Back In Your Arms (GM Series #4)

03

I did not know that being a mother would be this hard but fulfilling.

Mari, as I call my daughter Amaris, first three months went by smoothly. She was always asleep and only woke up when hungry or she peed on her diaper. But when she reached her fifth month, that was when everything started to become hard.

There were months from the past years that we would rush her to the hospital due to sudden allergy reaction. That happens at least eight times in a year in the past four years and as she grows up, she easily gets sick too.

And swear, those were the worst days of me; seeing my baby in the hospital bed with needles injected on the back of her hand just so she could be okay again.

She's still too young to experience these difficulties. Kung pwede ko lang akuin ang lahat, ginawa ko na.

"Amara," Joanne called me.

Mari's already four-year-old, turning five in a few months, and she was rushed to the hospital again because she suddenly had an asthma attack.

Her allergies become asthma.

"Jo..." I turned to my friend; she was always the nurse in-charge for my daughter.

She walked to me closer and tapped my shoulder. "You have to get her vaccinated for influenza and pneumonia."

She said and I nodded. "I will."

I sighed.

Babies must be vaccinated for flu when it turns six-months and continuously have their jab yearly, but in my daughter's case, it slipped in my mind because I got too busy looking for a job.

Amaris growing too fast and so as her needs. Hindi na sasapat ang ipon ko kung hindi pa ako kikilos at hahanap ng trabaho.

My parents are always willing to extend help but I am too ashamed to rely on them. Matanda na ako, may anak na. Dapat lang na maging responsable na ako sa mga pangangailangan ng anak ko.

I was, then, given another option but I don't think I will ever do that. Asking Aydan for child support? Nope. Never.

Bakit ako hihingi ng tulong sa taong mas pinili ang sarili niya kaysa sa mag-ina nya? Sa anak niya mismo. Hindi na lang. Kaya ko namang buhayin ang anak ko ng ako lang.

"Are you still looking for a job?" Joanne asked after minutes of silence; we were both watching Mari as she slept peacefully.

Moments like this are the most precious moments of hers for me. Seeing my baby sleep peacefully and so relaxed are all that I prayed for seeing her cry because she's having difficulties in breathing kills me.

"I had my final interview at the hospital I was telling you about when mom called to inform me that they rushed Mari here," I answered with a sigh. "I'm sure I won't get in."

"Do you want me to refer you to a friend's hospital?" she asked.

My brows furrowed. "You have a friend that owns a hospital?"

"Child of the owner," she answered with a shrug. "Do you want to?"

At my age now, I know it was already hard to find a job. I'm already thirty-two and out of the service for nearly six years. But I need a job, for Amaris to have a comfortable life.

I smiled at Joanne and nodded.

"Send me a copy of your CV," she said.

That's what I did the next few days and thankfully, Mari got discharged three days before I received a call from the hospital Joanne was telling me about.