She woke up lying in the hospital bed. Her parents and Jareed were there, waiting for her to wake up.
“Dear, how are you?”, her mom asked.
“We’re glad you are now conscious sweetheart”, the voice from her dad.
“Sweetie, are you okay?”, Jareed’s voice.
She did not respond. She was waiting for someone who would say something. She was waiting to hear Ryle’s voice.
“Where is Ryle dad, mom, boo?” she asked.
She tried to get up. She waited a moment for anyone of them who would answer her question.
“Dad, where is Ryle? What happened to him?”, she started to become hysterical.
“What happened to the man, who stabbed him?”
“Sweetheart, calm down please…it’s bad for your health. The man was arrested by the police and he’s now back in prison. You lost your consciousness when the police came, so they brought you here. We are glad, nothing bad happened to you.”
“Then, what about Ryle dad? where is he?” please tell me…where is he?”, she started crying emotionally.
“He is in the ICU dear, he lost excessive amount of blood. And…and…” Mrs, Arcelo muttered and tried to clear her throat.
“And what mom? please tell me.”
“He experiences hemorrhagic shock, sweetheart. But he’s gonna be alright. The doctors are doing their best to save him”, Mr. Arcelo said in a soft voice, trying to control his emotion.
JA, was crying out in a loud piercing way when she heard what her father told her. She screamed and sat on the floor tiles, with her hands covering her face.
“It’s okay dear, he will be alright. Let us pray for Ryle”, Mrs. Arcelo, hugged and comforted her.
“It’s all my fault mom. I read that man’s mind when I held his hand. But I never insisted on it because I was confident that it would be okay since he got off the bus.”
“It’s all my fault…it’s all my fault…” JA said in a loud voice, shrieking in sorrow.
Mr. Arcelo hugged her so tight while Jareed was caressing her back.
After a moment, the doctor who’s taking in charge of Ryle went inside the room and told them that the patient wanted to talk to them.
JA, hurriedly went out of the room and ran towards the ICU.
There she saw Ryle, lying on a hospital bed with monitors and equipment. The ventilator was taken off from him, so that he could talk and say something he wanted to say.
“Ryle, Ryle...! I’m sorry..It’s all my fault. ” she cried and placed her hand into Ryle’s hand.
Ryle looked at her and gently touched her face.
“It’s not your fault dashuri. It’s my fault. I’m sorry. If we didn’t go for an outing…” Ryle muttered, showing shortness of breath.
“But I am happy that you’re not hurt.”
“I’m sorry Ryle. But thank you for saving my life. But please. Fight to live. Please.”, she pleaded, screaming out loud.
“Sssh. Don’t cry. Please promise me that you will take care of yourself. Live and be happy dashuri. I’ll be physically gone. b-u-t- I-will-s-t-a-y in-your-he-art. I p-r-o-m-i-s-e..I-wo-n-t- le-ave-you” Ryle said in a soft voice with his eyes half open and in a loud rasping breath.
“Ryle, no! don’t say like that. You will be alright. Just take a rest, okay? I’ll be right here, I won’t leave you”.
JA held both his hands while tears were seen, streaming from her eyes.
“D-a-s-h-u-r-r-i…I..w-i-l-l—f-o-r-e-v-er…l-o-v-e—you---u-n-t-i-l..w-e-m-e-e-t…a-g-a-i-n..” Ryle’s last words until he fully closed his eyes and heartbeat monitor slowed down and went flatline.
A moment of total distress and agony engulfed her world as she could no longer feel the touch of Ryle’s hand. She was not able to control herself, she embraced him, while screaming and shrieking out loud.
“Ryle, please don’t leave me! Please…”, she sobbed until her voice cracked.
Her parents and brother went inside and comforted her.
“No, you’re not dead Ryle.” she continued sobbing.
It was really hard to accept the painful reality, that the man she dearly loved, the man she cherished the most, someone who loved her unconditionally, stood by her side through all laughter and tears, the person who promised to stay with her was unexpectedly taken away from her. And his demise, had left a void in her heart which could never be filled.
Everything was turning upside down. And she knew, she would forever be lonely in this world because someone had gone.
“Ryle, Ryle..my dashuri. Why did you leave me?”
**********
It’s been one week already after Ryle was buried, but for JA, the pain was still there penetrating up to the deepest chamber of her heart.
She did not anymore go to school. She just stayed in her room all day long, and she barely talked even to her parents. She did not even eat her meals with her family, so most of the time Nanny, brought foods in her room and fed her.
Her parents were already worried about her so they decided to move to Manila, in order to start a new life.
“We’re moving to Manila sweetheart”, Mr. Arcelo opened up, one time when he went inside JA’s room.
But JA did not respond, like she did not hear anything. She continued reading a book.
Mr. Arcelo took a deep sigh as he sat on the bed.
“Sweetheart, listen. You need to move on. Do you think Ryle would be happy, seeing you like this? You are ruining your life. I know it’s hard sweetheart. I know you both love each other. Ryle has been honest with me, that’s why I allowed you to go with him on that outing. But please sweetheart, try to understand that we are still here for you. We love you so much and you know that it’s so hurting for us to see you’re neglecting yourself”, Mr Arcelo said, with droplets of tears in his eyes.
JA began to sob as her dad enfolded her in his arms. After a while, he handed her, Ryle’s cellphone.
“I think, there’s something you need to see here. I hope that after you see it, you would realize that Ryle’s death is not the end of everything for you. The password is what Ryle’s term of endearment to you”, Mr Arcelo said.
“The police gave to me all his belongings when he was in the hospital. Sorry that it took so long for me to give this to you”
After saying these words, Mr. Arcelo went out of her room to give her time to be alone.
She tried to unlock the password and started scrolling. Her tears began to form in her eyes, when she saw their photos together. Until she saw Ryle’s recent video that was taken before the day of their outing. She played it.
Ryle was smiling in the video while saying this:
“Hi dashuri, if you’re able to watch this video, it means I am no longer here with you. I just want to let you know how thankful I am that you came into my life. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me. But if ever I’m gone, please be strong. I know you’re a strong girl. Continue your dreams, and never listen to what people say to you. If you want to become a writer, then go on. If you want to teach kids, then pursue it. Don’t ever think that being born extraordinary is a curse. Dashuri, you are gifted. But please don’t use your ability if you think it will put your life to risk. Take care of yourself, because I care for you so much. I will forever be with you and I will never leave you. I am just right here dashuri. And if ever you are lonely, just sing the piece of our soul. You know what I mean, and you will feel better. I am forever grateful to you and to your family for all your kindness. Thank you so much for your love. Dashuri, you’ll forever my one great love. Don’t be sad because we will meet someday, I promise. I love you so much forever and beyond”.
JA had done watching the video and she could not help herself but cry so hard. She missed him. She will forever miss him.
“Ryle, my dashuri.”, she whispered.
***********
“Are you ready to leave this place sweetie?”, Jareed said while packing all their things.
She did not answer because this place was already a part of her life. But she had to move on because that’s what Ryle told her. It was not easy, but she had to start a new life.
“Do you really love him that much sweetie?” Jareed asked.
“Yes boo”,
Jareed took a deep sigh.
“Ryle loved you even more sweetie. He told me.”
JA started to get emotional again but Jareed pulled her a hug and caressed her back.
“It’s okay sweetie. Everything will be alright, in God’s perfect time”.
She looked at her brother and asked something.
“Boo, I wondered why can’t I use my ability to anyone of you here in this house? And even to Ryle? If I only had read something about that incident beforehand, it might not have had happened”
Jareed looked at her intently.
“That’s the limitation of your ability sweetie. You can only read minds to those people you are not attached with, or not related to you by blood. But not to us, not even to Ryle”
She took a deep sigh and continued packing their things.