Wreaking Havoc | The Wattys 2023 Shortlist
To have a normal life-iyon lamang ang tanging hiling ni Therese Eleanor Villarama kasama ang kaniyang kasintahan na si Elias Jeremiah Morales, but a normal life was far from reality lalo na para sa isang an...
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Breathe in. Breathe out.
Pagkalabas namin ng ER ay narinig ko ang pagpalakpak ng mga staff sa hospital. It wasn't the first time I witnessed my co-staffs clapping after a surgery—but I have always been grateful for these people. Kung wala rin naman sila na nag-aalaga sa mga pasyente bago ang surgery, hindi rin magiging successful ang operasyon.
"Congratulations on the success of Senator Andrada's son's surgery, Doctor Villarama." I smiled and nodded my head after I shook hands with the Hospital's director. It was a tiring surgery, but I take pride in the long hours of work because it always meant I became an instrument to save someone's child from danger. Saglit pang nakipagusap ang director bago nagpaalam kaya naman mabilis akong nag-excuse sa mga kasamahan ko at dumiretso sa ICU para tignan ulit ang pasyente. Napangiti naman ako no'ng makita naming stable ang vital signs niya at nakahinga na nang maluwag kahit pa paano.
"Check the blood pressure from time to time to prevent secondary insults," I uttered habang tinitignan 'yung records sa tablet bago tumingin sa mga residents at mga estudyante na kasama namin. "Ito ha, paki-take note that increases in ICP, which is?"
"Intracranial pressure doc," sagot ng isang residente, ngumiti naman ako at tumango.
"Again, increases sa ICP, decreases sa blood oxygenation, increases in body temperature, increases in blood glucose and many other disturbances can potentially worsen neurological damage." The Neurosurgery residents nodded their heads as they jot down notes. Napatingin ako saglit sa relo bago dumiretso sa sarili kong opisina. Napaupo ako saglit at pumikit nang ilang minuto bago chineck ang mga panibagong reports sa kondisyon ng pasyente. Being the section chief for pediatric neurosurgery also required a lot of work, but it was a dream fulfilled.
When I didn't have anything to do anymore, and every patient under my watch had stable vital signs ay nag-ayos na'ko para makauwi. I still had 4 hours for the day... I couldn't wait to reach home and bond with my sister and Mary.
Pero habang papalapit ako nang papalapit... My chest kept on tightening. It felt like a premonition. I wanted to ignore it, but it felt... Real. Sinusubukan kong tawagan si Isla pati na si Mary, pero walang sumasagot.
I sighed.
"Calm down, Therese," I whispered to myself. 10:21 na rin. Tulog na siguro si Mary.
"Isla?" No one was answering kaya mas lalo akong kinabahan. Manang was in the province kaya kami-kami lang din ang naiwan dito sa bahay. Mabilis akong umakyat para tignan ang kuwarto ni Isla at Mary... Pero nagulat ako nang makita si Isla na nanginginig at hindi maalis ang tingin sa sahig.
"Isla..."
"A-ate." Tears immediately fell from my eyes, unti-unting nanginig ang tuhod ko dahilan para matumba ako sa sahig. Hindi ko mapigilang mapasigaw. I was pretty sure I was already being hysterical and panicking with what I was seeing, pero wala nang nag-re-register sa utak ko.
Nakatitig lang ako sa duguang sahig. . . Hawak-hawak ni Isla ang isang kutsilyo. . .
At si Mary. . . Nakahandusay, duguan, at walang malay.
