Operation Centuria: The First 25

Day 14: Saturn "Never Ending Parallel" by Jane

Tap. Tap

I knocked at the wall twice, to know if he’s there. Then after some minutes, I heard another knock, he’s there. 

“How you’ve been?” I asked him, with my unknowing smile. 

“Nothing special, how about you?” he asked, I really love his voice and how it made my day complete just by hearing it.

“Same” I hugged my knees, I’m actually lying to him, the truth is, my eyes operation is tomorrow, and I’m a little bit scared.

Silence came between us, I didn’t hear any more sounds. 

“Are you still there, Saturn?” he asked me. Yes, he calls me Saturn even though my real name is Zyra. It’s weird that he call me by that nickname. 

“Yes” still alive but dying inside.

For 4 years, I have stayed at this hospital, I was never cured, but around this month, I found a donor for my eyes, well, according to my doctor, it’s really difficult to find who’s compatible, because I have a corneal ulcer wherein I lose the surface of the epithelial layer of my eyes cornea. And because of that, I’m blind, for almost 6 years, my mother just decided that I need to be take cared of at the hospital so that’s why I’m here, for almost 4 years. 

“What did the doctor told you? Are you going to have an operation?” he asked me, well I didn’t hide my sickness from him, he’s my very first friend here at all, for 4 years I never did see or touch him, of course, I’m blind.

“Maybe, I really don’t know, It’s kinda scary” I felt my tears falling. All this years, I felt alone, and now that I have him, there’s a bit change. 

“Good luck Saturn” Even though I can’t see him, I know that he’s smiling. 

 Curiosity entered me. 

“Hey Luke, can I ask you something?” regardless of what he might answer, I continued. “Why do you call me Saturn, you know that my real name is Zyra, right?” I bite my lower lip before he speaks.

“Maybe, I can portray you just like the Saturn” his tone of voice was sad, and I was touched by his answer.

“Saturn? What’s with the Saturn? As far as I know, it’s the second largest planet in the universe” I found myself smiling, knowing that even after 4  years, there are still things that I know, simple things like that.

“Yes it is, but do you know that Saturn is the most beautiful planet on the  universe aside from Earth” so that’s why, he thought that I’m beautiful.

“But… I’m not beautiful” I shyly denied.

“That’s not my point, I want you to be the Saturn and I will be your ring, so that I can embrace you and will never leave you behind” I know to myself that I’m blushing, I wanna shout… with joy because of his message, because of his meaning for me.

“Thank you Luke” then suddenly I can’t help myself but to whisper a little bit loud that he could hear it. “I want to embrace you too” 

Before I sleep, I suddenly kissed the wall without knowing the reason why. 

It’s today, my operation. I groggily opened my eyes and waited for the nurse to come and pick me up. But before that I put my ear to the wall trying to know if he’s in the other room, likewise, he’s not. He’s busy, maybe. 

“Hey Zyra, looks like this is your lucky day, well we need to go now because you’re family is waiting for you… and also your sense of sight” I just nodded to her and half smiled. She guided me all the way outside, though I don’t really know where I am.

And then, after some minutes, my operation started, and it ended just like almost four hours. 

“Zyra” and when I opened my eyes, I saw my mom crying in front of me. And automatically, I cried. “I can see you now, mommy”  then she cried louder knowing that…I have now the ability to see, again. She hugged me tightly and so my father and siblings. My tears didn’t left my cheeks for almost 3 hours, I can see now! I can see him now.

I hurriedly run out that room and went to him. I saw a nurse exactly going out of his room. “Hey Zyra! Oh my gosh! You can see now?” I nod at her and smiled. She waved at me and said goodbye after. 

I’m shaking and nervous right now. What if, he won’t like me anymore? What if, he don’t want me as his friend? I shakily held the doorknob and slowly opened it, and then… there was no one around.

“Hey Zyra, why are you here?” the nurse came back. 

“Where’s Luke?” I asked her.

“Huh? Who’s Luke?” the moment he said that to me, I felt myself chill and gave me creeps out of my skin. It can’t be. 

I went back to my old room and swirl my sight before saying goodbye.

Tap Tap 

I heard a knock on the wall. I was shocked. But I still knock the same.

“So, how’s your operation?” he asked. I can’t still move my lips to answer him, I’m still shaking.How can this be?

“Luke” I murmured. 

I heard him chuckled. And it frightened me more. 

“Is this goodbye?” he sadly asked. 

But I didn’t answer his question, but rather, gave him a question.

“Where are you?” I closed my eyes and clenched my fists, all I need to know is an answer.

He didn’t answer first and then I heard the door opened, it was my mother. I stood up and arranged my things, my family helped me fix everything. After an hour, they all went out and before I close the door, I felt something.

Like someone’s embracing me.

He then whispered his last words, “From the very start you were never alone Zyra, I’m always here” 

Luke wasn’t a patient at the hospital, he’s my guardian, and my never ending parallel like world, he’s my Saturn.

The day after, I visited him, at his own grave.