When God Intervenes

Chapter 14🏵️

Featured Song: 

Stay Strong (Danny Gokey)

Seconds turned into minutes, minutes turned into hours, hours turned into days, days into weeks, and weeks into three months. It had been three months since someone answered Serenity's phone and informed me that she was admitted to the hospital. The walk I took was meant to help me water the seed Japeth might have planted that day, but instead, it uprooted it. After hours of being directed to voicemail, there was finally an answer, but it was not the one I expected

It turns out Sere had actually gone to the nearby café where she fainted and hit her head. Normally, a minor concussion would have been the result, but since she fell onto the small ceramic sculptures before hitting the ground, the doctors discovered that, due to the impact, she had developed a subdural hematoma (bleeding between her brain and its outer covering) resulting in a coma. Some persons would normally wake up or recover within two to four weeks, but Sere's case has been different. She has been asleep for three whole months.

It's been nothing short of heart-wrenching, especially knowing that I'm somewhat at fault. If only I had gone after her or kept my mouth shut. Alcohol has been my only escape. It might weaken my immune system and reduce the effectiveness of the medications, but who cares? I'll be out of her life the quickest. I've brought her nothing but pain, and it's killing me from the inside out. I'm tired, I'm not at peace, and I can't take it anymore. Everything is too hard to bear.

"Mr. Manning, you have visitors," Estella, my house help, announced as she knocked on the door of my room. She's been here with me ever since I was discharged two months ago. I've tried everything to make her leave, but she just wouldn't quit. According to her, Japeth hired her and only he can make her leave. 

"Who is it!?" I shouted, sitting up. I didn't mean to sound too harsh, but all I wanted to do was to take a nap. I barely slept last night because of the back-to-back headaches I had. Luckily, the tablets I took an hour ago were just kicking in.

"I-it's Mr. Mckenzie & Mr. Tremblay." She replied softly, unlike her bubbly self. I guess my behavior was finally getting to her.

"You sure!?" I asked, genuinely surprised. They only showed up this early whenever there were emergencies.

"Yes sir. They are both seated downstairs." 

I took a deep breath as thoughts of what might have happened played out in my mind, "I'll be down shortly." 

Wasting no time, I got up and quickly went downstairs. Japeth and Joshua were busy complimenting Estella, who laughed heartily. She always loved when they came around. They would pray, and she would offer her advice. Though I always stood afar off, deep down I felt the need to join, but my pride at times wouldn't let me. His negligence was all I remembered.

The trio also went to the hospital to pray for and over serenity. Thats how Josh and Japeth formed the brotherly bond they now have. I'm surprised but I'm most definitely happy to know who exactly my replacement is; If you know, you know. Ever since my discharge they'd always made stops every now and then to check up on me. Josh was never quite fond of me, but now he acts as if we are friends or something.

"What news have you come to deliver so early?" I asked, masking my worry. 

"Is that any way to-" Japeth spoke up but stopped mid-sentence after taking a good look at me.  "You look terrible? Are you not feeling, okay?"

I scoffed, ignoring his question. The hospital is the last place I'd want to be. "What news have you come to deliver so early?" 

He shook his head and sighed, nudging Josh to say something.

"Ser-" Josh began but I cut him off.

"What's wrong with Serenity? is she okay?" I asked, panicking. If anything were to happen to her, I don't know how I'd survive. 

"Serenity is doing just fine." He replied calmly.

"Then why were you about to mention her name?"

They both exchanged glances and a nod before jokingly chiming the words I've been longing to hear. 

"Mrs. Manning is finally awake."

"What?! When?! How?! why am I just finding out about this?" I blurted out all at once. She was finally awake.

"We've been calling since we found out, but you weren't answering our calls, so we figured we might as well deliver the news ourselves," Josh answered. 

"How is she feeling?" I asked once again, brushing off what he had just said. The more I spoke to them, the more uneasy I felt, knowing that very soon I wouldn't be able to. Some people would rather to do the opposite, but every time I open my mouth to speak, it reminded me of you-know-what. Their eyes and voices already reflected remorse.

"Why don't you go change into something better, and we'll drop you at the hospital so you can see for yourself," Japeth suggested. 

For a second or so, I lit up, but it soon faded when I remembered the last conversation we had. All that happened was because of me. She went to that cafe because of me. "No. Actually, it's better she doesn't see me for now," I muttered, turning away.

"You're coming even if we have to drag you with us. You're the only person she really wants to see right now," Japeth insisted firmly. 

"Japeth is right," Joshua added. "She's been crying and blaming herself that she missed so much. You can't let her down again. You almost lost her, so snap out of it and make things right."

"I'm not going!" I shouted angrily. If only they understood. 

"Bro, your own girlfriend has just woken up from a three-month coma. She's been crying ever since because of you! And you're just going to ignore her!?" Joshua's voice rose with every word he said. "What's your problem man!?"

"Look at yourself," Japeth chimed in. "You've been sulking and neglecting everyone for the past three months. You've barely visited Serenity, even when you were admitted at the same hospital. Instead of her boyfriend, she woke up to her ex by her side."

I turned and walked away, trying to block out their words, but they had quite the impact.

"You're such a coward!!!" Japeth's final words echoed as I retreated to my room. What had my life succumb to? 

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