Funeral for the Butterflies

ACT 1

I slowly opened my tired lids, sun rays automatically hitting my eyes causing me to cover them with my arm. My body was heavy and I hardly could move. 'Did I drink too much again?' I sighed, turning to my side staring at the black tuxedo hanging on the cabinet. I broke out a smile. 'That's today. That's right.'

I forced myself to stand; I could feel my head pulsing, my vision turning. I stood over the cabinet, as I stare straight at what was hanging in there. I slowly tugged on my chest; a few tears flowed out of my eye.

I could vividly remember what happened that day...

'This can't be true' is what I thought. I took a few deep breaths, trying to explain to myself what was happening and what should be the logical explanation of everything.

It was raining hard that it drenched my clothes as I arched my body to protect the person who was lying in my lap from the rain. I was gripping tightly at his blood-smeared hand, muttering 'you're going to be fine' softly.

We were in the middle of the right lane of the road and everyone was making a fuss.

We were involved in a side-sweep hit-and-run accident. And the person lying in the ground, Tine, was supposed to be me.

I heard the sky rumble as thunder roared, followed by a flash of lightning. People started coming over, their faint mutters echoing through my ears. "Pl...please... ambulance." I huffed, my head spinning of confusion as I turn to the people around.

A guy came forward and checked on Tine, he was wearing casual clothes. He turned to me, "I'm a nurse..." he said when he saw the suspicion in my eyes. He placed two of his fingers to Tine's wrist while he checked his wrist watch - probably checking his pulse. He began furrowing his brows and shaking his head.

I grabbed his collar, staining it red. "Wh...what's happening?" my voice trembled as I asked.

He took a deep breath before sighing, "His pulse is getting weaker." he said turning to the mass of people who were already surrounding the scene, "When will the ambulance come?"

"Someone already called the ambulance." I heard from the group of people who were around checking what was happening, "How about him, is he okay?"

I gave a slight nod on my head retreating from collar-grabbing the nurse, turning back to Tine. 'Tine, don't go to sleep yet. It's going to be fine.' I kept whispering to him, his breathing turning shallower by every minute.

A few minutes came by and finally... the ambulance's sirens echoed down the streets and there was a simultaneous breathes of relief from the people around. "The ambulance is here, nong." I heard one guy say, "You can let go of his hand now."

I firmly shook my head, gripping on Tine's hand tightly. "Nong, you need to be treated to, your brother will be fine. The ambulance is here."

'HE ISN'T MY BROTHER' -is what I wanted to say but instead, I closed my mouth shut and just ignored the guy. There's no way I'm going to let go of this hand - even if it costs me my very life.

'The stretcher!' I heard a guy call from a distance and in an instant, the people around made way for a group of white-uniformed people to come. Together with them were first-aid equipments, I held my breath and slowly let go of the hand I was holding, collapsing in the ground hearing only faint gasps from the people around.

I awoke with the strong smell of alcohol and a sharp sting on my body. I took a deep breath and sat up, panning my eyes to the entirety of the room. There were busybodies; doctors together with nurses were rushing over the patients that were continuously rushed inside the room. I sighed, gently rubbing the back of my head; 'Why am I here?' I asked myself, trying to move my arm. 'Tine, where's Tine?' I softly muttered, turning my head back and forth when I realized that my wrist was connected to the IV that was hanged just beside the bed. I hissed and pulled the needle off my arm, standing up to look for Tine.