Me & You: Between Life And Death (COMPLETE)

Chapter 43

Nine Months later...

I'm just standing near at side of the entrance of the backstage of the Erville Arena Theatre - waiting for my name to be called. I feel like running a marathon that doesn't even started yet. When the host came over at the stage, glanced at me and smiled - that's certainly my awaited signal.

"Everyone, let's welcome... Miss Betryle Claire Harte!"

From the backstage, I could hear the round of applause of the crowd, swamping with a warm welcome. I took a deep breath before I went on my way towards the stage.

I'm wearing a white crop top blouse with an elbow bishop sleeves and a high-waisted black jeans below paired with my ankle strap pump shoes. I'm comfortable with what I'm wearing that's why it's easy for me to walk nonchalantly towards the center podium.

"Good morning, everyone!" Masaya kong bati at lahat sila'y nagpalakpakang muli. My hair is in ballerina bun - but there are light strands left just for design purposes.

"Grabe! You guys are so amazing!"

I stood agape, amazed - surprised for all the people who really participated in this event. This is a concert for a cause collaborated by Inter-Church Fellowship, N2S Ministry and The IVOS Band.

"So, yeah, first of all... I really thank the Lord for giving me this opportunity to... stand and testify here in front of you. I really can't imagine that after all those years of finding my purpose, here I am..." I put my hand on my jean's back pocket and took a deep breath. I've been doing this for almost half of a year pero sobrang kinakabahan pa rin ako.

"Let me enlighten all of you. I was diagnosed of having a brain tumor eight years ago, and you know, that moment... I was hopeless... I was in deep agony, pain and doubt including complains... No words could lift up my spirit... I almost wanted to give up. Sabi ko... 'Pagod na ako. Ayoko na.' 'Why it has to be me? Why Lord?'"

Lumapit ako sa pulpit as I face all of them with so much courage flowing in my veins. Gusto kong makita at maintindihan nila ang punto ng nais kong sabihin.

"My doctor said that I only have six months to live... so I made sure that I will not spend my remaining time at the hospital... then one night, I just woke up, realized that... I want to do something... something worthwhile before I die...  So, yeah. I went to Afghanistan for a mission trip, helped those children and families out there..."

"To make my story short, I flew to Afghanistan, there was an earthquake, I was trapped inside the tunnel, hit my head into a rock, lost my memories, I'm healed, my tumor is gone, then went back in the Philippines, meet my new life and trying to live normally again. Who would have thought that the earthquake wiped my memories away... including my sickness? Yeah. God's miracle. I am healed by God's grace..." I took a deep breath, cleared my throat and looked down.

"But still, I wasn't satisfied at all... because my questions were always coming back - 'How can I live this life that I don't even know how to live in? Sino ba si Betryle? Sino ba 'ko? Ano bang dapat kong gawin? Paano ba ako mabubuhay?' Those questions have been running over and over in my head especially when I went back in the Philippines. Remembering nothing? That sucks! Really sucks!" I watched all of their faces as they remained themselves silent and carefully listening to every words that I'm going to say.

"So, it doesn't end with that... I always had these tortuous dreams, headache, heartache, sleepless nights and anxiety... It was really painful. I'm telling you all of this because I want you to know that... God's not done with you. He's still writng my story, your story... Our story. Hanggang nabubuhay ka... there's hope..." I smiled as I hold my breath for a second and sighed heavily.