Lost in Translation
Mina drove her grandparents to the hospital. Her grandfather, with a faint smile, spoke in a language she could barely understand. She nodded, guessing that he was happy to be out. Her grandmother in the back said something in their native tongue. The half-forgotten words sent her back to her childhood summer days. She tried to respond, grasping for a phrase, but failed.
"What's the problem?" asked the receptionist. Mina looked at them, thinking what to say.
"Head pain?" she said, making circles over her head.
Her grandmother nodded. Her grandfather mimicked her gesture and chuckled. Mina smiled, wondering how they could understand her. Their conversations always consisted of simple phrases, with her parents acting as her translators. Her grandmother grabbed her hand tightly as they walked toward the doctor's office.
"Is it getting worse?" Mina asked.
Her grandmother looked at her with a puzzled expression. Mina's eyes filled with worry as she tried to find words. She felt like a mute. Words flooded her mind, but none of them made complete sense. Her grandmother smiled and patted her shoulder. It was not words, but the worry in her eyes, that conveyed her feelings. Her grandfather bent down and mimicked his wife. She frowned and said something. Mina grinned, even though it was gibberish to her ears.
Mina sat her grandmother down on the chair, and she sat on the couch.
"Okay, where's the pain?" asked the doctor.
"In her head, I guess."
"Yes, but where in her head?"
Her grandmother looked at her grandfather and raised her eyebrows. He scoffed and nodded toward Mina.
She hesitated but stood up. She pressed her head as she searched for a word. But words slipped from her mind like sand between her fingers.
"Here?" she said in her native language, half mispronouncing it.
Her grandmother nodded. With each small success, her confidence grew, until, finally, she described all her symptoms to the doctor.
Her grandmother gripped her hand as they left the office. Her eyes sparkled with pride, and Mina couldn't help but smile.
At home, her grandfather peeked through her half-open door. On her bed, Mina sat struggling to read the children's book they had given her so long ago.