That One Uncle of Mine

Thought that this winter break will be much better. The results came in at January 12th. You want to know what the result is? Looks as if it was...just another normal holiday with a bad ending. In Indonesia, everything was excellent. I couldn't say perfect since I did have some arguing with my sister. Everything was going just fine, I went shopping a lot and bought a lot of things for my friends and me myself, I ate a lot of different foods. Yummy food.

We, as a family, went to different malls and restaurants but then we had to go to Klaten, in Java Island, right next to Djogja (Yogyakarta). Inside I was whining and complaining, "What?! No! And we are using the car. I guess I just have to face it, face this 17 hours trip on a up-and-down hills and rough road" The news that every member of my family knows except me came in. My mom told me that my favorite uncle was in the hospital. I asked her why and her answer was "we don't know the sickness yet, but I'm pretty sure it's pretty so very horrible." I told my dad I wanted to visit him this one day. So we did, as a family again. Apparently, the hospital was in Djogja and it was the same hospital that my past-away favorite auntie was in.

Moving on, my other uncle picked us up from the waiting room and brought us to my uncle's room, when we arrived, I stepped in last. I looked up to look at him and he was covered in thousand of broken skin that looked like burnt old skin. It was all over his body even in his ears and around his head and literally around his eyes. I was told that he couldn't close his eyes. So, he sleeps with his eyes open and every half an hour or an hour, someone would give him some eye drops because of course, his eyes get dry and that would be frustrating. I observed his feet and it looked as if it was....expired like an expired mango. There were like black holes in his feet. Every time I get close to him, it seems to be as if he smells like that little fish which smells so nasty. He is able to talk like normal, we can ask him question and he answer normally. I asked him "how does you feel?" and his answer, he answered slowly "it feels...hot, and itchy and it kind of stings. I always feel like scratching it, but its hard to move" I felt like crying already that moment. I decided to stay over one night, and when everyone was asleep, he (my uncle that is) got up and actually tried to walk himself. I burst into tears and...just watch him. Not long after, he fell and I just quickly got up automatically. His wife, woke up and helped him up. The next thing I knew was that my uncle was in tears. I wiped my own tears away, and get back to sleep.

Morning came and it was time to get back to Djakarta (Jakarta). This time I'm going alone with my annoying dear sister on the plane. When I arrived at Djakarta, I got a call from mom saying that my uncle wants me back and that he was in tears because I left. I kept the tears inside, and move on with my day.

So lets skip to January 11th, the last day of the winter break. 'Knock knock' the sound that came from the door 'Knock knock' this time it was louder. I groaned, waking up, as the door slowly opened, I opened my eyes to see who it is, and my brother stood up still in front of me, "what?" i said in a weak voice. "May I come in?" he said softly "can't stop you" I said "what's up?" his answer was "wake up, mom's going back to Indonesia" "why?" I asked again "because..." he continued, there were silence in the room, not a sound was formed "because...?" I asked, "I'm sleepy you know" I continued. "Because your uncle's dead...this morning, at 8:30" he said the second after I finished my sentence."Get out" I whispered softly. Again, there were nothing but silence between us. "I said get out!" I screamed at him, making him leave.

'Dead? Dead!? It can't be...there must be a mistake.' I thought as I slide my blanket slowly over my shouldersand slowly yet silently, burst into tear. As soon as I heard foot steps comming closer and closer, I quickly wiped every single tear there was on my face and the door swing open smoothly, "Yo!" my sister came in, and looks at me. "May I help you?" I said to her. "Nope, not really. Just checking on you, how you doin'?" she said, leaning on the wall. "I'm fine" I told her as clear and straight as possible. "If you say so..." she said quietly and sighs. There were even more silence, in fact this one was a really long one. None of us moved or talked, we just glared at each other. "Can you go now?" I broke the silence. "This is my room too, but since I'm hungry, I'll leave you alone." She said, leaving and closing the doors.

So, I believe thats how my last day of winter break started. Not as so good I have to say, but at least after nothing incredibly horrible tragic happened and I was kind of relieved. But I do have to say something....I miss him.