2. Storm

The ambulance came 15 minutes later. Bella was transported immediately to the hospital accompanied by Aunt in an ambulance. During that time, Aunt continued to talk to Bella's mother on the telephone. Mariana said she was on her way to the hospital. Meanwhile, Jennie immediately followed quickly from school to the hospital.

When Mariana got there, Bella was being treated in the emergency room. And the rest was waiting outside the emergency room door. As if a plague were contagious, Mariana's face instantly turned as pale as the pensive Aunt stood stiffly. Aunt still has a hard time believing everything that happened. Mariana's knees went limp, body trembled at the mere sight of Bella's blood splattered on Aunt's clothes.

“How much blood did she lose? How is the condition?" Anxiety entered Mariana's mind about Bella's condition, which had not yet been confirmed.

"Will Bella survive?"

The question couldn't come out of Mariana trembling lips. Her voice did not come out because it was choked in her throat. Then another question after another appeared in her mind which made her more confused, worried, and afraid. The bad thoughts shattered Mariana's consciousness and drowned her in a languid mud. Likewise with Aunt who was still frozen silent.

The emergency room door opened, and a nurse came out to face the patient's guardian who immediately rushed to get confirmation about Bella's condition now.

“Madam, The patient's condition is currently critical due to heavy blood loss. We will try our best to save patients. But the patient needs blood donation immediately.”

She tried to stay strong to hear the nurse's explanation. "Unfortunately the blood types of patients at our hospital are out of stock."

Mariana's legs felt weak and boneless. The nurse continued her sentence. "Is your blood type the same as the patient's?"

Mariana immediately came to her senses again to get the question. Still unable to utter a word, she nodded weakly.

"Then let me take you for a blood draw." Invite the nurse to give directions to the patient's guardian.

Auntie was still waiting there, in front of the emergency room. As time passed, Jennie arrived at the ER still wearing her school uniform. Her eyes were red from crying that had not stopped since she got the news of what had happened to her sister.

"How's her condition?"

"Still inside, it's still uncertain at this time..."

"Mother? How about Mom? Hasn't she arrived yet?" Jenny's voice trembled.

"Your mother is doing a blood draw, Bella is losing a lot of blood." Aunt explained the current situation to Jennie. About her sister's condition as well as about Mariana's whereabouts.

“My blood type is the same! I'll go after Mom." Jennie said then walked away quickly.

Time goes on, it feels like a long time has passed for those who wait. The latest news about Bella's condition came from the doctor who treated her. After getting a blood donor, Bella's critical period passed. Her life was saved thanks to the blood of Mariana and Jennie. Out of the emergency room, Bella was moved to the patient's room. Mariana, Jennie, and Auntie were there.

When the critical period has passed, Mariana can only breathe a sigh of relief. The doctor said Bella would be fine, nothing to worry about anymore. Jennie is still wearing her school uniform. She hadn't moved an inch from the side of the patient's bed, since Bella had been laid there.

Aware of the plight of each of them, Mariana asked the others to return home. What's more, Auntie must immediately change clothes covered in blood. The appearance of each of them is not normal, everything looks chaotic.

“I'm sorry for making you get into trouble like this. You must be very surprised by what happened.” Said Mariana to Lauren as a housemaid and also a keeper for Bella and Jennie. They called her Auntie.

Lauren said nothing, just gave Mariana a warm hug. Hope this action can strengthen her and be patient through all trials. There is nothing else she can offer other than sincerity.

"The most important thing is that Bella is fine at the moment. For now,  let me handle the  situation at home.."

Although not comparable to parental love, Lauren cares for Bella and Jennie, because she has known them since they were little.

"I'm sorry.. Sorry, I'm sorry.." Mariana apologized deeply, somehow Lauren got involved in an incident that neither of them wanted to happen.

Lauren also feels the deepest gratitude, can't measure it with value. Thanks to quick action, Bella was saved. What would happen if there was no one helped Bella and called an ambulance, took her to the hospital, and was always by Bella's side when none of her family was with her.  Lauren does all of it for the seek Mariana family.

At the same time, Mariana feels so bad about herself as a parent. Not knowing what happened to her flesh and blood. What hardships does Bella through to make something like this happen. Mariana didn't notice anything at all.

Likewise, Jennie felt the same way. What has she been doing so that this can happen to her only sister-- Bella. Jennie felt very selfish all this time. Feeling that she is the only one who has problems, she is someone who suffers. Jenny was very ashamed of herself.

How will Jennie have to face Bella when she wakes up later. What is the right word for her to convey to Bella? An apology because Jennie wasn't by her side or a thank you because her sister was still with them and opened her eyes to meet them again. Jennie doesn't know.. What she knows for sure, those two words will be just as difficult to convey to Bella, her sister.

***

Days passed, and Bella came to her senses as it entered the early hours of the morning. She looked around the room, her eyes stopping when she caught a very familiar figure. Mother and Jennie were asleep there, in Bella's room. It must have been a busy and tough day for them to go through.

What happened today, Bella's memory slowly returned, until she finally realized what she had done. Bella felt like she wanted to disappear, erase all traces of her existence. Erase her memories from the memories of those around her. Go to a faraway place where no one knows her, can't find her. Like people who never existed in their lives. Never even existed in this world before. If Bella could, she would do it at any price she had to pay.

Jennie and Mother, what should Bella tell them. Why did she end up like this? This incident was the biggest mistake Bella had ever made. So far she has done well. At home, at school, she was doing very well. So now why is this happening?

Bella is very good at doing things by herself. Learn alone, take care of herself alone, restrain her will alone, hide her ego, and solve problems alone. Bella didn't want things to end like this. All the effort and hard work that she had built was shattered with a single failure, in the blink of an eye.

Jenny woke up from her sleep. Bella was powerless to try to escape in this condition.

"Sister.." Jennie's voice was hoarse from crying too much.

Jennie walked to the side of the bed to Bella who opened her eyes. Between them, no words were spoken, only a long silence.

Each of them is busy with their prejudices and the burden of the heart that must be borne from this incident. After quite a long silence. Bella spoke up.

"How Mother? Did Mom say something?”

Bella hasn't changed, after all this, the main thing for her is how Mom thinks. Because for Bella all her life, as far as she can remember. Since childhood, Bella's direction in life has been to fulfill her mother's expectations. Bella had to live up to Mom's expectations of her, just as she had promised Mom.

Jenny lowered her head, staring at the floor of the room. Jennie couldn't see Bella, looking directly at her. Because it feels like Jennie's tears will immediately fall out of control. It will make the atmosphere even heavier between them.

"Now don't think about anything, Sis."

What Mom and Jennie want right now is for Bella to recover completely as usual. Nothing else is more important than that.

Actually, Bella wanted to ask about many things, about everything that happened after she was unconscious until she opened her eyes in this room. Would like to hear a very detailed explanation if possible. Because Bella's ignorance of what happened while she was unconscious made her uneasy. Bella is restless because she feels she has missed something important and she is the only one left behind.

But seeing Jennie's tired face she couldn't say anything else. And it seems that Jennie won't say anything for today either. Again there was a deep silence between them. Covering the night, closing the curtains for the stage of life, and being ready to change the day. Welcoming tomorrow with the morning sunshine.