Living Louder — The Cab
The End — Silverstein, LIGHTS
***
“What happened? Iyong patient?” salubong ko sa isang nurse habang mabilis na nagsusuot ng scrubs para makapasok ako sa operating room. She stared at me for a while before shaking her head.
“They needed to proceed to the surgery right away... Masyadong malapit sa puso 'yung bala ng baril at...” she paused and looked at me with sympathy.
“It just ended... The patient is gone.” I stopped moving. My breathing shallowed and I felt the familiar pang on my chest whenever we lose a certain patient. Napasandal ako sa pader at tumingin sa maliwanag na kisame ng hospital.
“May kailangan ka pang malaman, Nurse Kenzie...” ibinalik ko ang tingin sa kaniya.
“Hindi ba may kaibigan kang madalas na bumisita rito? Iyong matangkad at maputing lalaki... Si... Mace? Siya kasi 'yung... 'yung...” my co-nurse seems like sheʼs having a hard time to tell everything. Mas bumilis naman ang tibok ng puso ko at mas lumala ang panginginig ng mga kamay ko.
“What about him? Nandito rin ba siya? What happened?” nag-iwas siya ng tingin kaya parang may pumiga sa puso ko. No...
“He was the patient... He was bleeding so much... He also suffered from a third degree burn and now... He didnʼt make it. Iʼm so sorry, Nurse Kenzie...” I feel like my mind stopped working. There was a glitch on my ear and everything halted in my sight. Hindi ako makagalaw habang nanlalaki ang matang nakatingin sa nurse. She panicked and started shaking me.
“Donʼt shut off! Breathe...” kumawala ang mga hanging pinipigilan ko. Kasabay noon ang unti-unting pagpatak ng mga luha sa mata ko. No... No...
“A–ano bang sinasabi mo? Baka... baka kamukha niya lang! You canʼt really tell if the patient has burn injuries!” umiling-iling siya habang may awang nakatingin sa akin.
“May ID sa bulsa niya...” I gasped for air. My vision blurred when more tears formed in my eyes. Kumawala ako sa nurse at patakbong pumasok sa loob ng OR. Napatingin sa 'kin ang ibang mga nandoon pa pero napako na lang ang tingin ko sa lalaking nakahiga sa surgical bed. I felt my knees trembled but I fight the urge to fall down. Kahit na nanghihina ay unti-unti akong lumapit hanggang sa tuluyan akong tumigil sa may paanan niya.
I stopped as I stared at the tubes on his mouth, his bare chest... The blood... The severe burns...
“No... This isnʼt Mace... This canʼt be Mace...” isang nurse ang umalalay sa kin nang akma na akong matutumba.
“Nurse Kenzie, you need to leave...” he whispered but I shook my head frantically.
“Tell me, tell me who is this?!” sobrang hirap huminga habang nakatingin sa kaniya.
“Maxton Cecilio—”
“No! No... Nagkakamali lang kayo, hindi... Hindi siya 'to...” my voice broke as more pain clouded my mind and heart. Ayoko... Hindi pwedeng maging siya 'to... Nag-uusap pa lang kami kaninang umaga! Sabi niya pa uuwi siya sa bahay... Magkikita pa kami... Manunuod pa kami ng movies.... Marami pa kaming pag-uusapan...
“Get her out of here before she faint,” sabi ng isang doctor kaya halos kaladkarin ako ng nurse na may hawak sa 'kin para lang mailabas ako. Tuluyan kaming nakalabas sa OR nang magsimulang mag sink-in sa akin ang lahat ng nangyayari.
Mace. Shot on the chest. Burns. Dead.
“Mace! No no no... Mace! Continue the surgery! He will make it! He promised me... He promised me!” halos magwala ako sa hallway kaya tumulong na rin ang ibang nurse para pakalmahin ako. But no one can calm me. Not when my best friend is lying there... lifeless.
BINABASA MO ANG
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