Fernanda Rodriguez, a resident and student in Regina, had a life-changing moment while watching a cartoon one Saturday evening in Bogota, Colombia. Following her parents’ divorce, she lived with her mother and visited her father on Sunday mornings, where he taught her how to ride a bike. At the age of nine, she received a message from her father on the phone he had given her, expressing his despair and lack of purpose in life.
The shocking voicemail from her father, hinting at suicide, left Fernanda paralyzed with fear. Despite her attempts to communicate the situation to her family, her emotional distress made it difficult to convey the urgency of the situation. Upon her mother’s return, she disclosed the concerning message to her, who, having dealt with his alcoholism in the past, reassured Fernanda that he was likely not serious about taking his own life.
Despite her mother’s explanation, the thought of her father’s potential suicide haunted Fernanda. Her father later apologized, took her to a movie, and treated her to Chinese food before seeking help through rehabilitation. Despite his inconsistent presence during her childhood, Fernanda appreciated his efforts to spend time with her and her sister, even amidst his personal struggles.
Tragically, Fernanda’s father passed away in a car accident when she was 13, leaving her to grapple with mourning the loss of a distant figure in her life. She coped by trying to find solace in food, making jokes to uplift her family, and eventually moving to a new country to start afresh. Despite her struggles with therapy and fear of falling into destructive patterns, Fernanda acknowledges the impact of her father’s actions on her own choices and strives to lead a different path.
Reflecting on her father’s legacy, Fernanda cherishes the memories of their time together and acknowledges the complexities of their relationship. While haunted by the specter of his struggles, she remains determined to forge her own identity and confront her fears, aiming to honor his memory by living a life defined by resilience and self-awareness.
