ET2: Through The Storm

Chapter 1

Crystal Dwight’s POV

“Next. Patient 43. Villorio, Lavianna!” the nurse called.

“Ma, tara na po.” I stood up and fixed my bag. Dahan-dahan kong tinulak ang wheelchair ni mama papasok sa room kung saan ang doctor niya.

“Ms. Lavianna, how are you feeling today?” the doctor asked when we came in.

Doctor Benito Vizcayno is a general orthopedic surgeon that handles my mama’s case. He is a good doctor. He is so gentle to his patients. He always talk calmly. I admire him as a professional.

We already met some podiatrist but they refer us to him. They all claimed that mama need to see a specialist like him.

Hindi makalakad si mama. Simula noong bata pa ako ay naka-wheelchair na siya. Both of her feet are fractured because she fell down on a stairs sa dating tinatrabahuhan niya. Hindi naman niya nabanggit kung ano ang tunay na nangyari at bakit kailangan niyang mapilay ng ganito kalala. Ayaw ko namang magtanong dahil alam ko na masakit para sa kan’ya na balikan ang pangyayaring ’yon.

Matagal na kaming pabalik-balik sa doctor pero wala pa ring nangyayari. Hindi niya pa rin kayang humakbang. Ang pinakahuling diagnosed sa kan’ya ay may kinalaman na sa utak niya kung bakit hanggang ngayon ay hindi niya pa rin magawang maglakad.

“Miss, kapatid po ba kayo ni ma’am Lavianna?” one of the nurses came near me while I was waiting for my mom outside the doctor’s room.

“Anak niya po ako,” I clarified.

“Ah, sorry po,” she apologized. “Miss, kailangan n’yo po itong bilhin sa pharmacy. We need it today for your mother’s test.” May inabot siya sa aking kapiraso ng papel.

“Sige po.” Tumayo na ako at inabot ang papel mula sa kamay niya.

Most of the people are confused with my relationship with my mother. Halos lahat sila ay inaakala na mag-kapatid kami ni mama dahil pareho kami ng apelyido. But we are not. We are mother and daughter. Single mother si mama. I grew up without knowing who is my father was. Ni pangalan niya, hindi ko alam. Hindi na ako nag-aksaya pa ng oras na tanungin si mama tungkol dito dahil hindi niya naman sasabihin sa akin. I remembered one day that I asked about my father, she went quiet, completely silent. Nawala siya sa sarili at nahirapang kumain. I don’t want that to happen because she needs to take her medicine.

Habang patungo sa pharmacy ay dumapo ang tingin ko sa papel na hawak ko. I really couldn’t understand a thing what was written on it. Doctor’s things. Parang sila lang ang nagkaka-unawaan sa kung ano ang nakasulat dito.

“Excuse me.” I knocked on the pharmacy’s small door. When it opened, I passed her the paper that the nurse gave me. “The nurse told me to bring it here,” I added.

“Ay, ma’am. Pasensya ka na, ah? Hindi pa kasi dumadating ang stock ng hospital. You can look for it at the other pharmacy outside the hospital. Thank you,” she said and gave me back the paper.

“Sige po.”

Since the Orthopedic Department was near at the gate of the hospital, I decided to buy it outside the hospital. Mas malayo pa kasi kung lilibot pa ako sa kabilang building. Baka kailangan na ito ni Doc Ben. I need to hurry.

I went to the nearest pharmacy and it was a relief that I found what I was looking for.

“450 ma’am,” the lady said as she handed me the the thing I bought.