Reversing My Time

Chapter 3

Cleo is gasping for air when she wakes up again. Her body is drenched in sweat and her long wavy hair keeps on sticking to her face. Cleo closed her eyes and put a hand on her chest and feels the fast beating of her heart.

When Cleo opened her eyes again, she was welcomed with a chandelier that has a dim light. She gently sits herself and the white blanket that is covering her body pooled around her waist.

Looking around, it seems like she is inside a luxurious hospital room suited for VIP patients. The only sound that she can is the soft voices coming from the outside of her room. The faint smell of antiseptic is lingering in the air and there is also dextrose connected to her right arm.

Cleo did not know what happened, but maybe she lost consciousness while talking with her grandmother inside the resting room? She must be really tired and stressed to lose consciousness during her wedding. She can only vaguely remember what happened in their conversation. Cleo can remember the part where she cried too much on her shoulder because of her massive guilt and regret.

'But where am I? Why is this place familiar to me?'

Before Cleo can think of the answer to her question, someone opened the door. Cleo froze in her place when she noticed who is that person. It was her brother, Herrace.

"B-Brother—"

"Wait. You're awake! Let me call the doctor first." Herrace said and quickly left the room.

"Brother, wait—Ahh!"

Cleo accidentally pulled the needle from the dextrose that is connected to her arm. A few droplets of blood spilled from her arm and stained the white blanket on her waist. Before Cleo can wipe the blood, another person entered her room and sees her paled face.

"Cleo!"

Cleo is suddenly engulfed in a tight hug. The woman who is hugging her is crying on her shoulder while rubbing her hand on her back in a circular motion. The familiar jasmine scent of her perfume is bringing her in a thousand vivid memories.

She did not dare to hug or touch the woman. Cleo is afraid that once she did, the woman will disappear in an instant and she will realize that all of it is just part of her dreams. She remained seated on the bed and let the woman cry on her shoulder. Soon, the woman noticed that Cleo is not speaking or moving so she put a short distance between them and have a good look on her face.

"Cleo, what's wrong? Are you in pain anywhere? Tell me." The woman asked in urgency although the hands that cupped her face is soft and gentle.

"Mom..." Cleo called her.

"Yes, sweetie. Mom is here. Are you hurt? Tell me."

"Mom." Cleo called her again.

"Yes, honey. I'm sorry if I was late. But I am here now."

"M-Mom..."

This time, tears continuously spilled from Cleo's eyes and it makes Jannica surprised and panicked. She quickly coaxes her daughter hoping that she will stop crying. But Cleo did not stop crying and it is making Jannica's heart to ache for her daughter. No matter how hard she try to wipe Cleo's tears, she continued crying while calling her.

"M-Mom, I'm sorry... I-I'm sorry. I was wrong... Please forgive me..." Cleo said in between her sobs.

"Honey, it's okay. I forgive you. You know that I will always forgive you, sweetie. Please stop crying now." Jannica said while wiping her daughter's tears with her thumb.

Jannica's eyes are starting to get watery too. She cannot bear to see her daughter crying like this. She feels like her heart is being torn into pieces because of the painful sobs that Cleo is making right now.