Fruitcake Sanctuary (GL)

Chapter Thirty Eight

Cecelia Christine Mendez

Naglalakad ako, only stopping a couple of times to nod in appreciation to a few faces I knew.

Patients, Nurse and Doctors.

Di na ko nag-alala pa na magmasid at alamin kung ligtas ang paligid.

Area is clear.

Walang kalaban.

Perimeter checking.

Entailed getting a 360 degree view of my surroundings, noting anything that seemed out of place...and filing those things away in case they tried to sneak up on me later.

My mind was only in one room.

107A.

At ngayon nagsisimulako ng maramdanan ang panghihina ng mga binti ko, na parang natutunaw mismo sa katawan ko.

Nasa harap na ako ng pinto when I gently shut the door and finally they noticed me.

I walked towards her agad ako nagsalita, ang laging tinatanong ko sa kanila kapag pumupunta ako dito.

"Is she better?" They look at me.

I'm hopeful.

Isang buntong hininga lang ang pinakawalan ni Ate, slightly shaking her head in pity.

I gritted my teeth.

She's always did that and I don't like it.

"Kanina ka pa niya hinintay," Hera said. Napatingin ako sa kanya, she's always positive in everythings.

I studied her features. Magkamukha sila ng anak niya.

I wonder when Panda gets older she will be look like her mother Hera.

I smiled.

I move closer, and hold Panda's handa.

Hera kisses my temples at ngumiti sakin.

I smiled too.

"Iwan ka muna namin dito," Hera said at tumango kay Ate.

Yeah just leave me here alone. I thought.

I just want to be alone with Panda.

Ate Vivi patted my shoulder and walked away, probably to give me some time with my love alone.

I stared at my love dearly.

She's sleeping peacefully.

"I'm back Panda," Bati ko sakanya.

Until now, hindi pa siya nagigising, almost 1 week na siyang tulog.

It's been months, I think. Always like this.

Fear washed over me, what had I expected anyway?

My shoulders slumped, as I lean over to kiss her forehead. I found a chair by her side at umupo sa tabi niya.

Kinuha ko ang kamay ni Panda at hinawakan ito.

It has grown increasingly irritating to hear the machines in the room beeping as they have become louder
over time.

"Please shut up," I mumbled.

Shut up. Shut up. Shut up. Shut up.

Her hair was gently placed around her on the pillow, laying beneath her head in such a soft way.

I couldn't help but admire her. Her eyes were tightly closed, and long eyelashes framed them.

Unlike any patient I'd ever seen, she had no dark circles beneath her eyes.