The Second Will Chapter 02
Three years ago, father had a stroke.
I was working overtime at the company that day.
The phone rang; it was our neighbor, Mary Jenkins.
“Julian Harrison, your dad fell!
In the bathroom!
I heard the noise and went to check!”
By the time I rushed to the hospital, father had already been wheeled into the emergency room.
The doctor said it was a cerebral infarction.
Hemiplegia on the right side.
He might never be able to stand up again.
I called Robert.
“You keep an eye on him for now, I’m busy with a project here and can’t get away.”
I called Eleanor.
“Oh my god, this is so sudden!
“Julian, you handle it for now. It’s hard for me to ask for time off…”
He stayed in the ICU for eight days.
Signing papers, paying bills, talking to the doctors—it was all me.
In those eight days, Robert made two phone calls.
The first: “How’s the situation?”
The second: “Keep track of the medical bills for now, we’ll split them later.”
Eleanor sent one WhatsApp message.
“Thanks for your hard work, little brother. I’ll come over as soon as I’m done with work.”
She never came.
On the ninth day, Father was transferred from the ICU to a regular ward.
Half of his body was paralyzed.
His speech was slurred.
He needed to be fed, helped to the bathroom, and assisted to roll over.
The doctor said: “He needs long-term, dedicated care.”
I looked at Father on the hospital bed.
He looked at me.
He opened his mouth, unable to speak clearly, but I understood.
“Julian…”
I said: “Dad, I’m here.”
That night, I sent an email to my company requesting a position transfer.
When Robert found out, he said on the phone: “That’s fine, your salary isn’t high anyway.”
My monthly salary was eight thousand and five hundred.
Not high.
But it was mine.
Sister-in-law said in the Family WhatsApp Group: “It’s great that Julian quit his job to take care of Dad. He’s not married anyway, so it’s perfect.”
Followed by a string of “thumbs up” emojis.
Aunt said: “Julian is a filial son.”
Uncle said: “Julian is so sensible.”
No one said: “I’ll come help.”
Not a single one.
