The Patient

6. EVERY ONE

Mindy shook her head in an effort to smother the faintness she was feeling. And as her vision cleared, she was confronted anew by the chaotic activities going on around her.
There were blurred figures trying to pull her feet from whatever it was plugged on. Another one was lifting her head, easing it towards the sidewalk , and Mindy realized she was lying accross the street. And what was that sticky dark red ooze gathering on her left elbow? Blood?! Blood!
I am bleeding?!. But why? What happened to me?
Mindy shouted, but what got out of her mouth was just a moan, a piteous moan, which nobody even heard...Why?! Why? What was wrong with me?? I was just walking on the pedestrian lane on the way home, ...
And then she dimly remembered a speeding white car she tried to dodge, running to cross the street faster...before reawakening to this ...
Did it hit me still?
Mindy tried to lift her hand to get up. She tried to engage the attention of the people around her.
'Keep still, miss, the bleeding might worsen," a voice told her although it's source seemed to be echoing from a distance. " The ambulance will be here soon. "
As she drifted into unconciousness once more, Mindy's eyes closed to the scream of the ambulance siren zooming towards where she was sprawled.
And then she became aware of another group of people trying to gain her attention...

Oblivious that she was now standing in the midst of a busy street, cars whizzing around them, as a thick fog appeared as a barrier between them and the other group of people, now busy loading a body into the ambulance.
Mindy suddenly recognized a woman among the group, and crying and smiling, she flung herself at her mother as at the same time another figure touched her...
"Oh, Mama! Papa! Im so glad you are here! Im not alone and afraid anymore... I love you!
Oh, thank you !
Thank you! "
As she looked around and further in the area, it seemed to grow larger, no, not just larger but boundless! And brighter!
Who are these people with you, mama papa?! "
Mindy felt she knew them all, but knew she has not met any of them at all.
Except ... one, yes one, a younger looking one but he is the same patient in room 409, Mr Morgarojo!
"Why is Mr. Morgarojo with you mama? Why do I feel I should know him but I really don't know him ? Who are all these people? Why do I have this feeling that I am related to them, even if I've never seen them before and never will in the future.?!"

"Luzviminda!" Her father held her hand.
" Mindy!!" Her mother squeezed her other hand and tapped Mr. Morgarojo by the shoulder, "meet your uncle Doming!"
"Keep still, its not your time yet!" Her father admonished her.
"But why didnt I meet him before?"
"I was angry with your parents when they eloped," Mr Morgarojo explained. "Call me Uncle Doming. You just looked so much like your mother, that night we met in the hospital, and with my waning strength and life I had to try to protect you still... Those were my words to her before we parted..."
" You were wrong, you know, kuya," her mother smiled at the old man.
"He never ever made me unhappy nor made me cry, and never did we part even in death!"
"And I know now. I am sorry, and happy for you Corazon, Ramero !" Her mother's elder brother hugged her father and mother.
And this here is your Uncle Manuel , " said her mother, and Mindy met face to face the boy in the picture , a miniature copy of the old man.
" Uncle Manuel? Were you the young man Noor saw in Uncle Doming's room?" Mindy can't help but inquire.
"No, that was not me. That was my son..." her Uncle Manuel smiled warmly at Mindy, and Mindy can't help but smile back to all of them.
Now everyone is all accounted for, she was thinking. I am so happy! I now know
EVERYONE !
(*£*)