Chapter 4

Chapter 4

A Promise

"Mommy, I'm here... Mommy..."

"Aurora," Nancy and Cedy approached me as I arrived.

"Where's my mom?" I looked in the direction where their eyes turned. There I saw my mother looking at the ICU glass window. Only the big curtain can be seen and she is still crying.

"She was waiting for the doctor to come out. There was another emergency inside a while ago. They are still saving your daddy's life, Aurora." Cedy whispered.

My tears flowed and gradually approached my mom's direction. Pity is what I feel the most at those times. She was sobbing alone.

"M-mom... Mommy..." I hugged her tightly from behind. "I'm here, Mommy... I'm here,"

She wailed and faced me. "Aurora... My daughter... Aurora," she hugged me and I hugged her tightly.

"Mommy... how is Daddy?"

"I hope, he will be okay right now that you're here, I hope he's okay."

I immediately comfort my mother. "Shhh, he will be okay. Stop crying, mom."

"Aurora, don't leave me, please... I need you by my side right now. We miss you so much baby, your dad missed you too so much," she was begging.

I shook my head. "I won't leave, mom. I'm here, I'm not leaving. I'm here with you and Dad. I love you, Mommy and I miss you too so much."

She still hugged me tightly, as if she didn't want to let me go.

"Mrs. Torres?"

I immediately wiped my tears when mommy let go of me.

"Doc, how is my husband? Is he okay? Did he survive the operation?"

The doctor in front of us shook his head sadly. "I'm sad to say this, Mrs... but I hope you will accept the fact that the patient is already gone. We really do our best to save his life, but the patient really let go. He died at exactly 02:15 in the afternoon. We're sorry, and Condolences..."

"No... Daddy..." My tears suddenly overflowed at what the doctor said. I can't believe that when I came back he left. "Daddy... Daddy... Doc, can I see my Daddy? Please, he's alive."

Mommy was crying. I looked at her as it slowly slid down. Fortunately, Cedy caught her weight.

"Mommy..." I shouted.

I don't know who to choose. Mommy passed out because she couldn't handle the news that Daddy was gone or Daddy whom I love to see and hug even for the last moment.

"Best. Cedy, and I will take care of Aunt Helen. Take a look at your Daddy's first." Nancy was also emotional at that time.

"Thank you, Nance... Please, take care of mom."

I was stunned to move and looked at the closed door of the Intensive Care Unit. But forced me to look at my father. I slowly went in there as if I was crushed by pain.

While seeing Daddy with that hospital equipment, I was in tears. I don't care if there are nurses there removing tubes from my Daddy's body.

"Please, give me some time to talk and to be alone with my Dad," I said as tears fell in my eyes.

The two nurses and doctor nodded at me sympathetically.

"At least, five minutes, Ms. Torres,"

"T-thank you, doc. Thank you..." I nodded in tears.

After they came out I approached my father. I immediately hold his both hands.

"D-daddy, I'm so sorry... Please, forgive me. Forgive me, dad..." I couldn't help but hug his warmed body. "I'm sorry, dad..." I kissed his cheek and also his hand. "Daddy why? Why didn't you wait for me? I'm already home, dad. I'm home. I won't leave you and mommy again... We still play chess board, right, dad?" I said. But I know, my father won't respond to me ever.

I cried too much.

"Daddy... Why? I know, I have sinned against you a lot but why would I catch you in this situation? You are so unfair, dad. You didn't even wait for me for a few minutes. Daddy... Daddy... I miss you, dad. I love you so much even though I disobeyed and hid from you. I hope you can forgive me, please. I'm so sorry Dad. Sorry..." I was still sobbing. "All I can promise to you now is I will never leave mommy alone. Promise... I love you, dad... I always love you my, Daddy Raul..."

___

THE FACTS will never change, and that fact will always haunt me. I regret so much what I did, if I hadn't been stubborn and gone home earlier— maybe I wouldn't have ended up going home without my father. I regret it, and I blame myself for what happened. Maybe, Daddy wouldn't disappear right away if he didn't feel too much about the big problem of our family.

I feel useless, and I feel so much worthless daughter. I feel so sorry for what happened. I blame myself for being a selfish daughter.

"Aurora..." I didn't turn around when mommy called my name. "Baby, let's go. Everyone has already left."

"Mom." I turned to her and immediately hugged her.

"Shh... It's okay baby. It's okay." I felt her gentle caress on my back when I started sobbing.

"I will no longer see Daddy Raul again," I said while looking at daddy's gravestone and his smiling picture. "Can Daddy forgive me, Mommy?"

"Of course, Aurora, and he never hated you."

"I love him so much, mom."

"And he also loved you so much, baby..."

I wiped my tears and faced mom. "With the loss of dad, I promise to take all the responsibility that he left behind. And I promise to care for you, mom. I will never leave your side, Mommy. That's a promise..." I whispered.

"Oh, thank you my dearest daughter. Your dad will hear you, and I'm sure wherever your Daddy is right now, he's happy that you're finally back with us," mom said while wiping my tears.

I again embraced my mother. I only have my mother now. I promise to love and take care of her as long as she was still alive. That way, I can make my late father delighted.

The sayings are always right— that while your parents are still alive, care for them, cherish them, and also express your love towards them because you don't even know how long they can stay in this world.