Smile For Me, Ressler

Epilogue

EPILOGUE

Ressler

"So you're the husband," the doctor said, giving me a warm smile.

"Y-Yes, Doc. Can you tell me what happened? She was pale. She had bruises. She . . ."

"Calm down, Mr. Morris. I'm going to explain to you everything, so please, just listen. Alright?"

I nodded as I prepared myself from what I'm going to hear.

"Your wife has leukemia"—she paused and sighed—"and it has the worst prognosis," she continued.

I felt the heavy weight in my chest after hearing those words.

She has cancer.

She's dying, while all I've done to her was hate her and give her a hard time.

"It's been two years since she was diagnosed with cancer. I'm sorry, Mr. Morris. Her friend, Zild, we encouraged her a lot of times to tell you about her cancer but she didn't want to tell you. As her doctor, I understand where she's coming from. I'm also a woman, with a husband. And I would also do the same if I was brave enough like her. She's brave, Mr. Morris. She fought for her life without you, but she did it all for you. I'm really sorry kung umabot pa sa ganito."

* * *

I was waiting for her to wake up.

I closed my eyes for a moment. I couldn't stop thinking about everything that has happened.

As I opened my eyes, I saw her fingers moved.

I let out a sigh of relief. She's awake.

She began to panic. She tried to get up, but she was struggling to move. There she met my eyes, I was sitting on the corner of the room.

My heart was aching. Tuwing naaalala ko lahat ng mga nangyari, naiinis ako sa sarili ko dahil napakawalang kwenta ko palang tao.

I stood up from the couch and sat at the edge of her bed.

I wanted to say something but no words came out from my mouth. I avoided her eyes and stared at the ceiling.

After a moment of silence, I finally found my voice to speak up.

"Why haven't you tol . . ." I trailed off, trying to hold back my tears. "Why did you hide it from me?" I asked, my voice was shaking.

As soon as those words came out from my mouth, I could see it in her eyes that she couldn't do anything but hate herself from getting caught.

She didn't want me to know.

She didn't want me to know that the day I married her has also been the same day she was diagnosed with cancer.

How did she handle all of that? I should've been by her side but I've done nothing for her.

She wanted to explain to me, but she's too weak to wipe her tears off her eyes and cheek.

I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honour you all the days of my life.

I remember saying that vow on our wedding day, but the same day she was diagnosed with cancer, she decided to break it to protect me.