Long and short fictions

A caring gift

It’s been years since I stepped outside my home.

For the past few years I had unexpectedly been thrown into the vortex of worrisome events on my home front. Constant work and lack of support caused immeasurable stress and strained me almost beyond the limits of endurance. My health took a downward turn and this robbed me of courage and confidence. I was quite depressed and lost interest in people and events happening around me. I thought all the doors were closing on me.

The Covid crisis made things worse. The antivirus injections and the booster doses I needed to take, had side effects such as vertigo, fatigue and fever almost everyday.

Life ground to a standstill. Like Tennyson’s Maud I buried myself in myself, completely cut off from the rest of the world.

I haven’t even realized the expiry of my passport and visa during these turbulent times of my life.

After much persuasion and effort, I finally understood the importance of traveling to a completely new milieu and manner of living. Here is where my dear son came to my rescue.

I quickly acted upon his advice and initiative to get a new passport and visa with plenty of help and cooperation from my sisters.

My son, Santosh Vempala who works at Georgia Tech, Atlanta, came to India to bring me to his home. He and my daughter-in-law together with my grand children took complete care and responsibility in bringing me back to my normal healthy self.

Visits to friends’ homes whom I knew since many years brought much needed cheer. Their sympathy and readiness to help went a long way in restoring the spark to live well. Now I understand the reason why a person needs change of place and scenery to recover from illness and suffering. I owe this to my loving son.

My family took me to Museums of art and culture and that of science, which I found were extremely interesting. Such excursions made me sit up and take note of good things around me.

Long drives through the scenic avenues and daily walks in parks were soothing and peaceful to my mind and soul.

I especially enjoyed our hike to the famous Anna Ruby Falls. The spot where the twin falls are situated is a beautiful spot to sit and relax body and soul. I found it ideal for creative contemplation and uplifting meditation.

This visit was like a balm to my long suffering self.

Later, we strolled through the quaint little German village at the foothill and found a pretty restaurant where we enjoyed coffee and a chocolate cake.

Thank God I came a long way from grief and ill-health, and am able to relax and restart living well.

What a blessed gift that worked through my own family!


Dropnote ▼

Words: Around 465 including the title

Prompt: Describe a cherished gift you've received that always makes you think about the person who gave it to you.

Why was it so special?

A Nonfiction Story

Written for The Bard's Hall Contest, December 2023.