29 Wounded Bird (1/2)
It's time to see her again.
It's been days since I last saw her. The last time I did was a time when things were. . . a bit less clear to me. Maybe, if I could get her to speak, she would tell me more of the things she knows about our ”dearest friend”.
I walk towards the ICU again. I'm sure that lady nurse already recognizes me from the mess I'd caused her. Better not mess with me. She knows the consequences of challenging a journalist.
”I'd like to see Eloisa Acosta,” I say to the same nurse I threatened.
I can tell from her face that she just lets out a fake smile. ”Alright, right this way, miss.”
I can never get over the atmosphere of this place. This is one of the many reasons why I hate hospitals. They remind me of everything.
As the door opens up for me, I see Eloisa's face light up as she sees me.
”Eloisa, how are you?” I say to her as I see her smile.
”She's getting better, Ms. Aguinaldo,” the nurse says proudly. ”Well, some of her symptoms like mutism has been reduced. It will still be a struggle to connect with her old self.”
The nurse approaches Eloisa and tries to make her comfortable. This is just utter fakery. Well, I do not know if she genuinely cares about my Eloisa, but at least she does seem better and calmer than before. ”Eloisa, Ms. Rose asks about you.”
Eloisa does not even respond to her kindly. She just turns away from her in a child-like manner. ”You bad. You want me at nutcase asylum.”
Well, then. I think she might have heard that I said that. All I could do is let out an awkward smile as I hear her say that. ”Well, then,” I say to the nurse. Even she had that same aghast reaction. Her eyes speak of it for she is already about to fall into tears. ”I'll take it from here. Thank you.”
She does not even turn back. She scurries away as if the notion of me being in the same room as she is scary. I can't blame her. I might have lashed out quite a lot, but it did make her realize that I am not a person that can be bought by lies.
I take the chair sitting in a corner and place it beside and lying down Eloisa. Her smile brings me joy in this time of vagueness. ”How are you?” I ask her as I hold her hands.
”Well,” she says slowly. ”Still alive. Getting better.”
I know this is not her full self, but at least she's getting better. It breaks my heart to listen to her speak in child-like manner. I know her to be full of intricate words. This is not the Eloisa I have known for years. ”I'm glad to hear that,” I say to her. And then, the thought comes – the real reason why I'm here. ”Anyway, can you tell me more about what happened the day you were in drugs?”
Her face turns down as she hears the question. Even she thinks to herself of what to say. ”Can't remember,” she says hesitantly. ”Thoughts only Emma.”
Even in this time of mental instability, she still thinks of that girl. Even in this time that she thinks of Emma as a whore, she still loves her. Fire still burns within me. I don't think I will be able to forgive her for her lies. I don't think I will be able to forgive her for making me turn against Mateo. ”A whore, isn't she?” I say tartly. ”She broke you, didn't she? You trusted her, but turns out she's not the angel, isn't she?”
”No. Emma good person. Just fool. Should not do what she did.”
”Still the nun, aren't you?” I say to her. She just lets out a smile as she hears those words. At least she's turning into her old self again. ”Can you tell me more about what made you angry about her?”
The question is not even comfortable for her to answer. She turns away from me without a second thought. ”Can't.”
”You can't remember?” I ask her again.
”Can remember.”
”Then why won't you tell me.”
”Can't trust that you no hurt Emma.”
It all comes back to this. I can only shake my head in her answer. ”Really?” I say coldly. ”You truly think of me that way.” I can't believe that even though she read her promiscuity, Eloisa still defends her.
”Yes,” she answers frankly.
I do not even know what to say. The only thing closest to a reply in my mind is ”oh.” That's all.
”Truth bad for you too,” she continues. ”Truth kill you.”
”Why is this about me?”
”Can't answer.”
”I know you can tell me.”
”Don't want.”
It's like I'm talking to a child. She knows something. After all these times, it is only now that she will tell me at least something. How long does she know things that I know nothing about? Just when I was about to flare up, the nurse knocks on the door again.
”Excuse me – ”
”No, not now!” I exclaim to Eloisa's nurse.
”Well, miss,” she replies. ”I'm sorry to disturb, but a couple claiming to be the parents of Ms. Acosta is here.”
”They are here? Elaine and Louis Acosta?”
”Yes,” the nurse answers. ”They want to see their daughter right now.”
I can't believe it. Eloisa's parents actually came. I turn back to my lying friend, but all she does is shake her head. ”Alright,” I reply. ”It's ok. It is her parents.”
The nurse bows her head and closes the door again. ”No! Bad parents. Me no want see them.”
As much as I want to respect her wishes, I can't do that for her. Her parents are the ones she needs most right now. ”You have to see them,” I try to explain. ”They have to know your situation.”