Reflections

Chapter 3

"Maine...Maine... Anak. Maine." Mary Ann, her mother approached her as she laid unconscious on the hospital bed. She gained numerous bruises and cuts all over her body, a concussion, a black eye, a dislocated shoulder and a broken leg from the attack.

"Maine... Diyos ko po, Maine. Anak... A...anong nangyari sayo anak?" Maine's father, Ted, arrived shortly after, approaching the other side of the bed as he held her hand and gave her a kiss on the forehead.

"Rj, anong nangyari?" Mary Ann asked. Rj was speechless, as tears continuously flowed from his eyes as he sat on the foot of Maine's bed, watching over her closely. He had a busted lip and bruise below his eye.

"Mr. and Mrs. Mendoza? Hi. I'm Doctora Santos. Pwede ko po ba kayong makausap?"

"Bakit po? Ano po bang nangyari Doc?"

"Misis, Mister, ikinalulungkot ko pong sabihin sa inyo, pero-"

"Ano po ba yun Doc?"

"Ang anak niyo po, si Maine, base po sa mga tests na ginawa po namin, siya po ay na-rape."

"Ano?! Doc, sabihin mong hindi totoo yan." Mary Ann grew hysterical. She couldn't believe what she just heard. Maine, her precious daughter, was raped.

Ted was in appalled. He held onto to his estranged wife for dear life. Tears began to fall from his eyes as his jaw hardened and his fists clenched. He wanted to kill the man who took his daughter's innocence.

"I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news. However, we were able to obtain foreign DNA inside her when we examined her earlier. At may suspect na po ang mga pulis. Na-confirm na po namin na siya nga po ang gumawa nito sa anak niyo. Wag po kayong mag-alala, makikipagtulungan po kami sa mga pulis para po makulong ang gumawa nito kay Maine."

"S..sa..salamat po, Doc."

"Sige po. Mauuna na po ako."

--

Maine woke up to the sound of her mother's voice whispering to her.

"Maine, anak. Magiging okay din lahat. Andito ako."

"M..m...ma?"

"Maine? Diyos ko, buti naman nagising ka na, anak."

Maine tried to move, but she was too groggy from all the pain medication. Her mother comforted her and stayed by her side while she was in the hospital recovering. Rj was there, too. He never left her side even for a minute. He couldn't bear to be apart from her after all that has happened. He blamed himself, if only he came earlier, none of this would've happened.

After almost two weeks in the hospital, Maine was allowed to go home. She began physical therapy, and her bruises, wounds and broken bones started to heal little by little. But the most critical part cannot be repaired by any kind of medication.

She was advised to undergo psychological therapy, saying that it would be best to help her through the process of recovery. She complied, attending all the sessions as best as she could. Rj was supportive, as well as her parents, assisting her all throughout her journey. Sadly, nothing seemed to change. Yes, it looked like everything was back to normal, but therapy can only do so much.