What is the true definition of home? Is it where you live? Or is it where you feel welcomed?
The sunlight from the small window always greeted me in the morning. It serves as an alarm clock, waking me up.
I got up from the bed and stared at the wall. It is my daily routine, sitting down and letting myself drown in darkness.
Where am I?
A click on the door snaps me out. A woman in her late 20s came with a container of food.
"Good morning! Maayos ba ang naging tulog mo?" she asked with a big smile.
I just nodded my head, even though it was not the real answer.
She is new. This is the first time that I saw her, but her aura is really different from others.
"Kain ka muna. Ako ang naghanda nito para sayo," she said and helped me to build my table from my bed.
She assembled the food and gave me the utensils.
I just stared at the food and took down the spoon and fork. I don't want to eat. The sight of the food makes me feel nauseous.
"Wala ka bang gana? Pasensya na bago palang kasi ako dito kaya hindi ko alam ang gusto mo," she explained.
Before I could respond, another woman hurriedly went to my room. She gasped at what she saw.
"Ay hala, Jas. Mali ka ata nang pinasukan na room!" She exclaimed and went to the bed to take the chart from the woman named Jas.
"Sa R15 ka naka-duty, R14 ito si Coral."
Jas checked the chart and was startled.
"Hala, namali pala ako ng pasok. Pasensya na at medyo hindi ko pa gamay itong lugar."
"Sige na, pumunta ka na doon sa katabing room. Ayusin muna natin 'tong mga pagkain para maidala mo kay Jon."
My dazed follows Jas when she leaves the room. The other woman folded the table and left the room after.
As usual, I am left alone. The white room filled with a single bed and small cabinet are the ones that kept me accompanied for the last 10 years.
I am left in this place to live for the rest of my life because they believed that I would be forever insane.
When my family found out about my condition, they quickly locked me here. Saying that this will taint their reputation.
That is right. That is a total shame. It is a truly a disgrace that the only daughter of the congressman and the former Miss World is diagnosed with mental illness.
~~~
08/29/24
BINABASA MO ANG
Let's Heal Together
RomanceI met him in a psychiatric ward. I am a girl who's suffering from mental illness, and he is too.
