Mother suffered unhappiness in her marriage, and when she was tormented by Grandmother, Father never uttered a single word in her defense. He allowed Mother, someone as radiant as a flower, to wither in the marriage until she ultimately perished.
When the time of Mother's passing approached, Father was still attending a meeting. Grandmother, worried about disrupting his career, forbade anyone from calling to inform him.
By the time Father finished his meeting and rushed back, he missed seeing Mother for the last time.
Father sat silently on a stone bench in the courtyard, motionless, for the entire night.
At dawn, he walked back from the mourning hall. Seeing him, his body was drenched in the morning mist, and his eyes, shrouded by vapor, were filled with an overwhelming sorrow.
He was shocked to notice that overnight, Father's hair had turned gray in significant patches, making him appear profoundly aged.
When Mother was buried, Father did not attend the funeral.
