226 Home Is Where You Are (1/2)

As Anthon and Jia disappeared,Jim broke into an unrestrained sob. He looked at his tombstone and felt the grief that Jia and his family must have endured. All because of this illness that stood undefied for centuries. How manymore people must have gone through the unthinkable stages of fear and pain?How many more families must suffer with the horrible loss of their loved ones?

Hailey's heart broke apart in seeing him. She knew, more than anyone else,how painful it was. She knew how many nights would he go sleepless before he could forget. She knew how longthe memories would keep on hauntingand hurting him before he could have rest. She also broke into a sob,remembering her own ordeal when she learned about Aijohn's wedding with her sister.

She hugged Dr. Jim and tried hard to comfort him.

”I had been through with it, Dr. Jim,and believe me, everything will be alright. Just remember that you're still greatly blessed because you are given the chance to live. You may suffer the pain of loss now but in the soon future,you would enjoy the gain that life would offer. You may have to endure this pain, no matter how long,but it would only be momentary. ”

After a long while,Jim wiped his tears and smiled.

”Dr. Hailey,thank you for coming into my life. You're more than a friend to me,more than a family. Perhaps,all these happen for a reason. And perhaps,that reason is for me to help you in your quest to end the grief and suffering which cancer brings about. I will go to school again and earn a degree in Biology. ”

”That's a very good decision to cope up, Dr. Jim. I am and will always be here for you. ” She smiled and hugged him again.

”Please,take me home. ” He said as he brushed the last drops of his tears away.

Hailey was confused on where and what home did he mean.

”Where will I bring you,Dr.Jim?”

”To where you may be going. My home is where you are.” He smiled as he hugged her back.

Hailey was overwhelmed with a mixed emotion. Never did she thought that she would go back home with him. Allshe started to imagine was the fear of going through the same difficult process of easing out her loneliness again.

Who would not miss him when he was by her side for two years? Who would not miss him when she personally bathed him, feed him,brush his teeth and changed his diapers?

More than that,she surprised herself by forgetting so soon her heartaches for Aijohn eversincehe came under her care.

___

”Mr. Wayne, someone wants to meet you in Room 314 of White Rose Hotel. ” Mr. Wayne's secretary called out from the door of Jia's office. Mr. Wayne was with her,taking their lunch together.

”Who is going to see me?” He asked without glancing at her.

”He said he is your relative from an island. He also asked to bring with you Atty.Guevarra. ”

Mr. Wayne creased his brows. Relative from an island?He couldn't remember any of his relatives living in an island.

”Don't go dad if he won't give his name. ” Jia firmly said.

”Or, let me go with you. ” She offered.

”Thank you,darling but I have no known enemy.And besides,White Rose Hotel is very strict in their security system. ”

She nodded while she picked her phone up to call Kuya Nap.

”Kuya,dad is going to meet a relative in White Rose. Please come over and pick him up. ”

”Okay,I'll bring along Jianna. I am at home to get some important paper and this little dwarf is pestering me around, asking for a strawberry ice cream. ” He said as he laughed.

Yet,Jia knew that the reason he went home was because he was so stressed out and his stress reliever was always the charm of her niece.