FALLACY OF DEATH (short story)

+Chapter 1: A talk with Death+

+Chapter 1: A talk with Death+

"A talk with death guarantees the end."

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"SHE'S DYING."

Two words. 

Two harsh, hopeless words.

Pabalik-balik na nagrereply sa ulo ko ang dalawang katagang iyon. I heard it accidentally when kuya and doctor Santiago talk inside my room. Akala nila, tulog ako after my medication and the side effect took place. Even if my mind was already hazy and I was doozy, I managed to hear it before dozing off.

She's dying...

Sinubukan kong maging masaya and smiled as wide as I can for the sake of my brother. After what happened to our parents, ayaw kong madagdagan ang sakit na nararamdaman niya ngayon... Kaya I have to smile for his sake. To keep him going.

Ilang araw na kaya ako nakaconfine sa ospital ulit? Hindi ko na nabilang dahil sa paulit-ulit na balik ko rito. Ito na nga ata ang vacation house ko. Wala namang espesyal sa room na 'to. Except na siguro sa dami ng medications and cries na nawitness nito. The TV infront of me is always off dahil ayaw kong malaman ang nangyayari sa labas ng apat na sulok na kwartong ito. Ayaw kong mapanood ang masasaya na mukha ng mga artista. Nakaka-bitter. Kahit sa pag-ihi ko lang, kailangan ko pa hawakan ang rod at unti-unti itong idadala sa CR ko and the struggles in putting my pajamas down. Just imagine!

Napabuntong hininga nalang ako and resume reading after the distraction of that harsh memory. Books are my savior, really. They're my escape when I cannot escape physically. They let me feel free, atleast emotionally. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Tapos ko na ang series ng librong ito pero, gusto ko siyang ulit ulitin. Hogwarts is just so amazing.

Having able to escape from a horrible place, Harry sure had a fantastic one. I wish I will be able to do that too... Escape this reality I am in.

"Happy sweet 16th birthday, anak!" The vivid memory of my mother's face came to life. Nakangiti ito habang hawak ni papa ang cake ko. Si kuya naman ay nasa likod nilang dalawa at winawaygay ang kanyang regalo para saakin.

Pumalakpak ako and gave them my greatest smile.

"Baby doll, blow the candles!" Sabi ni papa at mas nilapit ang cake ko saakin.

"Papa naman eh. Di na 'ko baby." Nakanguso kong sabi.

"Ang pabebe mo talaga kahit kailan, baby unggoy!" sabit ni Kuya kaya tinignan ko siya ng masama.

"Para sa'kin, you'll forever be our baby." Matamis naman na sabi ni Papa. I smiled at him and hugged him hard and whispered my I love you's to them. I blew the sixteen candles as they cheered for me. Just then, I felt my heart contracted.

But I ignored it.

And I wish I didn't.

Because that day, I almost lost my life and left my family in agonizing pain....

"Felicity, didn't you hear me? You need to take your medicines." Sabi ni Doc. Lilly Santiago na siyang naging doctor ko simula ng naiconfine ako. I look up at her and smiled. I didn't notice her.

"Sorry po, medyo naging abala lang sa pagbasa." I apologized and smiled wider, hoping she won't know that I heard what she said before. Napag-buntong hininga lang si Doc and handed me two tablets of who-knows-what.

"Ba't po kayo ang pumunta dito at hindi si Nurse Joy? May problema po ba?" I smiled at her as I pop the tablets in my mouth. She offered me my water, and I swallowed the bitter-tasting tablets. Bitter just like me.