Philadelphia Sibiya

From Hope To Heartache

When I was just 13, my world began to unravel. My mom fell seriously ill and lost her job. At the time, I was in the 10th grade, navigating the challenges of high school. My older sister took over my mom's job, trying to keep us afloat, while I continued attending school, grappling with the growing unease at home.The following year, our worst fears were confirmed: my mom was diagnosed with cancer. It was a devastating blow. That year turned into a relentless nightmare. Mom's condition worsened rapidly. She was in and out of the hospital, each visit marking a new decline in her health. Her hair fell out, her weight plummeted, and her skin grew increasingly pale, to the point where she started resembling a ghost of her former self.By July of that year, we lost her. Her passing marked the beginning of a new kind of torment for me, one that felt like living in hell.To be continued...