I was having dinner with my friend when the news came.
Just moments ago, we had come out from looking at wedding gowns. I had originally gone with my best friend, Aya. I wanted her to be my bridesmaid.
I thought it was a done deal. After all, we had been best friends for so many years, growing up together.
But to my surprise, Aya kept making excuses.
I asked her several times, and each time, she said she had something on.
I didn't suspect anything, just patiently waiting for her to find the time.
However, the wedding was just around the corner, and she still couldn't spare a moment. Eventually, I had no choice but to ask another friend to help me try on the dresses and pick the bridesmaid gowns.
My new friend was thrilled when she got the message and we set the time right away.
Everything went smoothly.
We finalized all the dresses in just half a day.
Finally, with everything sorted out, I could sit down and enjoy a meal in peace.
But before I could take more than a few bites, Goden's call came through.
Goden is my fiancé.
My dad had picked an auspicious day and wanted us to get married first, and then have the wedding later.
But on that day, Goden, who was always so reliable, suddenly had a stomach flu and was hospitalized.
I was so busy taking care of him that the plan to get married just fell through.
After that, the following days weren't suitable for getting married according to the calendar, so it got postponed.
Later, my dad stopped urging us, saying it was okay to get married after the wedding.
When my friend saw that it was my fiancé's call, she teased me with a smile. I smiled back and answered the phone.
But I accidentally hit the speaker button.
Goden's voice came through the phone, filled with urgency. "Elena, come to the First Hospital right away! Your dad had a heart attack!"
I was so shocked that my hand trembled, and the phone almost fell into the soup.
I apologized to my friend and called the waiter to pay the bill.
But maybe because I was so anxious, my hands were shaking uncontrollably.
I tried several times but couldn't manage to pay.
I looked at my friend with full of apology. She patted the back of my hand soothingly and said, "Elena, just go to the hospital first. Leave this to me."
Tears streamed down my face instantly.
My mother passed away when I was young. It was my dad who raised me single - handedly. No matter how busy he was at work, he never forgot about me.
I often joked that I was a "daddy's girl."
The moment I heard that my dad was sick, it felt like the sky was falling.
By the time I rushed to the hospital, my dad was already in the emergency room.
Goden was talking to the doctor at the door.
When he saw me approaching, Goden said "Excuse me" to the doctor and pulled me aside to tell me what had happened.
"Elena, uncle asked me to go to his office just now. He said he had something to talk to me about. As soon as I went in, I saw that he didn't look right. His face was purple, so I called an ambulance right away."