Knock, knock! Get the door, it's trauma!

Sleeping beauty

"She only have a few more years to live," what her doctor said kept replaying on my mind.

I grip her hands when she slowly opened her eyes. Scanning the whole room, her eyes landed on mine.

"W-Who are you?" She asked, voice barely above whisper.

I smiled before caressing her hair. "I-It's me; Jared. Your boyfriend, remember?"

With confusion in her eyes, she gently squeezes my hand. "No. H-Hindi kita maalala."

"It's okay." Hinalikan ko ang noo niya. "You slept for 3 months. You're just having a memory problem."

She nodded and gaze at me. "B-Bakit gan'yan 'yung suot mo?"

She was referring to my neatly-pressed, light-colored dress shirt with dark tie underneath an academic gown.

"I graduated college, baby." I smiled. "Magiging engineer na 'ko. Magagawa ko na rin 'yung bahay na pinapangarap natin."

I won't leave no matter how hard it gets.

"Jared?" I hummed in response when she woke up. "How long have you been waiting?"

"A year and a half." I ran my fingers on her hair and played them.

"Oh," the only thing that left on her mouth.

I chuckled before planting a kiss on the back of her palm. I pouted and said, "Nagtatampo ako sa'yo. Kung kailan naman natapos ang kasal natin, d'on ka pa natulog ng matagal."

She looked at me, confused. "K-Kasal?"

I nodded. Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya at ipinakita ang daliri niyang may suot na singsing. "I'm now your husband, and you're now my wife."

She gave my life a purpose when I needed it the most

"Hey, hindi ka pa ba magigising?" I asked, carrying our 6 months old baby. "Your son wants to see his beautiful mother."

"Uwa," our baby cried making me chuckle.

"See, I told you," I muttered. "Shh. Mommy will wake up, soon."

"Hmm." My lips curved up when Charisse shifted in her sleeping position. "J-Jared?"

I pecked her lips and handed our baby. "Kanina ka pa niya hinihintay."

"Oh, God." She stared at our son before looking at me, teary eyed. "I-Is he?"

Without my smile being vanished, I replied, "Yes, he's our son."

"H-How?"

"You fell asleep a year ago. When you were still 3 months pregnant." I smiled. "We're now parents!"

I can't imagine my life with someone else.

"Mommy, I miss you." I walked pass by my wife's room when I heard our son's voice. Sumandal ako sa pinto. "Come to me in my dreams tonight and hug me, okay?"

I smiled bago tapikin ang balikat ng anak ko. "Hey, buddy. Bakit gising ka pa?

He looked back at me and didn't bother to answer my question. "Daddy, when's my Mommy going to wake up?"

I looked at him with sad eyes. "Mommy's just resting, okay? She needs a little more time."

"But-" he stopped when a hand held his shoulder. "Mommy!"

My eyes met Charisse's. She got sick, lately, and always catching her breathe. I know that she's tired, that she wanted to rest, but letting her go is the last thing on my mind.

I crouched down to our son. "Can you leave me and mommy for a second?"

Labag man sa kalooban nito ay pumayag na rin.

Lumapit ako kay Charisse nang makalabas na ang anak namin. "Kumusta ang tulog mo?"

With pale lips; weakly, she said, "G-Gusto ko nang m-matulog ng matagal."

I grip her hand, tight. "Don't say that."

"Please, J-Jared." Humigpit ang hawak ko sa kamay niya. "Let me s-sleep."

"I'll let you sleep, only if you'll wake up, again-"

"N-No, Jared. ." she trailed off. There's no trace of playfulness in her voice, but her brown and round eyes can't deny her sincerity. "L-Let me sleep without w-waking up."

"Hey." I cupped her face and kissed her forehead. "Letting you sleep even only for a few months already pains me. Please, 'wag namang ganito." My lips starts to tremble.

Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko. Her eyes stares at mine; not even bothering to tear her gaze off. "W-We've been together for so m-many years, and y-you shouldn't tie yourself with me i-in tears, J-Jared."

My tears fell. "B-Baby-"

"You have to let me g-go," she uttered with an airy voice. "I w-want to keep going a-ahead even if it p-pains a lot."

"Pero p'ano 'ko?" I said. "P'ano 'yung anak natin? A-Ayokong lumaki siya ng walang ina."

She lifted her hand and caressed my cheek. Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya at iniwan ito sa pisngi ko. ""Y-You have given m-me so many reasons to b-be proud of the man you have b-become."

Mariin akong pumikit at tahimik na lumuluha. I genuinely understand her situation, but letting her go is a different story.

"But, J-Jared." Tears started to fall from her eyes. Mabilis ko naman itong pinunasan. "P-Pagod na pagod n-na 'ko. Pagod na 'kong g-gumising na hindi man l-lang kita nakikitang abutin ang mga p-pangarap mo. 'Yung kasal n-natin na dapat cinecelebrate, n-nauwi sa mahaba kong pagkakahimbing. I didn't e-even get the c-chance to give birth t-to our son dahil t-tulog ako," she said, crying. "And a-about Tyron, I k-know that you w-will be a great father t-to our son. H-He's the greatest p-present I could ever give to y-you, before I g-go."

"C-Charisse." My voice cracked.

"M-Matutulog na 'ko," she said, giving me a nostalgic pain in my chest.

I shook my head before kissing her lips.

"I want y-you to let go after I l-leave." She held my hand tighter. "Y-You should go. I k-know it pains y-you a lot to see m-me close my eyes."

"No." Staring at her beauty, I laid beside her. "I'll wait until you're sleeping. I love you, Charisse."

"I love you, too, J-Jared." And with that, her eyes slowly closed.

Maybe this is really bound to happen.

If love could have saved her, my wife could have never died.

I guess, this is the last time that I'll be waiting for her to wake up.

'Cause she'll never be, again.