That quick momentum of breathless regrets after every birthday that sinks in the day after you blow your candles and another age passes by in a snap. On her 26th birthday, Kath wanted to stop the numbing pain of regrets and misfortunes-- her forever...
This is a work of fiction. The names, characters, business, places, events, and incidents are purely the product of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual person, may it be living or dead or situations or events are entirely coincidental.
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It is always the smell of fresh linen bed sheets, and the aroma of my sandalwood candle that really makes me relax after my 8 hour shift in the hospital. I currently work as a nurse at our local and government funded hospital here in Mandaluyong after my grandmother had COVID-19 last year.
My lola used to live in Bicol, but after my lolo died, she had no one left to be with. During the pandemic, both of my parents resided in Cavite along with my siblings, while I had to stay in Manila to finish my studies. Lola and I are really close so I offered to take care of her, especially after what happened last year.
Mag-isa, walang kasama at malungkot ang naging buhay niya noong nagkaroon nang tinamaan siya ng COVID. Kahit papaano ay mabuti din palang may mga chismosang kang kapit-bahay dahil sila na mismo ang tumawag sa akin para ibalitang may sakit daw si lola dahil isang linggo nang hindi nalabas ng bahay.
When I heard that, kinabahan ako. Akala ko ay nadulas ang ulo habang naliligo at naagnas na ang katawan o kaya naman ay binangungot-- sobrang negative ko lang palang mag-isip. Ayun pala ay pagkatapos niya raw mamalengke para sakanyang isang linggong stock ay bigla nalang daw siyang nilagnat, kumati ang lalamunan, at nahirapang huminga.
Nabanas lang ako noong hindi sya kaagad tumawag ng ambulansya dahil nahihiya raw siya sa gagastusin namin nila mama, lalo pa't nawalan din ng trabaho si papa netong pandemya. Kaya naman, hulog ng langit, noong gumaling siya ay kaagad ko siyang pinaluwas para sakin na muna siya tumira.
I live in a small high rise Condominium, with two bedrooms here in Mandaluyong. This was our old family house, back when all of us siblings used to study in Manila, but everything eventually changed when the new normal kicked in. My parents used all their might to look for a new place that is quite far away from the city, or somewhere in between, thus, they ended up buying a place in Cavite, doon sa bandang dulong part.
However, since nasa nursing school ako, and I had to do my work here, I decided to stay to support myself and also my lola.
"Nay, kumain ka na po ba?" sigaw ko, pagkatapos kong ilapag ang bag ko sa kwarto. Nakapaghugas na din ako ng kamay at nakapag palit ng damit bago ako pumunta sa kusina.
She's not answering so I figured na baka nakatulog na. 8pm na din kasi ako nakadating, nakipag-kwentuhan pa ako sa iilang school mates ko sa Starbucks after ng shift namin. I quietly peeked my way into her bedroom. Nakabukas at nakatutok sakanya yung electric fan, pero naka kumot pa din siya. 'Tulog na nga', bulong ko sa sarili.
