Incomparable Sibling's Love.

A 12-year-old sister gave her life to her younger brother. That’s the news today and it is heartbreaking.

On Feb 22, a fire broke out in Changde, in southern China’s Hunan province. At that time, Chen Zimo and her brother were sleeping in a bedroom they shared. Their father was sleeping in another room.

When the fire woke up their father, he rushed to their room and he “found the siblings unconscious. The boy, five-years-old Mozi, was under a blanket, while his sister’s body was on top.”

It reports that “the girl suffered burns on 55 per cent of her body and her brother had burns to 28 per cent of his body. Although the boy is now in stable condition, his sister died in the hospital five days later.”

In grief, the father recounted that his daughter was a “sensible girl”. She had to look after her brother when he was born. At that time, she was only seven. 

Zimo was also left at home alone since she was four because her father had to run his business and her mother often had to work night shift as a nurse.

Her father managed to raise S$120k for their medical expenses. He said “he would pay for Mozi’s operation and donate the remainder in Zimo’s name to charity and her elementary school.”

Lesson? One. 

As a parent with three children, this story has to be told to them. It is not so much a story about quick reflexes and bravery exemplified in such a young life. It is also a story about a love so pure that it spared no thought for oneself. 

Just to have a foretaste of that commitment that Zimo had for her brother would have made a difference in our children’s lives and their relationship. 

Truly, I cannot imagine what went through her little mind when she woke up to the fire in her room.

There is often no time to think about anything. Our human instinct for self-preservation would be to rush towards the door, to save oneself, to escape from certain mortal danger. 

But being only 12, Zimo’s defied her natural instinct and did just the opposite. 

Her father found his son covered in blanket and Zimo lying motionless on top of him. In that split second, she threw a blanket over him possibly to prevent him from inhaling the suffocating fumes and used her body as an additional protective layer to shield her brother from the fire. 

That is why Zimo suffered most of the burns. 55 per cent of her body was burned and 28 per cent of her brother’s body was burned. 

I can imagine that that was her last ounce of energy when she was awakened by the fire and she did what she could, that is, she did that which is most natural to her, not to save herself, but to protect her brother. 

And I choose to believe that Zimo knew then that should she run for the door and cry for help, her action might risk her brother’s life.

You must know that this news only appeared at a small, inconspicuous corner of the Straits Times this morning. It was tucked in that corner amidst splashy coverage of many news including, of course, the breakdown of talks between Trump and Kim. 

But the bravery and love of Zimo for her little brother spoke so much more to me as compared to adult leaders trying in vain to gain fame under the glare of the public spotlight by bartering for that elusive world peace. 

Most times, grown up men stumble upon the truth, but they pick themselves up in a hurry and walk away leaving the truth behind, unaffected by it.

But for me, Zimo’s sacrifice for her brother is the truth we need to internalise within ourselves. For nothing can bridge the gap of peaceful coexistence between peoples and nations more enduringly than the selfless act of Zimo and the love she had nurtured from the start for her brother. 

Most times, if not all the time, it is not the pomposity and attention that bridge the gap. On the contrary, it is simplicity and affection, even done in complete anonymity, expecting nothing in return, that heal wounds, restore broken hearts and close the gap for good. 

The world needs more of Zimo’s kind of authenticity and less of the pretentiousness that only seeks to elevate self at other’s expense. 

Mozi will remember his sister’s act for the rest of his life. It is unforgettable and transforming because it is the sacrifice of compelling love from one life to another.

And from a little girl so young who had led such a hardscrabble life, it ought to put adult siblings locked in bitter acrimony, whether in court or at home, to shame. For Zimo came to this world in anonymity and had left it in a much better state due to her devotion and love. 

And I will always bear this beautiful story of siblings’ sacrifice in my heart and make sure my own children never forget it.