✓ | The Altered Version (Fate's Transgression Series, #2) [UNDER REVISION]

TAV 49: I'm Here

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE : I'm Here

Liana Hellery Domingo

I am not dead, but I am not alive either. I am not unhappy, but I don't feel happy at all. It's like being stuck in between things: between two choices, two directions, two paths that lead to a certain thing but I rather not choose, because if I did, I will lose the other.

I wake up every day to face the same nightmare. In my dreams and how I wished it was true, is something that made me look forward to the day to end, so that I can continue fantasizing an impossible scene that feeds my broken soul.

Na-discharge na ako sa hospital two weeks ago. My test results came out normal and the doctor had said my amnesia might be temporary. But, I already know the case. Kaya kong gawing nobela ang buhay ko dahil ni isang parte wala akong nakalimutan.

Minaigi ko na lang na tumahimik para sa ikakapanatag ng loob nila. I don't know why but it feels like it is better to act like I have no recollection of memories than having one. Because until now, I wasn't being bombarded with people who once knew me.

Dumating ang manager ko sa araw na nailabas ako ng hospital, subalit si Mom ang humarap sa kanya. She told my manager and the company who was investing in my job that the doctor wanted me to take a break.

I was told to take things slow. Sinusunod din iyon ng magulang ko.

Inuwi ako ng parents ko sa bahay namin. In that way, they could monitor if my memories came back. Hindi pa din ako kumikibo kung hindi ako kinakausap, at nagpapasalamat ako sa pamilya ko dahil hindi sila mapilit.

Today, I decided to visit Mira. May dala akong mga libro galing sa bahay dahil nitong mga nakaraan ay lubog siya sa kama. She gets worse every day. Noong nasa hospital pa ako, pinupuntahan ko siya lagi sa kwarto niya dahil hindi na siya makakagalaw mag-isa.

"Miss Domingo?"

Napatigil ako sa paglalakad ng may tumawag sa akin. It was Mrs. Arcinal, Mira's attending physician. She walked her way to me, holding a folder in her right hand.

"About Miracle..."

The moment she spoke her name, I understood what she was implying. Humugot ako ng isang malalim na hininga. "Thank you for everything you did to her, Dr. Arcinal."

"I already called her family, but..." napayuko siya muna bago ngumisi "...those darn assholes asked me when they could get the insurance. Hindi man lang nila inuna ang kalagayan ni Mira."

"There are people who don't deserve to live. How I wished they had suffered more than Mira, instead."

Dr. Arcinal gave me a tap on my shoulder. "If only..."

May tumawag sa kanya na nurse kaya nag-paalam ito. Nagsimula muli akong maglakad at hinatak ang pintuan saka pumasok sa kwarto ni Mira.

She turned her head slowly at me as a smile formed her lips. Nakangiti akong lumapit sa kanya. She was holding a dark red book when I got near. Bago ako umupo sa rolling stool, pinakita ko sa kanya ang dala ko.

"I think you might like these," I said, putting the bag on the side of her bed. "What's that you're holding?

"This?..." She slowly gave me the book. "A passerby gave it to me the other day. She said I might love it, and I did. Kaso lang, the two main leads in the book, died at the end."

"The General's Lady?" pagbabasa ko sa pamagat ng libro. "Natapos mo na? Ganyan ka ba kabagot para ibaon ang oras mo sa libro?"

She pouted. "Ang tagal mo dumating e. Dapat kahapon ka pa nandito, bakit ngayon ka lang?"