Two days before Jonathan passed away, he made few calls to home. I was at hospital earlier but I had to go back when visitation hour is over. Only one person is allow to remain with the patient and my brother asked his girlfriend to stay behind. When I reach home, it was already midnight and I am the only one sitting near to the phone.
So when the phone rang, I picked it up, I said Hello but nobody is talking. I could hear some one is breathing over there though. At first I couldn’t figure out who it was so since my phone doesn’t have an ID caller. I thought some one is playing prank on the phone. My house phone has been subjected to numerous prank calls so it’s not surprising I immediately brush it off as a prankster.
Thinking it was a prankster, I got annoyed and I hung up. Little that I know he was my brother. This time he made a call to my cell phone, I answered it but he wasn’t talking. He hung up this time. I called him again but he’s still not talking. So it immediately struck me that he was the caller earlier on. So our next conversation took place in sms.
Me: Did you call the house phone earlier?
Jonathan: Yes I did.
Me: Then why didn’t you say something?
Jonathan: I can’t talk. The nurse replaced a new oxygen mask for me because I can no longer use the older one (This time his oxygen mask was replaced with the one that covers his entire nose and mouth).
Me: Where is Ah ling? (his girlfriend)
Jonathan: She’s sleeping but I can’t sleep.
Me: Do you want me to bring some Lincoln Brewster cds to you tomorrow?
Jonathan: Yeah that too but it’s not why I called.
Me: So what the main reason you called earlier? Is there anything you want to tell me?
Jonathan: Nothing much, I just want to hear your voice.
Me: Silly boy, you never like hearing my voice because I always irritate you (after typing this line I was trying hard not to overcome by emotions)
Jonathan: I always said that because I want to gain your attention but I don’t mean it hehe.
Me: Sor Chai (silly kid). Anyway, we installed an aircon in your room already. Come back back soon! Waiting for you to enjoy it
Jonathan: Okay. Anyway I don’t have the strength to type any more. I think it’s better for me to call it a day.
Me: All right. I’ll talk to you later.
His condition became worst the next day I came to the hospital with a friend of mine. He didn’t want to lie on the bed so he was sleeping on the chair placing his head on my father’s lap. On the day he called, he was actually sad because he could not go home. He was supposed to be discharged on that day because the doctor encourage him to rest at home.
Furthermore he was adamant to go back because he misses his bed and he wants to see every one again. Unfortunately the plan had to be call off because the hospital’s portable oxygen tank is not working. At this point he cannot survive without one so he has to stay back in the hospital. It was his last day on the main ward before he was transfered into another building that was surrounded with trees and flowers.
The doctor wanted him to feel the greenery again. Perhaps the doctor knew Jonathan was going to die. Now that he’s gone, it felt weird of not getting his daily smses and calls anymore. Since his girlfriend is using his phone number now, it felt ever weirder to see his name on my cellphone everytime she calls.
ps:- Speaking of aircon, it was rather absurd that the entire ward was not powered at all for an entire week. You can guess how humid and stuffy it is with hundreds of patients complaining about the heat. It doesn’t help when some of the retarded visitors smoked in the ward and toilet. It explains why my brother wants an aircon in his room.
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