Until Love Fades

21 - Linger.

"I think it would help Damon somehow to remember his memories that way because he can see the place and hear whatever happened there," he continued.

"I think that's a great idea," sagot ni Damon na aking ikinagulat. Hindi ko ine-expect na sasang-ayon siya sa suggestion ng doctor, pero ikinatuwa ko naman din 'yon dahil nagkakaroon ako lalo ng lakas kasi willing mismo si Damon. Tingin ko naman, hindi kami magtutuloy tuloy dito at magpupumilit humanap ng paraan kung hindi game ang asawa ko.

"Well kung payag ka, papayag na rin ako. Baka makatulong ito, wala namang mawawala kung susubukan natin," sagot ko sa kanya. Pinisil niya nang marahan ang kamay kong hawak niya, tapos ngumiti sa'kin.

Nang matapos ang check up ni Damon, inabisuhan lang din kami ng gamot na pwedeng inumin ni Damon sa tuwing sasakit ang ulo niya bigla. Sinabihan din kami ni Dr. Miguel na may mga pagkakataong mawawalan siya ng malay dahil sa epekto ng pag-alala niya ng mga nawawalang memorya.

Palabas na kami ng office ni Dr. Miguel nang tawagin niya ako para kausapin ng personal. Pinauna ko na muna si Damon palabas para maghintay saglit.

"Mrs. Henry, 'di ko na i-sugarcoat ang gusto kong sabihin sa'yo," Dr. Miguel said.

"Why? What's the matter?" kabado kong tanong sa kanya.

"Sa tindi ng impact ng accident sa kanya, oo nga at gumaling na ang brain ni Damon but that does not automatically mean that there is a high chance that his missing memories are going to come back," he explained. "There are cases wherein a patient with amnesia never remembers the missing memories ever. I don't want you to give up on him, but please ready yourself for whatever that might happen... or might not happen."

I sighed. I don't really know what to do anymore. It's like fighting for something that is not even there. I did not respond to him so he decided to continue.

"Don't worry. Basta may trigger sa brain niya, may mga iilang memories siyang maalala, gaya ng mga naalala niya dati," Dr. Miguel said. "Though, don't expect that he'll remember the memories from the recent years. Usually, 'yung mga memories noon 'yung nauunang maalala kasi naka-register na 'yun sa long term memories niya."

I nodded. "There are times when I just don't want to continue hunting down his missing memories, na hayaan na lang namin 'tong bagong pagkatao niya. But I can't do that, I can't give up on him and I don't want to, that's why we'll keep on fighting for this. Hindi kami susuko agad."

Dr. Miguel smiled and patted my shoulder. "That's the spirit. Magtiwala lang kayo."

"Yeah. Tiwala at dasal lang talaga, Doc," sagot ko.

"You may call me Miguel, Mrs. Henry. Matagal tagal pa tayong magkakausap dahil sa kalagayan ng asawa mo, so it's okay to stop calling me by my profession," he said. "We're all professionals here, aren't we? The hospital encourages us to establish a good professional relationship with our clients and patients, so there is no need to worry."

"Okay, Miguel. We'll go ahead. We'll see you again next month," I smiled and bid goodbye to him. I saw Damon outside the Neurosurgery Department, sitting on one of the hospital benches. He smiled and stood immediately after seeing me.

"What did Dr. Miguel say?" Tanong nito. I didn't really want to tell him whatever we talked about, kasi baka maapektuhan siya ng mga sinabi ni Miguel sa'kin, pero ayoko namang itago rin sa kanya 'yon kasi karapatan niya 'yon malaman.

"W-Well, he said that there might be a chance din na baka hindi mo na maalala lahat at all," I told him. A frown immediately appeared on Damon's face, in which I immediately responded by holding his face between my hands.