Kanina pa gising si Harika, ngunit para sa kanya, madilim pa rin ang paligid. Dalawang gabi na siyang tulala, lugmok, umiiyak... at walang nakikita.
"Harika, Dr. Yetter is here," Waki remarked next to her.
Nakasimangot si Harika nang marinig ang boses nito. "Kung hindi maibabalik ng doktor na 'yan ang paningin ko... he better leave me alone."
She felt Waki's warm palm softly touch the back of her hand. "He's here to help you," he said undertone.
Iniwas agad niya ang kamay nang dumapo ang palad nito. Naiinis pa rin siya hindi dahil sa nangyaring aksidente, naiirita siya dahil bakit sa lahat ng mawawala sa kanya ay ang paningin pa niya?
"Hello, Harika. I'm Dr. Nicholas Yetter, an ophthalmologist who performed some tests on you," pagpapakilala ng pumasok na doktor. Dr. Yetter averted his eyes to Waki. "Can I have a brief, private conversation with her?" he asked.
Tumango lang si Waki rito at tahimik na nilisan ang kuwarto kung nasaan sila.
Bakas ang pagka-aborido sa mukha ni Harika kahit pa alam niyang nasa gilid lang niya ang doktor.
"I am here to help you, Harika. It's normal for—"
She scoffed in irritatingly. "Normal? Kailan pa naging normal sa isang tao ang mawalan ng paningin?"
Marahang umiling ang doktor. "Yes, it's typical for you to feel that way," said Dr. Yetter, "but with time and taking good care of yourself, you'll get better. You went through a traumatic event and stress that may have caused you difficulty in adjusting and coping for the loss. I know it's hard for you to accept all these unfortunate events that have occurred in your current life, but everything will get better in time."
Hindi na mapigilan ni Harika na maiyak sa mga ipinaliliwanag sa kanya nito. She was aware of her discontentment with her life as it was at the time. Everything fell apart, especially now that the congressman has passed away and she has lost her vision. She was pondering how long it will take for her normal smile to return to her face.
"You said it's temporary. How long? Days, months... years? Huwag kang mangako sa akin at tapatin mo na ako kung hindi na talaga babalik itong paningin ko. Don't give me hope in something that isn't worth believing in."
Harika's pessimism was not helping her. Kung ganoon palagi ang mindset niya at mababa ang pagtitiwala, mas mahihirapan siya.
"You developed Photic Retinopathy as a result of the accident, though it's not severe in your case. It's common to lose vision due to post-traumatic stress, pain, and mental anguish, but it will return very soon. Ang kailangan mo lang ngayon ay sundin ang medications na irereseta ko sa iyo, maayos na pahinga, therapy at positive mindset. Ilang araw lang o buwan, tiyak ay makakakita ka nang muli."
Hindi gumagalaw ang mga mata ni Harika habang nakatingin lang siya sa isang banda. "Paano kung hindi na bumalik itong paningin ko? Paano kung tuluyan na akong mabulag habambuhay?"
"Don't make decisions of your own. You're not a doctor. Sino ba ang dapat na pinaniniwalaan mo? Ako na espesiyalista o ang sarili mo? Think about it, Harika. Kung gusto mong gumaling agad, tulungan mo muna ang sarili mo."
Hindi na siya nakapagsalita sa sinabi ni Dr. Yetter. The doctor was right, why doesn't she believe what he was suggesting? Para din naman iyon sa ikabubuti ng kalagayan niya.
"You'll be able to cope better if you listen to quality music. Conversations with anyone will lift your spirit. Huwag kang masyadong mag-isip ng kung anu-ano. Iwasan ang mga bagay na makasasama sa pagpapagaling mo. Harika, keep in mind that your vision loss is only temporary. I'll try my hardest to restore your sight as soon as possible. The most important thing is to take care of yourself and trust the process."
BINABASA MO ANG
The Sun in Her Eyes
Mystery / Thriller"You radiate comfort in my eyes." After a chandelier crash, granddaughter of an influential congressman Harika Levantine lost her vision following the death of him. When she became sightless, everyone around her turned fake, suspicious and traitorou...
