I turned back. The pill lady was taking Helen’s
pulse. “You’re healthy! Strong! The hospital is
wrong!”
Helen nodded vigorously. “I know! Machines
make mistakes! Western doctors just read
books! Traditional medicine is better!”
“Mark says I’m like a teenager! I’m not sick!”
“Only Mark can…examine…me! No creepy
<
NU
Silly iviain Call…Can…: NO COPY
machines!”
The pill lady’s lips twitched, then she pulled
out a handful of pills. Fertility boosters.
Baby number two, incoming.
Autumn. New apartment, new life. Helen: still
not pregnant.
Dad and Mark: getting antsy.
A friend on a dating app found Mark’s profile.
Single.
I forwarded it to a few…lovely ladies…in
Thailand and Myanmar.
r
Two weeks later, Dad posted a vacation
photo: Mark, holding hands with a beautiful
Burmese woman. No Helen.
Another two weeks. A video. Dad and Mark,
stuck in Myanmar, “doing business.” Doing
great.
Another two weeks. Video call. Dad and Mark:
bruised, battered.
Mark needed $80,000 to come home. No
questions, don’t tell Dad.
Before he could explain, I shared some good
news. “Mark, you’re so busy! You didn’t
know! Helen’s pregnant!”
Helen appeared, actually smiling at me,
cradling her belly. “Ever since I took those
special pills, no more bleeding! It’s been a month! I’m pregnant!”
“The nice lady said it’s a boy!”
Mark clutched his phone, called for Dad, also
bruised. Tears of joy.
I said gently, “Helen’s health is most
important. I’d have to sell my apartment to
get $80,000. Where would she live? How
could she rest?”
“You and Dad just focus on making money.
<
Don’t worry about the family line. It’s taken
care of.”
Silence. Screams in the background. Dad and
Mark started trembling.
Dad hung up, through gritted teeth. “Forget
about us! Take care of Helen! Raise our
grandson!”
Six months later. A call from the police. I
expressed shock, sorrow, and full confidence
in the efficient Myanmar police to rescue my
family.
During those six months, Helen collapsed
from heavy bleeding. Uterine cancer.
L
She refused treatment, trusting her herbal
remedies. Her family descended on the
hospital, causing a scene, becoming a legend
in every department.
