Fading Echoes

Seis

Irene

I just woke up hearing voices. Nasa kuwarto na rin ako. I roamed my eyes around and was shocked to see my husband talking to Manang Yeda?!

What is he doing here?! He's supposed to be back next week—why is he already here? And why does it feel like I've been asleep for hours?! Ilang oras ba ako nakatulog?? He probably took a direct flight, then. So, I was asleep that long?!

Or they probably gave me some sedatives... I can't even bring myself to go for a check-up for my anemia.

I was staring at them when Manang Yeda noticed that I was awake. I couldn't understand what they were discussing.

"Oh siya, maiwan ko na muna kayo. Gising na asawa mo, Gorio," she said, and then she left the room. They seemed to be having a serious conversation earlier.

"How do you feel?" he asked as he sat down on the bed. I also sat up, leaning my back against the headboard. My head felt heavy, and I was still a bit dizzy.

"Why are you here? You're supposed to be back next week," I replied. Honestly, I didn't want to talk to him. I was avoiding the conversation because I didn't want to discuss what happened in Switzerland.

"How do you feel, Irene?" he asked seriously. He was staring at me, and I couldn't read his expression.

"I'm okay." That was all I could manage to say. He stood up and sighed.

"You haven't been eating properly and haven't gotten enough sleep or rest since I left. Why is that? You're not the only one involved in the preparations for the recent event. Why do you keep overworking yourself?" he began.

I know where this is going...

"If it's going to make you sick, then—"

I cut him off abruptly.

"What? Better quit my job?" I retorted, glaring at him. I didn't understand him; I just couldn't.

"Why? Yes! You're risking your health for that job, Irene! That's why I kept reminding you to take it easy and ask for help! You can't do everything on your own! And if you can't, then you should leave that job of yours!" he shot back. I got up from the bed to grab a glass of water from the table near the couch. His voice had risen, and I noticed he realized it too; I saw him gulp and look away. I stared at him.

"Quit? Huh? You know very well how much I am needed in that organization! I don't know where my life is headed, Greggy! You took away my career! You want me to quit my job at the company, which is the primary reason we're both here today, why we're married! Okay, fine, I indulged you—"

"You know why I did that, Irene! You know that!!" he hissed, and the tension in the room was palpable. I placed the glass down on the table and approached him.

"And now you want me to quit my job in the foundation... Removing me from the office isn't enough punishment, Greg? Is it not? What more do you want? I accepted everything—the way you've been treating me, all your accusations—"

I flinched as he suddenly shouted, "You don't blame me for every pain that you've caused, Irene! You don't get to tell me that I am punishing you because if I were, I could have done something far worse than what you think!"

I shook my head in disagreement. If this isn't punishment for my mistakes, then what is it?

"Then why are you doing this to me, Greggy?! Why do you have to make me feel like this marriage isn't worth holding onto anymore? Why do you have to keep reminding me of my mistakes? If this isn't punishment, Greggy, what is it? Tell me! Explain to me! Because I don't understand why we are still here!"