RUNNING

Chapter Fifteen (unedited)

"I can feel guilty about the past, apprehensive about the future but only in the present can i act. The ability to be in the present moment is a major component of mental wellness." Abraham H. Maslow

It's been a week and Maraya still lies dormant on the bed, Afnan watches the nurse as she tries to change Maraya's position to prevent bedsore. For the past one week, it has been the nurses or Afnan giving all the care so that the ward will not become unbearable for the other patients in the ward.

"Welldone ma." Afnan greeted the nurse as she settles Maraya to another position.

"Thanks so much." The nurse smiles to Afnan. "don't worry she will soon recover in sha Allah."

"Amin. It's been a week now and I'm getting anxious. She is not making any sign of progress. I pray that she is still alive."

"Don't get so worked up dear, she is getting better it's just not very obvious. As you can see, all her external bruises are healed, observation records shows that her blood pressure, pulse rate and respiratory rate are normal even the brain CT scan does not reveal any abnormality she's just in a comatose and she can recover anytime soon." The nurses tries to assure her.

"i pray so." Afnan said at last.

"i bet you she need it so much now, so you should make as much as you can and don't forget to talk to any of the nurses in the ward if you need anything or notice any changes."

"I'll do just that." Afnan smiles politely as the nurse walks away to the dressing room.

Afnan look over to Maraya incapacitated body on the bed, comparing it with the able Maraya and can't help but how great Allah is in His ability to manipulate human being as He wishes.

She opens the Quran to surat Yasin that she normally recites aloud for Maraya. She has almost complete the surat when she heard Akin's voice beside her, she concluded the last verses and close the Quran before turning to Akin.

"Asalau alaekum." Akin greeted with a smile.

"Wa alakum salam waramatullah." Afnan answered back with polite smile.

"How have you been?"

"Alhamdulillah. Am good." Afnan answered back.

"Any progress?" Akin asked hopefully.

"Not really but the nurse assured that she will be better."

"I hope so." Akin changes his expression to a more serious one and Afnan turned to him expectantly. "There is something i need to tell you."

Afnan nods as a sign for Akin to continue and he paused for some time before continuing with what he has to say.

"Can we take a stroll out?"

"Okay." Afnan place the Quran inside her bag and walks out of the ward with Akin wondering what he is going to say to her.

When they find a place to seat outside the ward, it took Akin some moments of contemplating before he begins to talk to her.

"Honestly, i am scared about Maraya's health." He paused and Afnan urge him to continue. She imagined what Akin is trying to say that made him so apprehensive, it was obvious that he is worried about her health.

"So i decided to tell her brother about her accident but not everything." Afnan knows that there is much that Akin is not telling her so she remain silent for him to continue. "I don't know if i should tell you this but with all your kindness and support, i guess you deserve to know the truth."

"What truth?" Afnan begin to have some wild imagination about what Akin is trying to tell her, she pray that it is not some secret about Maraya's welbeing. Maybe the nurses have been keeping the fact that Maraya will not recover.