February 10th, 2025

February 10th, 2025

It was such a busy morning.I remember running around the office with my work phone in one hand and my personal phone in the other when my personal phone started to vibrate.

I looked down. It was a #203 number.

I knew it was about my dad, but I told myself, I’ll call back. This shouldn’t take long.

She called again.

It went to voicemail.

Then I read the voicemail,

“Isha, please call me back. Your father took a turn for the worse.”

I put the phone near me ear, Just to make sure that i am not reading incorrectly.

I heard it so clearly “Isha, please call me back. Your father took a turn for the worse.”

My throat tightened into a knot, and I could feel my chest getting so tight.

I stepped away and called back.

My chest was pounding. I was shaking uncontrollably. A thousand thoughts raced through my head while I waited for her to answer.

She did.

“Isha… it’s your father.”

I could hear her crying between every word.

“He isn’t going to make it through the night.”

I started shaking harder. I shivered like I was freezing, but I couldn’t feel anything.

“You need to come home,” she cried.

“What’s wrong with Dad?” I asked. “What’s wrong with my father, Ana?”

“You need to come home. Your dad isn’t going to make it through the night.”

“I’ll call you back.”

I hung up and called my sister.

“Se… Sis, wake up.”

Anyone who knows my sister knows waking her up is never a good thing.

“What?! WHAT?!” she answered with her usual attitude.

“Get the fuck over yourself and wake up. Dad may not make it through the night. I’m looking for a flight right now.”

I hung up.

I couldn’t breathe.

I couldn’t figure out how I was going to get home.

I didn’t have any money.

But I had to make it to my dad.

I found a flight. It was one-way, but I found one.

I left the office and sped home.

I called my sister and told her to get dressed immediately and head to the train station. She had to meet me in Boston.

We were going to make it to our dad.

No matter what it took, we were going to make it to our father.

I drove home in complete silence.

My mind was silent too.

I was so confused.

This isn’t happening.

Not my dad.

Please… not my dad.

I got the call at 10:43 a.m. I was on a flight by 12:15 p.m.