See Through

-4-

N/P: Tagpuan by Moira dela Torre

♪♪Di, Di ko inakalang darating din sa akin (I did not expect it to come.)
Nu'ng ako'y nanalangin kay Bathala (When I prayed to God,)
naubusan ng bakit (I lost all the 'why's')
Bakit umalis nang walang sabi? (Why did he go without saying anything?)
Bakit di siya lumaban kahit konti? (Why didn't he fight even a little?)
Bakit di maitama ang tadhana (Why can't I turn my fate right?)

At nakita kita sa tagpuan ni Bathala (Until I saw you in God's shrine)
May kinang sa mata na di maintindihan (You have this kind of sparkle in your eyes)
Tumingin kung saan, sinubukan kong lumisan (I looked at the place where I tried to leave)
At tumigil ang mundo (and my world stopped)
Nung ako'y tinuro mo sa panalangin ko (when you showed me the answers to my prayers) ♪♪

"Slowly open your eyes... the light may slightly be uncomfortable..."

My mom's hands are tightly holding both of mine. I can feel her heavy breathing.

I felt the all the bandages are removed, but I kept my eyes shut.

"Luna, darling, open your eyes," my mom breathlessly whispered.

I obeyed, but my heart is beating so loudly. I opened my eyes a bit, then slowly I opened them wide. I wrinkled my eyes because of the light, but they gradually adjusted.

The first face I saw was my Mom's. I smiled at her. "Mommy."

Mom's tears welled up her eyes and hugged me as the Dr. Kang and the nurses clap their hands. I saw Klara and she gave me a small finger heart.

"Thank you Dr. Kang," I released myself from Mom's hug and hugged the doctor. The nurses shook my hand, while Klara gave me the tightest hug.

"You have to rest for two more weeks here, then you can go home." Dr. Kang turned to Mom and explained about my medicine.

Klara sat beside me and put an arm around me. "Here, my little gift." She handed me a box.

I hastily opened it. A mint green Instax camera! "Oh, Klara! Thank you very much for this!"

"That's mine, back in college, but I'm not using it." She hugged me again.

"I'll use it well," I said, then took her photo. "You'll be the first photo in my photobook."

"Well that's an honor!" she laughed. Then she stood. The doctor and my mom are busy talking. "I'll head out to my station."

"Okay, see ya." I blew her a kiss.

I stood and went to Dr. Kang. They looked at me, "Can I go upstairs?"

"Where?" Mom asked.

"To my friend," I said. I saw Mom gave Dr. Kang a meaningful look, but when the doctor nodded, she agreed.

"Don't take it too long," she said.

"Promise," I pulled my IV stand with me and went out.

It has been one week since I had that trip outside with Skye. I wonder how he had been. Well, honestly, I am a bit resentful towards him. He knows my room yet he did not even visit me. But I am more worried. What if he was too ill to come? I hope not. I have so many things to tell him. It might be a but cringey to say, but he was the first one I thought of when I woke up after that day, and the doctor said they got me a donor. That was the happiest day of my life. And I want to share that with Skye. I mean, he had given me so much strength and hope. I wanted to treat him to lunch and get to have another fortune cookie with him.

I got out of the elevator and pushed my IV stand in front of me. I saw Skye on the room just above mine, so it will not be difficult to find me.

Room 4006. There it is.

I knocked on the door. After a while, someone opened, and it was an elderly man in his 60s, wearing a hospital gown.

He smiled at me, "Yes, miss?"

"I... uhm I'm Luna Allison, I thought it was Skye's room?"

"Skye?" he frowned, then he pointed at the name on the side of the door. "My name is Alfred Smith and I am the patient here."

"Oh, I'm sorry.." I bowed a little. "Sorry to disturb you.."

"I heard the previous patient here is gone."

I frowned. I was about to ask a question when he shut his door.

Oh well. Maybe I heard it wrong. I went back. Then I saw Klara rushing towards me.

"Luna! Thank goodness," she took my IV stand from me and pulled me to walk with her. She led me to sit on one of the waiting benches. "Dr. Kang told me where you're going."

"I went to see Skye, but it seems he's left." I pouted, looking at the room, "He didn't even tell me."

I heard sniffs and I was surprised when I looked at Klara. "Hey, why are you crying?"

She shook her head and wiped her eyes. "I'm just... I'm just..." then hanging the rest of her sentences, she hugged me.

"Why? Klara is there something wrong?" My heart raced and I thought of Mom, "Is it about my mom?"

She released me, then wiped my eyes, "No. She's fine." She breathed deeply to calm herself, then took something from her pocket. She handed me the paper.

"What's this?"

"Read it."

~
Hi!

If you are reading this letter, then I have succeeded with my last wish. I remembered when I learned that I am seriously ill. Cancer of the lungs. And I even do not smoke. Well, my brother used to, but I don't think that is the reason. I was probably just unlucky. Let me tell you something about myself.

I am a senior student, doesn't have many friends, but I have one best friend. My brother. I also have another close friend, and I can say I'm proud to have protected her. You see, there are very few things I can be proud of myself. So... I decided that I want to give whatever I can even when my end come. It was a bit sad to learn how the cancer may have affected my liver and kidneys. So I thought, why don't I gift my eyes? And there I was, signing a petition that before my last heartbeat, the doctors have to get my eyes and give them to whoever needs them. And that is you.

Those eyes are yours now. I am glad that I have helped you see the world better. Do you know about the saying 'diamonds shine in the dark'? Well, that is not true. A diamond doesn't shine in the dark. It needs a source of light to sparkle...

--I gasped. My tears fell, wetting the paper I am holding.

...I can say I am that source of light for you. I wanted to see you and know you but sadly, I can't. Please shine and be whatever you want to be.

Wishing all the best...

I clasped my hands when I read the name. I looked at Klara.

Klara nodded, "He is your donor. Remember when you wake up the next day and the doctor said you have a donor? You told me you wanted to see your friend. I asked you who he was and you said his name is Skye. You said... he's in room 4006."

I nodded.

"Ally, the guy on room 4006 has been in coma for almost a month. So I really can't believe what you say. That same guy, he was brought to the ER the same day you had your operation. Your eyes... you got them from him."

Hearing these, I felt like cold water was poured all over me. No, it can't be...

"Ally, he's not Skye." Klara held my hand.

"His name is Kiko Avila."