Dawn in Beijing is always cool, especially on that autumn morning, when the morning sun shines through the windows and on the wooden floor of the stadium.
But in the corner of the gymnasium, the players of the Bayi women's basketball team gathered together with indescribable emotions in their eyes. Their eyes sometimes lingered on the empty corner of the training ground, where their teammate Wang Fan practiced shooting.
Outside the court, news reports were looping the picture of yesterday's funeral: Zheng Haixia couldn't cry, she had always been strong, but at the moment she burst into tears, and Wang Fan's husband Mo Ke, the man who used to be high-spirited on the basketball court, his hair turned pale overnight, and his eyes were full of deep sadness and reluctance.
The fragility and tenacity of life
In the early winter of 2010, the sky in Beijing was gray, and the cool breeze blew through the stadium, and the air was filled with a tense and serious atmosphere.
The players of the Bayi women's basketball team ran on the basketball court, sweat sliding down their faces, and everyone's eyes flashed with a desire to win.
In this team, Wang Fan's figure is particularly conspicuous, and she has become the backbone of the team with her excellent skills and tenacious combat effectiveness.
However, this winter, the vibe of training is a little different. Wang Fan stopped frequently during training, pressed his hands tightly to his chest, and frowned, obviously enduring some kind of discomfort.
Whenever this happens, she takes a few deep breaths and then forces herself to re-engage in training.
After training, her teammates walked up to Wang Fan and asked her if she was feeling unwell. Wang Fan just shook his head gently, and a smile squeezed out of the corner of his mouth, indicating that he was fine.
On the training ground, Wang Fan was still the agile figure, but her movements began to look a little stiff, and her breathing became heavier and heavier. Teammates would sneak into concerned glances during shooting drills, but Wang Fan always responded to their worries with accurate shots again and again.
As the cold wind of winter became more and more cold, Wang Fan's state seemed to be becoming more and more unstable. At the end of training, she was often the last to leave, sitting on a bench in the locker room, her head bowed, as if in some kind of difficult conversation with her body.
The Coming of the Sick: A Silent Warning
On the basketball court, the sound of hula nets and the shouts of the players are intertwined, forming an energetic melody.
However, on this training day on January 24, 2010, the atmosphere on the basketball court was very different from usual. The moment Wang Fan suddenly fell, everything on the basketball court seemed to be still, only the basketball rolled relentlessly on the floor, making a dull echo.
The teammates instantly gathered around, and the footsteps of the women's basketball coach echoed in the gymnasium, and he ran to Wang Fan and squatted beside her. He quickly checked Wang Fan's condition, and at the same time shouted to the onlookers: "Quick, call an ambulance!"
Wang Fan's breathing was weak, and the team members nervously gathered around, some whispering prayers, some clasping their hands, their eyes full of worry. A teammate brought a first-aid kit, and the scene was chaotic for a while.
The atmosphere of emergency enveloped the entire basketball court, the sound of ambulances gradually approached, and the ambulance personnel quickly carried Wang Fan onto a stretcher and rushed to the hospital. Several team members followed, and the entire gymnasium fell into a heavy silence.
After arriving at the hospital, doctors and nurses quickly took Wang Fan to the intensive care unit. Moko, who rushed over after hearing the news, stood outside the monitoring room, and the shuttle medical staff and the ticking sound of machines formed the main theme of this space.
Soon, the doctor walked out of the intensive care unit, took off his mask, and said heavily: "Her condition is not optimistic, we are doing our best to rescue her, please be prepared." ”
The news threw itself into the water like a heavy stone, stirring up endless ripples in her husband Moko's heart. He couldn't believe that the strong Wang Fan, the storm on the basketball court, would seem so fragile at this moment.
Mo Ke is a member of the Bayi men's basketball team, when Wang Fan suddenly fainted, he was still recuperating in Ningbo, after receiving the call, Mo Ke rushed to Beijing that afternoon.
On the long corridor of the hospital, the light was dim, Moko's shadow stretched long on the ground, and his footsteps echoed through the empty corridors, each step heavy and slow.
The strength of the family: the common perseverance
The corridors of the hospital were eerily quiet in the middle of the night, broken only by the occasional sound of footsteps and soft whispers.
On the benches in the hospital, Mo Ke and Wang Fan's family members and teammates took turns waiting, their eyes alternating between exhaustion and anticipation.
Everyone sat silently, some crossed their arms, some bowed their heads in contemplation, and everyone's existence was a deep concern for Wang Fan.
Moko lingers at the door of the intensive care unit almost every day. Although the time for each visit was limited, he always arrived early and stood outside the door, waiting for those precious minutes. The nurses all knew that this was Wang Fan's husband, and they sometimes nodded and smiled at Moko to give him a little encouragement.
Before entering the intensive care unit every time, Moko changes into a white hazmat suit, a mask and gloves, and it has become a daily ritual for him.
When he pushed open the door and walked into the ward where Wang Fan was, his eyes always fell directly on Wang Fan. On the hospital bed, Wang Fan lay quietly, with various pipelines wrapped around his body, surrounded by constantly operating medical instruments.
At Wang Fan's bedside, Moko would speak to her softly, telling her about the weather outside, the recent situation of his teammates, and his thoughts and expectations for her.
Although Wang Fan could not respond, Moko believed that she could hear his voice and feel his love. He would gently hold Wang Fan's hand and feel the temperature of her fingertips, although through the gloves, this was still a precious connection between them.
Whenever the visiting time was over, Mo Ke would always reluctantly leave, and he would whisper to Wang Fan, who was sleeping on the bed, "Goodbye, Wang Fan, I will come again tomorrow." Then he slowly walked out of the room, took off his protective suit, and stepped out of the intensive care unit.
Moko's persistence has infected others as well. Wang Fan's parents and Mo Ke's parents, despite their worries and uneasiness, still supported each other and spent long days and nights together on the hospital benches.
The teammates of the Bayi women's basketball team also often come to the hospital, and they brought Wang Fan's favorite books and music, hoping that these can give her some comfort in silence.
The coach and the players would talk in whispers in the hallway, recalling Wang Fan's heroic appearance on the court, and her every score and every wonderful defense were precious memories in their hearts.
The helplessness of life: the interweaving of beauty and regret
During those days in the hospital, time seemed to get unusually slow. The clock in the hallway ticked, as if counting down every second, every minute.
Wang Fan lay on the hospital bed, surrounded by various pipelines, and the ticking sound of the machine became the most persistent sound in the room. Doctors and nurses came and went, and their professionalism and calmness became the fulcrum in this fight.
Moko and his family were still waiting in the hospital, their footsteps leaving deep marks in the corridors of the hospital.
Every day of the visit was a spiritual journey, and Moko stood by Wang Fan's bedside, holding her hand, and looked at her quietly, as if trying to find clues of life from her breath and pulse.
Time passed, Wang Fan's condition was good and bad, like a small boat rocking in the wind and waves, every time the wind and waves were calm, people saw hope, but the subsequent storm made this hope fragile.
The doctor's words are always cautious and realistic, and every report seems to remind everyone that the flame of life is sometimes so weak.
On February 15, 2010, the corridors of the hospital were quieter than usual. Moko and his family gathered outside the intensive care unit, and an oppressive atmosphere filled the air.
When the doctor walked out of the intensive care room, the expression on his face heavier than ever, Moko knew that the moment had finally come when he had been unwilling to accept it.
Wang Fan, the energetic girl who once galloped on the basketball court, finally stopped on the track of life.
She was only 25 years old, the most brilliant time in her life, but on this Valentine's Day, she quietly left this world. On this day that should have been full of love, it was left with only endless sadness and regret.
Moko's hair had quietly turned white before he knew it, and time had carved its mark on his face. Wang Fan's portrait was quietly placed in the center of the room, and her smile was still bright, as if she was still telling everyone that although her life was short, she once loved the world so much.
Next to it is a wreath with a card tied to it, which reads, "Wang Fan, love you without regrets." This is Mo Ke's last confession to Wang Fan, simple but heavy.
At the funeral, the members of the Bayi women's basketball team wore military uniforms and stood quietly in front of Wang Fan's portrait.
Everyone's face was full of grief and reluctance, they lost a good teammate, a kind friend. Wang Fan's story and smile will remain in their hearts forever and become an eternal memory.
A new life after grief: the continuation of life
Time flies, time flies. Once, Wang Fan's figure gradually drifted away in Moko's life, however, that beautiful memory and deep love were forever engraved in the depths of Moko's heart.
Since Wang Fan's death, Moko has fallen into grief for a time and has no intention of getting involved in feelings again. However, life has to go on, and Wang Fan's parents look at the filial Moko and hope to see him regain a happy life.
With the encouragement of Wang Fan's parents, Mo Ke gradually untied the knot in his heart and began to try to get out of his sadness. With the help of friends and coaches, Moko met Zhou Yafei, who is known as the "Asian butterfly queen".
At first, Moko was a little resistant, after all, he was deeply immersed in the memories of the past. However, Zhou Yafei did not give up because of this, and she often took the initiative to invite Moko to spend time with him, bringing him new happiness.
In such a coming-and-going, Mo Ke gradually let go of his guard and began to accept Zhou Yafei's care. The two spent a lot of good time together, and their feelings for each other gradually warmed up.
Finally, in a warm moment, Mo Ke realized that maybe Zhou Yafei was the one who could make him feel happy again. And Zhou Yafei is also convinced that she can accompany Moko through sadness and welcome a better future together.
In the spring of 2012, Moko married Zhou Yafei, and the addition of a new life brought new hope and vitality to the family. Zhou Yafei's understanding and support made Moko feel another warmth of life.
They welcomed two children one after another, and the laughter and innocence of the children, like a spring breeze, blew away the haze in Moko's heart and filled the family with laughter.
Moko's presence on the basketball court is also determined. As the head coach of the Sichuan men's basketball team, he uses his experience and wisdom to guide the young players, and passes on his love and persistence for basketball to every player.
On the pitch on match days, he always stands on the sidelines, his eyes sharp, keeping an eye on every detail on the pitch. Every victory is an affirmation of his coaching career and a tribute to Wang Fan's memory.
And on ordinary days, Mo Ke did not forget his care for Wang Fan's family. Every festival or important day, Mo Ke always takes Zhou Yafei and the children to visit Wang Fan's parents. They will bring carefully prepared gifts, chat with the old people, and recall the bits and pieces of Wang Fan's life.
Wang Fan's parents watched Moko's children grow up, and although they felt the pain of losing their daughter, they also had warm smiles on their faces when they saw the happiness of Moko's family.
Resources:
- Basketball,2010(2):6-6