A Walk To Forever

Chapter 1

"I'm so sorry to say, but you have been diagnosed with neurogenic dystrophy,"

Huh?

The doctor's words hung heavy in the air, sinking into my consciousness like a weight too heavy to bear. Para akong nabuhusan ng malamig na tubig dahil sa sinabi niya.

My mind went blank, hindi matanggap ang lahat ng naririnig. Neurogenic dystrophy. The words echoed in my mind, sending shivers down my spine. Alam ko 'to, nakita ko na 'to sa mga medical dramas, nabasa sa mga textbooks, and I've seen people suffer from this but I never thought it would be me.

Ayos lang ako, maayos ako pero bakit 'to?

As I lay there, struggling to make sense of it all, memories of my mother's battle with illness flooded my mind. I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread, a fear of following in her footsteps.

Questions swirled in my mind, but I couldn't find the words to ask them. How long did I have? What would happen to me? Would I ever be able to live a normal life again? Magagaya ba ako kay mama?

No. I won't be like her. I refuse to be like her.

"So, what will happen to me now, Doc?" I finally managed to croak out, my voice barely above a whisper.

The doctor's expression softened as he met my gaze, his eyes reflecting both empathy and concern. "I won't sugarcoat it—neurogenic dystrophy is a challenging condition to treat. We'll do everything we can to support you, but it's important to be realistic about what to expect."

"Oh..."

"But, given the severity of your condition, I recommend that you stay in the hospital for now," he said gently. "We need to monitor your symptoms closely and make adjustments to your treatment plan as needed."

My heart sank at the thought of being confined to a hospital bed indefinitely. "But what about work?" I blurted out, the worry evident in my voice. "I can't just leave my job, and my dad—he's a lawyer, he's always so busy..."

The doctor nodded understandingly. "I understand your concerns, but your health needs to be your top priority right now," he said firmly. "Your employer should be understanding given the circumstances, and we can work with your father to ensure you have the support you need."

"Thank you, Doc. And please, don't tell Dad just yet," I requested, mustering a brave smile despite the weight of the situation pressing down on me. Tito Francis, the doctor, is one of my father's oldest friends, and their bond spans back to high school. I know he'll eventually find out, but I want to be the one to explain it to him when I have the chance. Dad has a big case coming up, and I don't want to add to his worries.

"Think about it, okay? It's for the best, Maya, and please, you can call me Tito. It's not like we were strangers," the doctor added gently, his words offering a glimmer of reassurance amidst the uncertainty.

I nodded, grateful for his understanding and guidance. "I will, Tito," I promised, though deep down, I knew that prioritizing my health would require making difficult decisions and sacrifices.

Nang makaalis si Tito Francis sa room ko, I took a deep breath and thought about his offer, I knew that I had a lot to consider. But there's one thing that I'm certain of, Hindi ko 'to matatakasan. It was time to face it head-on and take the necessary steps to ensure my well-being, even if it meant putting other aspects of my life on hold.

I was lost in thought when the door creaked open, at Ibinuga no'n si Kyle. His presence brought a sense of comfort, a reminder that I wasn't facing this battle alone.