Artistry of Love (Abstract Series #3)

Chapter 41

When a husband or wife loses their partner, they are referred to as 'widows,' and when children lose both of their parents, they are addressed as 'orphans.'

Pero kapag ang mga magulang na ang nawalan ng anak, walang tamang salita ang dapat na itawag sa kanila, because no parent was prepared to lose a child.

Processing the documents that show my son's death has me on the verge of insanity.

Si Riley dapat ang maglilibing sa amin sa panahong kami ang mamamatay. Hindi itong ganito. Hindi itong kami ang maglilibing sa kanya. I simply find it impossible to accept this. Napakasakit.

Hindi ko kayang tanggapin na isa ito sa mga plano ng Diyos. What did my son do? He had a good heart and always saw the positive in people and things. Bakit sa dami ng mga masasamang tao sa mundo, ang anak ko pa ang dapat mawala?

I wish God had the fortitude to respond to my query because I simply could not accept the way He had wrongfully taken my baby from me... from us.

"Bakit daw namatay 'yong bata?"

"Inatake sa puso habang tulog."

I fiercely closed my eyes when I overheard a conversation behind me. Masakit tanggapin pero oo, inatake sa puso si Riley habang tulog. He left just as I was beginning to believe he was steadily improving and my hopes were once again soaring.

Hindi ako makatulog. For me, even eating was difficult. My system was unable to function because the pain I was experiencing was simply too powerful.

My gaze shifted from the casket to Trip, who was entertaining the visitors. Hindi ko alam kung paano niya nakakaya na makipag-usap sa ibang tao. Because it was too exhausting for me to even look at them.

Kumpleto kaming lahat ngayon. Ang mga relatives namin ni Trip at ang mga kaibigan namin. But I'm not happy with it. It's not the reconciliation I was hoping for.

Not at the wake for my son.

"Namumutla ka. Get some rest," sabi ni mommy nang makaupo siya sa tabi ko.

I shook my head. Ayaw ko iwanan si Riley dito. I want to stay by his side forever.

"W-What about the hotel's decorations? Her voice trembled as if it were difficult for her to utter. "I am waiting for your indication to take them down."

Galit akong bumaling sa kanya. "No. Please, no." Paulit-ulit akong umiling. "Riley coveted those decorations. Ice-celebrate pa niya ang birthday niya, 'di ba?"

I smiled the moment my mother hugged me while crying.

"My baby is turning fifteen!" I exclaimed. Napatingin ang ibang tao sa direksyon namin. "I'm sure he will be pleased to see our preparations."

"Oh, Ely," Mommy cried.

Lumapit si Trip sa amin. He forced me to look his way by grabbing my shoulder. Halata sa mukha niya ang pagod. Hinawi niya ang mga hibla ng buhok na nakaharang sa mukha ko.

"Love, come on. Pahinga ka muna." His tone sounded almost begging.

"No, Trip." Nagsimula akong humikbi. "Ayaw kong matulog, kasi alam ko na pagkagising ko, mapapagtanto ko na naman na wala na si Riley. W-Wala na ang baby natin."

As tears started to gather in his eyes, he nibbled on his bottom lip. Umiwas siya ng tingin at niyakap ako ng mahigpit, hinahagod ang likod ko. Hindi ko na alam pa ang mga sunod na nangyari dahil ang huli kong natandaan ay pinainom nila ako ng tubig at nawalan ako ng malay.

I opened my eyes to find the outside already black. Mulhang hinaluan nila ng sleeping pill ang tubig na pinainom nila sa akin.

It made no difference, though, because the fatigue persisted. Ito kasi 'yong pagod na hindi sa pisikal. It was the kind of exhaustion that sleep couldn't cure.