THE NEXT MORNING. Esther blinked slowly, her eyes adjusting to the familiar white ceiling. The white sheet beneath her felt stiff and tucked too tightly around her legs. Ramdam niya rin na mabigat ang kaniyang dibdib. Sa una hindi niya alam kung bakit pero bigla na lang pumasok sa kaniyang isipan ang mga nangyari.
It crashed back like a silent tidal wave.
The collapse.
Her parents…
Napabaling ang tingin niya sa upuan na nasa tabi ng kinahihigaan niya.
Her chest tightened, feeling the disappointment when she didn’t see Ciaran.
Nasaan siya?
She pushed herself to sit up.
“Esther?”
Mabilis na tumingin si Esther sa pinanggalingan ng boses.
It was Ciaran in a wrinkled shirt, and his hair was tousled. He was half-asleep, stirring now as he rubbed his eyes and stood immediately up
