The Child

CHAPTER 9

I HEARD how the clock ticking at my ears.. Only the ticking of the clock is the only sound that i can hear that moment while looking at where my daughter is lying... Nagkakagulo ang tao sa paligid niya and i can see from her that they were shouting and panicking pero hindi ko marinig ang sinasabi nila... All i can see was my daughters body lying at the ground with a blood at her nose.

"Tulong iyong bata nawalan ng malay!" Hiyaw mula sa gilid ko dahilan para magising ako sa reyalidad saka pa lamang nagkaroon ng sariling boses at lakas para tumakbo patungo sa lugar na iyon...

"Lhira! Lhira!" Hiyaw ko at agad-agad sumalampak ng upo para buhatin siya... I heard the ambulance noise already kaya naman agad siyang naidala sa hospital.. I was crying loud while holding her cold hands praying and talking in her to open her eyes pero nakarating na kami sa hospital ay wala akong nakuhang tugon sa kaniya...

"Maam hindi na po kayo pwedeng pumasok sa loob hanggang dito na lang po kayo" harang sa akin ng isang nurse ng makarating sa Emergency room... I was trembling that moment and crying habang sinusundan ng tingin ang stretcher na kinalalagyan ng anak ko hanggang sa tuluyan na itong mawala sa paningin ko at sumara ang pinto...

Nanginginig ang kamay na idinial ko ang number ni Alex but he didnt answer so i dialed again pero hindi talaga ito sumasagot... I cursed so hard and throw my phone dahilan para magkawatak watak ang parte nito sa sahig...

I heard a tick of heels nearing me and i saw Ness running on my way.

"What the hell happened Liyah?!"bulyaw nito ng makalapit na tanging iling lang ang nagawa kong isagot...

"I-I dont know.. She was just playing a while ago but then.. S-She.. S-She passed out" mahina at naiiyak kong sagot habang inaalala muli ang nangyari kanina...Napahilamos ito sa muka at hinawakan ako ng mahigpit sa magkabilang balikat saka niyugyog ng makala..

"D*mn Liyah! Ano bang ginagawa mo sa loob ng apat na buwan at hindi mo nagawang alamin man lang kung anong nangyayari sa anak mo! Sinabihan na kita pero ano itong ginawa mo?!" Bulyaw nito but i keep silent and just accept her curses at me... Natigil lang ito ng bumukas ang pinto.. Agad-agad akong kumalas sa hawak niya at sinalubong ang doktor na lumabas mula doon...

"Who is the parent of the patient?" Tanong nito ng makita ang paglapit ko..

"I-Im here mother.. Anong lagay ng anak ko Doc? Ayos lang ba siya?" Umiiyak kong tanong expecting a positive response but then i receive a harsh sigh from the doctor..

"You daughter has Brain tumor ija.. It was stage four already that caused her to passed out and bleed. As of now she was stable but still comatose.. Just wait for 24 hours for her to wake up" diretso nitong pahayag na ikinatigil ng mundo ko at ikinalaglag ng mga balikat ko...

Things sink in me right now... Nanlalaki ang lumuluhang mga mata na nakatingin ako sa Doktor na may malungkot na tingin para sa akin...

"Ready your self for acceptance ija... You know that 5% of people has that illness only survived right? Not even 1/8 of 100% so be prepare" he sadly said and lightly tap my shoulder bago umalis...

Tulala lang akong nakatintin sa saradong pinto ng Emergency room.

"W-What the hell?" Rinig kong naisatinig ni Nesssa gilid ko... Nasasaktan at nanghihina ang pakiramdam ko ng mga oras na iyon dahil sa natanggap na balita... Hindi ko na alam kung ano pang gagawin ko... I just found my self slowly falling at the cold tiled floor of the hospital.

"Oh my gosh! Liyah f*ck! Nurseee! Nurse!" Huling narinig ko bago ako tuluyang nawalan ng malay.

"When?...

Kailan?...

Kailan ko huling kinamusta ang anak ko simula ng maghiwalay kami ni Alex?

Why it should be this hard?...

Hindi pa ako tapos sa unang problema at sakit pero bakit heto na naman ang panibagong pait?"

...i was walking in darkness.. No light but only my self.. I can see my self walking with a white long dress at this dark place wherein no one can be seen... It was foggy and smoky yet i manage to see my self...

I saw how i ran towards a light that i see from a far... And when i reached it...

I saw a stone and there...

My angel was sitting... Playing with a butterfly who is currently flying around her...

Nakangiti ito at masayang nakatingin sa paru-parung nagpapaikot-ikot na lumilipad sa harap nito.. Like me.. She was also wearing a white plain dress and a cute white hair band on her head like a princess.

Maliwanag ang lugar kung nasaan siya at tila nagliliwanag ang mismong siya... Her eyes met mine and she smiled at me..

"Mommy kanina pa kita hinihintay e-"

"LIYAH! LIYAH!"

Malakas akong napahugot ng hininga ng magising mula sa isang panaginip lang pala... I was gasping of air to fill my needy lungs while crying because of my dream...

I know what was that dream is all about... And im scared... Really scared for it... Alam kong ipinapahiwatig ng panaginip na iyon na iiwan na ako ng tuluyan ni Lhira..

I quickly ran out of the room where i was and headed her room kahit pa narinig ko ang hiyaw ng kaibigan ko.

Hindi siya pupwedeng mawala sa akin.. Hindi niya din ako pupwedeng iwan... I wont allow it to happen... Not this lifetime.. Not for another lifetime...

I rushed to her room and quickly hold her hand as if it was for the last time.. Up until now hindi pa din ito nagigising.. I cant wait to see her opened her eyes and talk to her.. Ask her if she was alright or what...

"Oh god.. Please not my baby.. Lhirah.. Wake up now please.. Mommy wants to see you and talk you you.. Please open your eyes now i want to talk to you please baby.. Please tell me your okay" i was crying at the moment while saying those words more on begging ng pumasok si Ness at bahagya akong hinila palabas doon.

My weak body easily pulled out from the room.

"F*ck  Liyah! Really?! Magbebreak down ka sa tabi ng anak mo? Nag-iisip ka pa ba?! Lalong panghihinaan ng loob iyong bata kung ganiyan ka!"bulyaw nito but every words  she say hindi man lang nagpoprocess sa isip ko.. I was already blocked out words from other.. Hindi ko na alam kung ano ang dapat kong isipin pa...

I was lost already....