Angevil's Portrait of Portals

Chapter 20. Discovery of an Island

In two months time since we came home, Isla had told me of her realization of wanting to be a health care provider. She said that it all started when she helped the widwife deliver baby Maya. She honestly told me how she was concerned about my mental well being. It was unclear to her why I was behaving the way I was and with that she was persistent to help me find a solution to my problem. However her belief was that I might be experiencing depression. Upon the arrival of the Americans in the capital city of the Philippines, there has been some changes in terms of the addition of the English language in a number of schools' education system. There were some doctors who attended to the needs of the sick in way of educating them of a more modernized approach when it comes to health and wellness. Isla who had witnessed it first hand was already participating in a medical team's mission to fight off certain illnesses for the past two months. With that being said, she has been volunteering as a medical assistant and has been touring different parts of the country. We barely see each other since then. I really miss her. Specially that she'll be having her birthday in four days. Since I was temporarily banned from exposing myself in the market according to my grandma, I thought of revisiting the hilltop again. The moment I arrived at my hometown, I looked up and scanned the top view of the hill in search of Sinag. I held my key necklace tightly in hopes of seeing him again. Once I reached the hilltop, Sinag was nowhere in sight. I sighed in desperation. Even if that was the case, I silently prayed for him. Upon closing my eyes, I felt the cold breeze of wind swiftly blew itself on my body while I stood behind the big old tree. It was as if he was here with me. When I opened my eyes, my anticipation got to me. Sinag was standing infront of me. He had this warm charming smile in him. I thought to myself, "Am I dreaming once again? When will this dream end? When will he be a part of reality?" My eyes sparkled with delight by the sight of him. I tried to reach out my hand to him and surprisingly I was able to touch him. I put my right hand on his right shoulder and I felt that he's definitely real. He held my hand with his. I can surely feel him. It made me happy. Before I could even utter a word, he called on my name, "Diwa." My eyes were locked with his stare. Sinag then added, "I am completely amazed with your ability to summon me. This ability of yours will lead you to bringforth peace in this world but will also make you self destruct. As much as I want to come to you by all means possible, my apologies for I don't have the ability to follow you in a world you will soon traverse." Diwa then showed a hint of confusion and her bright smile faded in an instant. Diwa said, "Sinag, I am sorry but I don't understand what you mean. I need answers to everything that's been happening to me. Please tell me. I beg of you." Sinag caressed Diwa's right cheek and held both of her hands. A huge gust of wind blew hard on Diwa's direction and with that she closed her eyes. In a vision that Sinag showed her, she saw a quick time stamp of herself in the present world and later on she saw herself being transported to the future world. There she saw her would-be life and the last thing her eyes will never forget seeing was when Sinag was trying to hold on to her dying self as she lay on the floor inside the grand museum. She took a deep breath while pulling both of her hands away from Sinag. When she opened her eyes, she breathed heavily while glaring at Sinag. In pain and anger, Diwa bursted out with tears while shouting the words, "You are not being fair! I--." She struggled to speak as she cried her heart out but then she added, "I thought you were here to help me? You said you will always be here for me. You are not here to bring me to my last dying breath, are you?" Sinag couldn't disclose any further information as his duty of keeping his identity private was already a term of punishment by the heavens. His power as ruler might be taken away from him and with that he wouldn't be able to help people out anymore specially Diwa. Sanctions to angels such as him depend on the weight of the sin one has coveted. In Sinag's case, he wasn't able to control the situation with Diwa. Diwa is extraordinary. Unlike other human beings, she remembers everything and can see the future just like her deceased father. With Sinag's silence, Diwa got infuriated but still she controlled herself in wanting to slap Sinag in the face. Even after wiping her tears, it still continued to run down her cheeks as she spoke out these words to Sinag, "That's it, huh? Why don't you tell me what will happen to everyone after I die? Don't you have visions after that? I wanted to at least know or if possible help change the future and prevent any further damages before it occurs. Will you... at least have the decency to help me with that? Just this one last time." Sinag remained silent while looking at Diwa. He gently wiped her tears using his bare hands. He then pointed at the key necklace that Diwa was wearing. Diwa understood what he was trying to tell her. The answer to all her questions was being held secret by this key. "Time is the ultimate answer, Diwa." Sinag finally spoke out. Diwa somehow understood her assignment and that her purpose on Earth was to bring forth chaos and peace at the same time. With this, she calmed down along with the slow swaying cold breeze of air which she felt had touched her body and inner soul. They looked at each other's eyes with a hint longingness. They both know that the end is quite near and that any special connection between them will slowly fade in time. Diwa raised her heels while trying to reach Sinag and then she gave him a warm hug. Sinag embraced this moment like as if it was his last. He hugged Diwa in return as he rested his head on her shoulder. With her teary eyes closed, she felt Sinag's absence in her arms. Soon after, he was gone. In a rural part of the country which was located high up in the mountains, Isla was very busy attending to the needs of the sick and elderly people. She then remembered today's date and thought to herself while looking through the window inside of a local health center, "I hope to visit my hometown and see everyone on my special day. How I wish it would happen. But I am way too busy and I love volunteering. Maybe this really is my calling." An elderly woman who was lying in bed next to Isla said to her while she was checking the patient's pulse rate, "Oh dear, why do you look so down all of a sudden? Is everything alright?" Isla responded with a comforting smile and said, "I am alright. No need to worry about me." The elderly woman then took out a piece of paper from under her pillow and she had Isla read it for her. The letter wrote, "For the love of my life, I hope that this letter finds you well. I will always remember the times we had together. I will always look after you even if we lose sight of each other for my love for you is greater than the pain of being apart from you. I will always and forever love you. In time, we will meet each other once more. Feel each other's warm embrace and enjoy endless kisses... I long for that moment and before we cross each other's paths in the future, promise me that you will stay happy. Cherish the time that you have with the people close to you. Do the things that you love doing. So that when the time is right, we will welcome each other with open arms in love and happiness. Forever and ever, I love you." With these heartwarming messages, Isla couldn't stop shedding her tears infront of the elderly grandmother. After wiping away her tears with a handkerchief, she gazed upon the elderly woman and noticed that she was lying in bed unconscious. Isla then called for immediate rescue from the medical responders before she tried doing cpr. From time to time she listened to the grandmother's heartbeat as she rested one ear on her chest, but soon after she realized that there was nothing else she could do anymore. The elderly woman had already crossed the bridge and was soon reunited with the love of her life. With this realization, Isla was left stunned. She couldn't believe what had just happened. She had witnessed another person's death. With words of reassurance in mind she then told herself, "Isla, wake up. This has to be your greatest mission. Not only to help cure people from their illnesses, but also to give them hope or understanding of their would-be situation. To help those who are dying to have peace in their hearts. I now understand that I am willing to sacrifice myself for the sake of the people I love." Isla slowly stepped away from the deceased grandmother when the emergency responders arrived. She looked to the other direction and saw a view of the mountains from afar through the open windows. With a heavy feeling in her chest, she slowly walked towards it and put her hands on the window sill and gave out a deep sigh. Uncontrollably, tears started running down her cheeks again. A co-medical assistant of hers named Millie approached Isla and said to her, "You have done your part in the best way that you can. You have my respects." Isla slightly bowed her head down as a form of reply after wiping her tears away. She then headed outside of the health center. The moment she stepped foot outside, she was greeted with a bright ray of sunlight. The beauty of nature made her feel at home again. She said to herself, "Hometown, I shall arrive in two days."