UNTIL YOU : Hezekiah & China (Ongoing)

UNTIL YOU 1: HEZEKIAH

“Mama.”

Hezekiah whispered in between his cupped hands at the head part of the wood body his mom’s new enclosed bed had.

“Mama, estoy aqui.” (Mama andito ako)

Hezekiah felt a gentle hand rumple through his hair. Ang papa niya.

Heath kneeled on one knee beside Hezekiah. Namamaga ang  mata nito.

“Go on son.”

He didn’t say anything afterwards. He just silently encouraged Hezekiah to go on with what he was doing.

Alanganing bumulong ulit si Hezekiah habang palipat-lipat ang tingin nito sa papa niya at sa kahoy na higaan kung nasaan nasa loob ang mama niya.

“Levantate.” (Bangon na mama)

Lumingon si Hezekiah sa paligid at nagtataka kung bakit halos lahat ng taong nakita niyang dumalaw sa mama niya noong mga nakaraang araw ay nandoon na naman. Nagiiyakan sila sa paligid ng higaan ng mama niya. Kataka-taka din para sa anim na taong gulang na bata kung bakit nilabas mula sa simbahan ang kama ng mama niya at pinunta sa maliit na bahay na iyon na walang kagamitan kundi maraming bulaklak o kaya isang marmol lang na semento lamang sa gitna.

Tinignan muli ni Hezekiah ang papa niya na laging namumula ang mata. Finally with all the happenings around them Heath gathered Hezekiah in his arms and lifted him up so he could see Venice.

Hezekiah watched happily as Venice lay inside the coffin like a sleeping princess just like those animated ones that he’d already seen on tv and books.

Her bald head was wrapped artistically with a white beaded and pearled turban clipped with a Rose Swarovski pin on the side. The long sleeved white dress covered her bruised and tattered skin along her thin arms that he’d seen before in the hospital.

Hezekiah leaned down and reached for Venice but only encountered cold glass that the coffin had forever separating them. Hezekiah felt something wet on his arms only to find out that they’re from his father. Pumapatak ng tahimik ang mga luha ng ama niya kasabay ng mga luha ng sa lola niya at sa lahat ng taong nandoon. All of them listened to the priest beside them holding the bible.

      “John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;  and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Hinawakan ng Papa niya ang higaan ng Mama niya. His hands reached out Venice and touched her face through the glass.

“We’ll come every day, if not every week, for each year, of the rest of my life... till the day I die.”

Mabigat ang kamay na bumitaw si Heath sa mama niya at bumulong sa pisnging matambok ni Hezekiah. Heath kissed him from time to time.“Nasa Heaven na si Mama anak.”

Nagulat si Hezekiah ng makita na naglulupasay ang lola niya sa gilid habang kinakausap ang mama niya. Sa bandang huli inilabas na rin ito sa bahay na iyon ng tuluyan kasama ang mga bisita nang isasara na ang takip ng kama ng mama niya. For a fleeting moment Hezekiah saw his mom smile before she was finally out of sight.

“Uuwi na tayo Hezekiah. Maiiwan si mama dito.” Sa wakas sabi ni Heath sa kanya.

Unti-unti na siyang iginigiya palabas ni Hezekiah. Ah! Ang maliit na bahay pala na iyon ang heaven.