It’s nothing serious. Keep your mind on school, Zack.”

I grew up with Zack. When I was in junior high, I went to their house for lunch every day. It lasted three years. Aunt has exceptional culinary skills. Her meals are my favourites. On my birthday annually before I entered high school, Aunt would do an elaborate meal with a lot of dishes served on the table. The two families would then get together for the celebration.

I haven’t visited my aunt, my uncle and my cousin for a long time. Even though I know the truth, yet there is nothing I can do to help Uncle. We keep my uncle and Zack in the dark.

I hope Uncle will be spared. May he get out of it unscathed.