One
Bryle's Point Of View
Autoimmune diseases, Known to the world as a disease that decides your healthy cells are foreign and as a result, it attacks the healthy cells and kill it causing an abnormal organ growth that changes the organ function. A disease known with no curative therapy.
But for me, it just something that prevents me to see the world. It is a disease that keeps me locked inside a bubble. No freedom.
Year 1997, the year my mother gave birth to me. The very same year i was diagnosed with that incurable disease. I grew up isolated. Never have I experienced playing outside the house, climb a tree, roll on the snow, dip in the mud.
Never have i felt the sun on my face. And I've always wondered what the rain would feel like once it gets contact with my skin. So many thing i have not seen, touched or felt.
"Bryle honey, its time for your injection." Mom
I smiled at her as she entered my contained room wearing a hazmat suit. I was never allowed to breathe in any dust or pollen. One could kill me in an instance.
I sat down and stretched out my arm while my mom gave me my daily medicine.
"Ma." I said
"Yes anak?"
"Hindi ako nasasatisfy sa self studying. Can't i get a tutor or something?" I asked
"Natatakot kasi ako eh. But i'll try to find one for you honey." She said
"Thanks ma." I said
"Oh my baby boy." She kissed me but i could only feel the hazmat suit's hard plastic on my forehead.
"Funny how i grew up never being able to touch my mom even once." I said
My mom's face softened.
"Baby, i will create a cure for you. I promise you that." Mom
She's a scientist and she dedicated her whole life trying to formulate a cure for my disease.
"I know you will ma." I said
Im sick of being sick. Why was i born like this anyway? Why did my grandfather's disease passed on me?
Nakakasawa. Nakakasawa na nasa iisang lugar lang ako. Gusto ko maranasang makaamoy ng sariwang hangin. Gusto kong maranasang magluto, matalsikan ng mantika. O makapagtravel sa mga lugar na nakikita ko sa screen ng computer ko.
Computer is the only connection i have from the outside world. And until i get rid of this disease hanggang doon lang muna ako makakakilala ng ibang tao.
I always hated how big our manor was but i was never able to explore it. What our garden would look like, what it smells like in the kitchen. Or what my mom's room looks like.
I jumped in my bed and grabbed a book. I grew up reading a lot of book since i was never able to play with anyone but myself. I had all the toys to play with but no one to share it to. Which made me hate toys that's why i chose to read books instead. To bring myself to another world even if it was only in my head. My name is Bryle Wang, a 21 year old boy who dreams to explore the world freely but never will. Maybe as i grow older i will learn to accept that this is my fate. To be isolated from the rest of the world and be stuck inside a plastic bubble for the rest of my sick life.
--------To be continued...
