Fighting Cancer (EulBert)

Epilogue

Two years later...

Albert's POV

I'm now at the cemetery, waiting for my family. Nauna ako umalis sa bahay kasi I needed to go to my office to get something.

I texted my eldest daughter, Alex. I told them na nandito na 'ko and she replied naman agad. Sabi niya malapit na sila.

"It's been two years, Sweetheart. Two long years yet I still miss you." I wiped the tears the fell down my cheeks.

"Alam mo, walang gabi na hindi kita inisip. I miss your hugs, your laughter, your smile, your kisses, your paglalambing. In short, I miss everything about you." I said as I traced her name.

Silence filled the area. I just found myself crying silently in front of her grave when someone tapped my shoulder.

I looked at her and she sat beside me. No one dared to talk but I felt that she was crying.

I wrapped his arms around her as she leaned towards me.

"Why did she have to save me?" My wife asked.

"Because she loves you.." I answered but she didn't respond.

Two years ago, on the same day of Eula's operation, Julie was hit by a truck. She was announced dead on arrival and the doctors couldn't revive her anymore. Nalaman lang namin, patay na siya. May puting tela sa ibabaw niya.

At first I didn't want to believe that it was my daughter hanggang sa nakita ko 'yung bangkay. The people who saw the accident told us na lumabas si Julie galing sa simbahan sa tapat ng hospital at nung tumawid siya, dun siya nasagasaan ng truck. It was really tragic kasi naipit siya ng mga gulong nito. At kung iisipin mo, wala ng makakasurvive kapag ganon.

It's been two hours since pumasok si Eula. And so far, wala pa namang komplikasyon o kahit anong problema sa surgery. No one was talking.

Ang nandito lang kami ng mga anak ko, Dawn, Richard, Kristin, and Eula's mom.

I was in deep thoughts when my youngest Julie, asked permission dahil may bibilhin siya saglit sa baba. "D-dad? Can I go down muna? Babalik din po agad ako,"

"Where are you going? Nasa operasyon ang Mommy mo, we need you here," I answered.

"May bibilhin lang ako sa baba. I'll be here before you know it," Julie hugged her dad and whispered, "I know kakayanin to ni Mom. I love you, Dad. Always." I just nodded and thought na baka may bibilhin lang sa canteen sa baba or something.

After about an hour of waiting again, I wasn't able handle it anymore!! Magtatalong oras na nang ipasok nila si Eula dun, ni wala pa silang balita kay Eula.

Sakto naman, a surgical intern went out of the OR. Tumayo agad ako para lumapit sa kanya. "Ma'am, ano na po lagay ng asawa ko?" I asked worriedly.

"So far, wala pa naman pong complications sa surgery. Everything's quite going well and stabled naman ang vital signs ni Mrs. Mar -" she was cut off when a nurse was rushing out of the OR.

Sinundan ko siya ng tingin and pumunta siya sa nurse station's telephone and called the blood bank, "We need 2 bags of O negative to the OR for patient Martinez, stat!"

That's when I started to panic. Parang nagslow motion lahat. May sinabi yung intern pero 'di ko na narinig. "What's happening to my wife?" I asked the woman in front of me pero umalis na siya.

Sinubukan kong sumunod sa kanya sa loob pero pinigilan ako ni Richard.

When I turned back, I saw my daughters crying while hugging their lola. Lahat kami nangingig.