Flying Without Wings (Del Gallego Series #1)

Chapter 20

To those who have reached here, I want you to know that I appreciate you, and cherish you, and words just couldn't be enough to regard your presence as a giving body for my every word to have space of purpose. It empowered me beyond doing more and that is to break a social silence towards different concerns that had been under stereotypes and ignorance for years. So if ever you continue reading and get to the endpoint of the story, I hope that the lesson won't end there too. I hope you carry it with you. I hope you will start creating a purpose and look up to yourself as a change agent with limitless significance. Thank you so much.

Chapter 20: Wife

Sa kabila siguro ng mga nangyari sa aking nakaraan, isa lang ang ipinapasalamat ko. Iyon ay ang pagkabuhay ng aking anak. My rays of sun in my darkest times. My kind of healing after being bruised, after being robbed of my rights, after the world brought me down to my knees.

He's the reason why I chose to continue living even though every second hurt... even though every memory killed me little by little.

"Oh, God! Don't cry again... Your baby is safe sabi ng doctor. Kaya 'wag ka ng umiyak. Baka mapano pa si baby," nagaalalang boses ng babae ang narinig ko.

Ramdam ko ang paghagod ng palad niya sa ibabaw ng nanginginig kong kamay. I remain holding my baby bump while tears couldn't stop from streaming.

Siya na lang ang meron ako.

Siya na lang ang natitira sa'kin.

Patuloy na nagtataas-baba ang balikat ko sa lihim na paghikbi. Pinipigilan ko iyon ng sobra, dahil inaalala ang sinabi ng doktor na masama iyon sa kalagayan ko ngayon. But I couldn't help it. I am crying just by realizing what happened to us.

Akala ko mawawala rin siya sa akin. Akala ko iiwan niya rin ako. Ngunit kumapit siya. Lumaban ang anak ko sa kabila ng lahat ng pinagdaanan naming dalawa.

"S-Sorry..." I whispered. "I'm sorry, baby... I'm sorry. Mommy almost failed you. I'm... I'm sorry..."

I felt my body so weak and still in so much pain.

"Hey, please, calm down na. Hindi ako aalis sa tabi niyo. Ako muna ang mag-aalaga sa inyo, okay lang ba? Don't worry. No one will hurt you here."

Patuloy kong naririnig ang mala-anghel na boses ng babae na siyang nagligtas sa'min. Nakaupo ito sa gilid ng kamang nauukupahan ko.

"I assure you that. Walang mananakit sa'yo rito..."

Mananakit... I bit my bottom lip as I cried. I remember those people who hurt me. They are all those whom I love and whom I trusted.

I clenched my fist and pulled my hand away from her.

The woman didn't say anything after I did that. I couldn't see her because there was something placed in my eyes.

Tahimik ko lamang din hawak ang tiyan para proteksyonan ang anak.

Noong nalaman ko na maayos ang kalagayan niya sa aking sinapupunan, sapat na iyon para sa akin. Kahit puno ng sugat ang katawan ko. Kahit bugbog sarado. Kahit nanlalata. Kahit nanghihina. Sapat na sa'kin malaman na walang nangyaring masama sa anak ko.

Dahil hindi ko alam ang gagawin kung sakali man sa gitna ng dilim na nakikita, ako na lang ang matitira.

"Hindi ko hahayaang saktan ka ng kung sino man. Kaya magpagaling ka na, hmm? Please, be strong for your baby too. I will be here for you both. Hindi ko kayo iiwan mula ngayon," I heard that woman still as if she didn't noticed me acting distant.

Her voice was gentle. She was even careful in fixing my hospital dress. And while sensing everything she's doing, a new set of tears ran down and that emotion came from the very center of my heart.