I rushed to get my son out of school and too the hospital. "I'm looking for Bella Reyes room." I asked the charge nurse on the third floor.
"Are you family?" I nodded. "She's in room 319."
"Thank you." I grabbed my son's elbow as I walked hurriedly to the room. I stepped into the room. The room was loud and filled with all her siblings, neices, nephews, grand neices and nephews. They sat around her laughing.
"You remember that time we had that party. She never know what firecrackers were. So when we lit one, she wen drop 'em!" My uncle laughed. *She almost burned down the garage! Mamang was so mad!" He giggled as he looked at her. I walked around the room greeting my family.
Then I got to her bed. The tubes in her mouth, her arms.... I winced as I looked at her. Her skin was grayed. The woman that would light up the room... Was dim. My hand grazed her cheek. I held her hand. "Aunty" I choked out. "I dreamed of you today."
"I don't look my best today." I turned to the voice. She stood to my right. *My sister should put make up on me." Fuck am I losing it? I thought and looked back at my aunt Bella. "I know you see me, anak. Don't say anything just listen."
"Elle, it's okay. She's not going to be in pain any more. She can't feel anything." My cousin Eve said.
"That's a lie. I feel everything. The pain killers aren't working anymore. I'm ready to let go but I'm waiting." I looked around and realized her son wasn't there. What is happening to me? I sat listening to stories.
The room door burst inwards. My cousin rushed to her bed. "Mom!" The room went silent as we all watched my cousin breakdown. I watched the incorporeal form of my aunt reached out to touch his shoulder. Her physical body gasped for air. Her eyes fluttered open. "My son.... I love you."
"I love you too Mom. I promise I'll be good." He choked out as he held her hand to his cheek. "I love you... It's okay." As he said that, she gasped one last time and she was gone.
