Duskfall

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

'Beep...beep...beep...'

Isang matinis na ingay ang aking narinig.

It's dark, so dark. I feel so cold, it's freezing. Gusto kong igalaw ang aking katawan pero hindi ko magawa.

Then, I realized that the reason it's dark is because my eyes are close. Sinubukan kong magmulit pero hindi ko magawa. I feel so exhausted. But I didn't gave up at patuloy na sinubukang imulat ang mga mata. And after a few tries, nagawa kong igalaw ang aking mga talukap, although just partially.

'Where...am I?'

Madilim ang paligid ngunit nakikita ko ang pigura ng mga bagay. A weak light was coming from somewhere, illuminating the dark place. I can't move my head so all I can see is the ceiling and the area that's within my vision.

'Krieeek...'

I immediately closed my eyes because of the sudden light. Mukhang galing iyon pinto nang bumukas ito. Mas idiniin ko ang pagkakapikit ng aking mga mata nang mas lumiwanag ang paligid. The person who came in just opened the light.

"Don't worry, mr. Del Gado. We will do our best..."

I can hear the conversation of two men, but I can't listen anymore. Dala nang pagod ay tuluyan akong bumalik sa pagkakatulog.

~~~

"...I can't accept it, Lio! My daughter, my poor daughter..."

"Shh, shh."

I don't know how long it has been since I last fallen asleep, pero naalimpungatan ako dahil sa mga boses mula sa nag-uusap. I can hear the crying voice of a woman. She's sobbing painfully. Bukod sa kanya ay nadidinig ko rin ang isang boses ng lalaki. He seems like comforting her, but I can also hear the pain on his voice.

I want to look at them, to see who they are, pero katulad kanina ay wala akong lakas na imulat ang aking mga mata. My body is still in pain, specially my lower abdomen. Kahit hindi ako gumagalaw ay ramdam ko ang kirot. It's better when I'm asleep. At least I won't feel it. Mukhang hindi ko naman kailangan pilitin ang aking sarili dahil kusa na akong nakatulog muli.

That happened a few times. Magigising ako ng kusa, minsan ay dahil sa mga ingay sa paligid. Pero hindi naman ito nagtatagal dahil muli akong nakakatulog. I rarely manage to barely open my eyes, at ang mga pagkakataong iyon ay kung kailan walang tao. But lately ay napapansin ko na mas tumatagal akong nananatiling gising. Although I can't move, at least I'm conscious. Dahil doon ay nagagawa kong madinig ang mga boses ng pumapasok sa silid.

'Knock. Knock.'

I heard a knock on the door before it swung open. The soft footsteps is followed by the sound of wheels rolling on the floor.

"Good morning, miss! Nandito ulit ako!" Sabi ng isang magiliw na boses ng babae.

Ahh, it's her. She's the only person that I clearly remember. I don't know her name, pero tandang-tanda ko ang masayahing boses niya. She's the only one who bothered to talk to me, which I don't know what to think about. Mabait ba siya o madaldal lang talaga? Who bothers to talk to an unconscious person who can't reply? Ni hindi niya man lang alam kung nadidinig ba ng sinasabihan niya ang mga salita niya o hindi.

But...I don't hate that side of her. It's comforting to hear her voice rather than listening to eerie silence whenever I'm conscious.

"Palitan muna natin 'yang gown mo miss ah?" Paalam niya.

She's quick on what she does. Maingat niyang inalis ang suot ko. I felt a damp clothe wiping my body carefully bago ako sinuotan ng bagong damit. Medyo makirot ang katawan ko but it's bearable.