Closing Time

6

D

"Hi, good morning, Deanna. I'm Dr. Alvarez." a middle-aged man in white coat entered my room.

"Good morning, doc." Jema greeted him.

"Oh, you're here pala, Dr. Galanza. I'll just check her ha?"

"Sure, doc. Labas lang po ako."

Well, maybe for privacy kay lumabas si Jema. I really dont know. Gusto ko sana nandito siya...

"How are you feeling, Deanna?"

"I'm okay naman, doc."

"How's your sleep?"

"Its good, doc. Nakatulog naman ako ng maayos kagabi."

"That's good to hear. Your breathing?"

"I'm all good, doc."

"Okay, I can see. You had 2 panic attacks yesterday according here." tinaas niya yung hawak niyang clipboard.

"I'm just scared. I don't like being here."

"Why? Did you experience anything bad in a hospital? Bad memories? You can tell me."

I dont think if I'm ready to talk about it.

Ang sakit na naman... Parang bumabalik lang ulit lahat...

Hindi ko alam sasabihin ko.. Ayoko siyang sagutin.

"Okay, I'll come back again, I hope you're ready to talk about it by that time, Deanna. You need to let it go. We will help you here, pero ikaw pa din mismo ang makakatulong sa sarili mo. Dont let it consume you. Take care of yourself."

Pag labas niya, siya namang pasok ni Jema.

"Baby, are you okay?" tanong niya agad sakin.

"Of course, baby. Who is Dr. Alvarez? Siya ba yung attending physician ko for my leg?"

"No, baby.. I'll be your attending physician... He's just here for extra care and support."

"Extra care? I read on his coat, he's a psychiatrist. I don't need him, Jema. I'm not crazy."

Nilapitan na niya ko at umupo sa couch sa tabi ng bed ko.

"I know, baby, hindi naman ibig sabihin non ganon. Baby, tell me everything, so, I can help you. Nag aalala ako sa mga panic attacks mo."

"Jema, just don't leave me, please. Stay with me."

"Nandito lang ako, Deanna. Di kita iiwan." niyakap na niya ako.

"How's my leg pala, baby? Anong dapat gawin." tanong ko sa kanya.

"Well, based dun sa lab results mo, baby.. Hindi nag heal ng maayos yung leg mo, tapos na stress na agad, ginamit mo na agad. Its a displaced fracture, baby.."

"Anong need gawin, baby?"

"I need to do some surgery, para ma-align ulit yung displaced bone sa loob, baby.. I promise, to do it perfectly, baby.."

"Surgery again... Haaaaay..." eto na naman... Pag dadaanan ko na naman to..

"Baby, wag ka matakot. Makakalakad ka ulit, do you trust me ba?"

"I trust you, Jema... Kailan ba?"

"Aayusin ko lang yung request. And if tomorrow, normal pa din breathing mo, pwede ko na gawin yung surgery."

"Okay, baby..."

So, I need to be stable for the surgery...

Pano ko gagawin yun kung nandito ako?