Turn The Page

Chapter 5

April was already in tears as she searched the area. She was worried sick about Page because it was late, and it was pouring like crazy. She was driving so slow, anyone who would run beside her car could probably run past her. She felt hopeless as she could barely see anything in the rain that they were currently having. She sighed as she looked around. This is definitely a storm, she thought. Lightning and thunder made the car alarms go off and it startled her. She prayed for Page, that she found a safe place to stay and that she was somewhere safe and dry. It has been more than an hour since she started driving and looking for her. She thought it was useless to continue her search since she could barely see anything in the dark and in the rain, so she decided to go to the police and alert them instead. She dialed the sisters back at the orphanage to let them know. Within a few rings, sister Berlin answered. "April? Are you with Page now?" She asked immediately. "No, sister. Wala pa rin. I'm going so slow sa pag-drive because of this storm. Nag-start na nga po bumaha sa ibang areas so hindi nako tumuloy. I could barely see anything in this rain. I might lose my signal, but I just called to let you know na I'm going to the police station to ask for help para mahanap si Page," April informed her. "What? No April. You can't do that. Baka masabihan tayong negligent at napabayaan nanaman natin si Page. Let me remind you that we asked for their help the last time Page went missing and we almost lost her to another orphanage kung hindi lang nag-bigay witness yung mga sponsors and adoptive families na hindi tayo pabayang orphanage. Ang daming process na we had to go through just so they won't take Page and transfer her to a different facility. We fought so hard for her, remember? Kasi alam natin na at least dito sa orphanage natin she is genuinely loved and taken care of. We care about her so much, para na nga syang anak nating lahat. And if we end up losing her to another place? That might be it for her kasi hindi natin alam if maaalagaan nila ng maayos si Page dun. We already have a warning from the last time she had gone missing. If we file another police report, baka kunin satin si Page permanently. Then she will be placed in a facility who doesn't know her background, how she is and how she acts. Tayo kilalang kilala na natin sya. I'm telling you now, April, mapapabayaan lang sya sa iba," sister Berlin explained. She was already in tears as she remembered the nightmare they all had to go through the last time Page went missing. "Naiintindihan ko po yun, sister. Pero takot na takot na po ako. Kanina pa sya nawawala and we don't even know kung anong oras ba talaga sya umalis. Kung she left after your talk, halos what, four or five hours na yun? Gabi pa nung umalis sya, and it has been raining since then. She could be soaking wet for hours now, magkakasakit yun if we don't ask for help now," April said as she sobbed. Sister Berlin cried with April on the phone. "Okay, April. Go do what you think is best to do," sister Berlin said as she wept. "Okay po, sister. Babalitaan ko po kayo. Balitaan nyo rin po ako kung babalik man sya dyan," April said as she wiped away the tears from her eyes. "Mag-ingat ka," sister Berlin said before they said their goodbyes and hung up. "Ano daw sabi ni April, sister Berlin?" sister Coleen asked worriedly. She and the other nuns have been praying nonstop for Page's safety. They prayed hard that they would find her soon. "Ihanda na natin ang mga sarili natin. Baka alisin na si Page dito at ilipat na sa ibang facility. Mag-fafile na si April ng police report para makatulong ang mga pulis na mahanap si Page. Wala na tayong choice. Yun lang ang paraan para mahanap na natin sya as soon as possible," sister Berlin said with deep sadness in her voice. Sister Coleen bowed her head down as she nodded.

Tears continued to fall from April's eyes as she held her phone and looked outside the window. She looked at the never-ending droplets of rain that hit the windshield. Then, she finally decided to continue driving to the police station. Her heart ache at the possibility that they might take Page away from the orphanage. She sighed as she lowered her car window to look around for any signs of Page. Then her phone rang. Her heart started racing immediately. She pulled over to the side and checked her phone. She frowned when she saw who was calling. It was June. Her heart started racing even more. Please Lord, 'wag naman pagsabayin toh please, she said in her head as she immediately thought June must be calling because she was on the verge of committing suicide. Then she finally answered. "Ate?" April said. Her voice was shaking. She held onto the car door and prepared herself for what June was going to say. "I have her," June said, almost in a mumble. "What, ate? I don't understand," April said, totally confused. "Page. She's with me. I have her," June finally said. April bursted into tears. "Oh my gosh, ate. Asan kayo? Is she okay? Are you okay?" April said as she started the car again. "I'm at the hospital," June said quietly. April was stopped in her tracks. She was hoping she heard June wrong. "Ho—hospital?" She asked. Her head was spinning. She swallowed as she tried to process everything in her mind. "Ate, san yan? I'm going there," April said as she put the phone in between her ears and shoulder. She immediately started driving. June gave her the name of the hospital before they hung up. April sobbed as she drove. Within half an hour, she arrived.