City of War: SAVE ME

Prologue

"Mabs? Mabel? Come on, we need to go. We are in a hurry." That was Yana, her cousin. Kanina pa nya kinakatok sa pintuan ang pinsan pero hindi ito nakarinig ng sagot. 

It's already eight am and here they are, running late again. 'Hay, ano nanaman kayang pinagpuyatan nun?' Tanong nito sa kanyang isipan. 

"Mabel, ano ba? Malelate na tayo. Ikaw ang photographer, we need to be early. Nanood ka na naman hanggang madaling araw ba at nagpuyat?" Dinikit ng dalaga ang tenga sa pintuan, nagtataka kasi sya kung bakit ni 'ha o ho' ay wala syang marinig dito.

She decided to get the keys since kararating lang din ng landlady nila. After a minute, she successfully opened the door quickly and was scared to death when she saw her lying near the bathroom door, she's pale, medicines were everywhere, her wrist was cut open and blood was scattered on the floor. 

"Oh God! Mabel!" She shouted. She couldn't utter a word as she's frightened, buti nalang at nakakilos agad ito at tumawag ng ambulansya. 

At the hospital, a man in his nearly thirties is wearing a plain black fitted shirt and blue jeans. Makikita sa katawan ng binata na batak ito sa pagsasanay. Halos sampung taon din ito sa militar. 

"Doc, what do you mean severe? The last time sabi nyo we can have blood transfusions?" Sabi ng lalaking nagtataka. 

"Yes, we can. But it can only control bleeding and relieve symptoms by providing blood cells, your bone marrow isn't producing." Sagot sa kanya ng doktor. The guy was suddenly weakened by what he heard. 

"What should we do? What is the best option doc?" Sabi ng girlfriend nitong si Tanya na nakaupo malapit sa nobyo. Marahan niyang hinaplos ang kamay ng binata at binigyan niya ito ng tingin na tila ipinahihiwatig na h'wag agad siyang mawalan ng lakas na loob. 

"Well, the best we can do is to find a matching donor. A stem cell transplant to rebuild the bone marrow with stem cells from a donor might be the only successful treatment option for people with severe aplastic anemia." Mahinahong sagot nito sa kanila. 

Nanlumo ulit ang binata, ilang ulit na silang nagpabalik balik at nagbabakasakali na may matching donor ito. Alam nyang mas magiging successful ang transplant kung manggagaling ito sa kadugo but sadly, he doesn't have any family left. His mom and dad died when he was fifteen, he even struggled a lot growing up without the help of his relatives and still managed to become one of the best as lieutenant general in the Russian army. 

But here he is, sitting in a room kaharap ang isang doctor, kulang nalang lumuhod sya dito at magmaka-awang dugtungan ang buhay nya. But what can he do? He started to question himself, he started questioning the bible, he started questioning the creator. 

"I know it's hard. But let's not be negative,once we can have someone na magma-match sayo, and of course if they are willing, we'll schedule the transplant right away." The guy heard him say. 

He took a deep breath and sadly looked at her girlfriend. Nagpasalamat sila at agad na naglakad palabas ng silid. They were about to leave when they heard the nurse paged for a doctor's name, nagmadali naman ang isang babaeng may edad na doctor na lumabas at sinalubong ang bagong dating na pasyente. 

He saw the woman lying unconsciously, blood was dripping out of her wrist kahit pa may benda na ito. Napahinga nalang ng malalim ang binata. 'How ironic,someone wants to end their life while I beg for mine'.

"Doc, kamusta po sya? Kamusta po ang pinsan ko?" Nag-aalala na tanong ni Yana. Ang kanang kamay niya ay nakapamaywang habang ang kaliwang kamay naman niya ay nakahawak sa kanyang bato. 

"Good thing isinugod nyo sya ng maaga, she has deep cuts in her wrist. Unfortunately, she's in a coma right now due to traumatic brain injuries."

"Po? Panong may brain injuries? We saw her lying near the bathroom door. Yung cuts lang sa wrist ang nakita namin, paanong nagka brain injury?" Yana was shocked but she's trying to calm herself. Ilang beses siyang nagpakawala ng malalim na hininga. 

"Well, she has a fresh injury in her head. Pero hindi lang yun ang sugat nya sa ulo. May mga pasa ito na nanghilom na at ang iba ay pagaling palang. We believe her head was hit on the bathtub that causes her coma. Kumbaga, yung pagkabagok nya ang nag trigger kaya di nakayanan ng katawan nya." The doctor looked at the young lady and said, "I don't mean to interfere but I don't think this is just a simple case of a suicidal attempt."

Kumunot naman ang noo ng dalaga. She doesn't really know what to say. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang ipinupunto ng kaharap. Kabado man ay tinanong ng nag-aalalang babae kung ano ang problema. 

The doctor in white coat looked at her and answered, "I believe she was abused too."