Thorns Of Juliet

Symptom VIII

From the journal of Patient Sixteen written under the initials of CTL, LN, CTR, JTT, CL, and LNO dated in 20 and 24 June 2001; voice recorded by Dr. Quirrero

E I G H T H  S Y M P T O M:

[Beeps of the recording] [Soft voice] ❝How are you?❞ [Scribbling sound]

[Cold voice] ❝You are always asking me the same question everyday. Aren't you tired of my answer?❞

❝How about, aren't you tired of your answer?❞

[Laughs lifelessly] ❝Of course, I am not. If I am tired of it then I shouldn't have said the same answer over and over again.❞

❝You can say to me whatever you want to say.❞

❝Honestly, I don't have anything to say, Doc. The emptiness I had in me just feels like.... an infinite.❞

❝Emptiness is not an endless road. You will eventually reach the end of that one of these days. You just have to help yourself. Help me to help you.❞

[Deafening silence]

[Quiet voice] ❝I don't know. I just want to take a rest.❞

❝Take your time to rest.❞

[Sound of the chair being dragged] ❝I will. And I hope it will be forever.❞

[Faint sigh] [Static sound]

1

HINDI NILUBAYAN ni Damon ng tingin ang kanyang nobya nang makaayos ito ng upo pagkatapos nagpumilit na bumangon. Matamlay ang kristal na asul na mga mata nito pero ngumiti pa din ito ng pilit pagkaraan ng ilang minuto na para bang pinapagaan nito ang kung anumang mabigat na nararamdaman ni Juliet.

Hindi napigilan ng doktora na ipulupot ang kanyang mga bisig sa katawan ng kanyang nobyo upang takpan ang luha na muling kumawala sa kanyang mata.

"You don't have to be sorry. I should be the one saying sorry because I made you worried," Damon murmured against Juliet's neck that causes a sensation to crawl under her skin and makes the hair on her neck to stood up.

Juliet softly nodded her head as she hug the engineer more tightly. Her mind is fully occupied with her boyfriend's cousin itching a guilt in the pit of her stomach. She is very much aware of her body reactions no matter how much she would deny it.

As if there is something about the lawyer's grey eyes that makes her sanity to snap out. Or the way it gazed on her that send a bolt of electricity in every fiber of her. As if it touches her even if it is just a mere eye contact.