Everything Will Be Okay

“Tim!” I shouted as I knock on his door. It's already 8 in the morning and he still didn't show himself for breakfast.

I got tired from knocking and walked downstairs. I saw Miss Chim so I took the chance to ask her, but she spoke before me.

“Oh, Kathareen. ” she said and then wiped his wet hands with her apron. “ Tim left earlier. He said it's an urgent emergency.” 

“Emergency?” I repeated for assurance.

She nod and took some eggs in the refrigerator. “He don't want to wake you up since you are tired.” I froze. Speechless.

After hearing it, I said goodbye to Miss Chim and excuse myself for not being with her in the breakfast table. I took the bus so I could be there faster. I got no idea what is the emergency all about.

I can already see the stall even though I'm still not near. I run as fast as I could going there and I spotted Tim and Sir Flinn talking seriously. The moment I am close to them, they stared at me and give me that why-are-you-running look. I feel my sweat dripping and my adrenaline rushing. I raised my hand in the air telling them to wait for my explanation as I chased for air.

“ What's the emergency?” I finally spoke, still running out of air.

” Uhm.. Miss Mia's kid, Merliah got... admitted in the hospital.” Tim spoke in his husky voice.

“Why? What happened?” I asked and stared at them and confusion can be traced in my face.

“She got this illness.. uhm... it's... complicated...”  

My heart skipped a beat. It was a quiet surrounding. I can't hear any birds tweeting.

“ Miss Mia said Merliah suddenly cough with blood.. It was three in the morning. Then she got puzzled what to do, she called me. We immediately run to the hospital.I'm sorry if I didn't wake you up. I got scared and panic thinking Merliah is very important to Miss Mia.” Tim uttered as we are now riding in the bus going to the hospital where Merliah is confined. I pkayed with my fingers and bit my lower lip.

“I hope she will be fine.”

Sir Flinn use his motorcycle going to the said hospital. He left first before us since he needs to avoid the traffic. Sir Flinn looks unbothered but I know, he is as scared as we are. I saw him almost tearing up and he suddenly wiped his tears when he saw me. He then flashed his wide smile and say “ Merliah is tough. We'll get through this.”

“ She's too young to suffer.” I mumbled, out of the blue.

It took us 10 minutes to get here in the hospital. It smells sickening. All are white. From the walls, the doors , the uniforms. All white. It's really hard for me to see people suffering. In this place, someone is seeing the world for the first time,and someone is seeing the world for the last. This place is between life and death.

We departed going to the Children's Ward.in the second floor. Then we entered the room the nurse headed us.The first thing I saw was Sir Flinn looking down to Merliah and then Miss Mia's back, then her hands kissing Merliah's pale hands. 

Sir Flinn noticed our presence and told us to come in. Miss Mia's eyes are puffy. It's making my knees weak.I stared at her young body and I don't why it has to be her. She's too young and innocent to experience all of this. Her lips are very pale and her eyes are weary. I toiched her feet and it was cold. And pale.The room was quiet and the only thing I could hear is the beeping of the machines. Helping her live.

Miss Mia looked up to me and stood from sitting. She gave a smile only mothers can give and hugged me. “ She's a brave girl. Just like you.” She said.

Believe me, I'm a coward.

“ She'll be okay, right?” I asked like a kid.

She nod and I heard her took a deep breathe.

“I hope so.”

Somehow, it gave me hope. We should stay optimistic for Miss Mia. I gave her a warm hug for the second time to let her feel we are here for her. I can feel that she really need it.

Kira entered the room after a while. She looked sleepless. Just like her Mom. She sitted in the sofa, next to me and stared pitifully at her young sister. “ You need to be strong for your Mom and for your sister.” I said in a hushed voice.

She turned her head at me and gave me a warm smile. She then nod and took a deep breathe. She's like her Mom. Sweet and Elegant.

“I wish I could be like Merliah.”she paused. “I wish I am like her, brave.” 

She glanced at the floor and stared at her sister. “ She always makes Mama happy. She's the ball of happiness in the family- our happy pill. She always remind me to not pressure myself with my studies.She never ask about our father... and she would always thanked Mama for everything. I'm scared we might lose her.” she added. 

She has really a lot to say. I hold her hand tightly and told her, “ You know what Kira, you are braver than me.” I said, causing her to faced him with a surprised look. “ You are not afraid to tell how you really feel, and that's so brave of you.In the end, everything is going to be okay. There will be a rainbow, okay?”

She nod and bit her lower lip to prevent herself from tearing. I placed her head in my chest and told her to get some rest. They've been awake since three and it's unhealthy for them. I caress her soft hair with my hand. Staring blankly ahead.

 I really admire how strong Miss Mia is. Kira and Merliah are lucky to have Miss Mia as their mother. Selfless and loving. She's a kind of mother that would die for her children. She raised her children with enough kindness and knowledge. 

But , I know, she feels hopeless sometimes. She would tell me that she's afraid wondering she can't give her two daughters a beautiful life. She always blame herself for being a single mother. Joe- the father of her kids went overseas to work. It was great at first, he sends enough money for the kids. And ir changed when Merliah turned three, he stopped sending money and cutted off all connections to his family. That's when Miss Mia decided to work 5 jobs in the same time. In the morning, she work as a street sweeper, then do laundry for money. And then when it's already noon, she worked as a dishwasher in a restaurant. And in weekends, she run errands like giving fliers for a newly open business and on Sundays, she sell flowers near the Church.

I couldn't imagine how she survived all of those. Just thinking of it, it's tiring and if I am on her situation, I would probably give up. Her two daughters are her strength, she told me. Her jobs are tiring, but when her daughters hugged her, all of her pains are being healed. She wants the best for her children despite how hard the situations are.

 Everything changed when she started working as Sir Flinn's assistant. He's like a father to her. She also added that there's also came a time when they had to move to another place since she can't pay the rental bills anymore. But Sir Flinn is too kind to pay the rental bill for the whole year. 

She was relieved when she first received her salary working as Sir Flinn's assistant. She enrolled Merliah in kindergarten and Kira in a private school. Even though, life is doing great, she still saves half of her salary and kept it for emergencies. Life is unpredictable, she quoted. I just realized how lucky I am not experiencing her sacrifices. 

We stayed in the hospital the whole time. Tim came back after washing himself and changing his clothes. Sir Flinn bought some foods for us to eat for dinner. I'm wondering how rich Sir Flinn is. He's always spoiling us when it comes to food.

“We should start opening our stall tomorrow.” said Miss Mia while brushing Kira's hair.

I stopped from opening the plastic bag of foods and faced her. Sir Flinn suddenly spoke. “Mia, I'm the boss.” he said with a serious face.

Miss Mia turned her direction to me. “ What do you think Kath? We should open-”

“No, Miss Mia. We'll stay here until everything will be okay.” I said.

“ Don't worry Miss, in the end, everything will be okay.” Tim added.

“But what if...it will not be okay?” Miss Mia's face is traced with fear. 

“Then it's not the end yet.”

I stared at Tim as he spoke softly. Miss Mia smiled bitterly and kissed Merliah's forehead. She then hugged her eldest daughter. A lovely family in front of me.

We ate dinner together quietly. But there's something in me that is making me panic. I don't know. It feels like someone will kill me- it's a feeling like that. Tim noticed my uncertainty and tucked my hair in the back of my ear. “ You alright?” he asked in an almost whisper voice.

I just stared at him and I don't know what to say.

After eating dinner, we sat down by the sofa, Tim sitting next to me. Everything that surrounds me is normal- except just me having my panic attack. The doctor and nurses came to check Merliah's vitals and thanked God she's doing fine.

It was normal until there was bubbly water coming out from Merliah's mouth. We all panic. The doctors came rushing to her and the room was filled with Miss Mia's loud cries. Tim hold my hand tightly and his face muscles are frozen.

Please God, let her stay.

Let her stay.

And then I closed my eyes. Hold Tim's hand tightly. My tears are continuously running down to my cheeks. Miss Mia is screaming her youngest daughter's name. Me praying silently and Kira-crying in the embrace of Sir Flinn.

I closed my eyes again as I heard the signal.

Then we heard the doctor say, “Time of death, 8:45 pm.”