"speech"
'thoughts'
THE ONLY ONES LEFT
Chapter 6
Megumi's Point Of View
The sun was shining brightly when I woke up. It blinded me and my eyes hurt a bit when I searched the source of the light. The window.
Of course, to lessen the light the window was emanating, I had to close it even a bit. So I stood up and moved the curtain down.
I stopped on my tracks when I heard a little voice grumbling. That voice was all too familiar. I knew immediately that it was Suzume-chan, awakening from the sound of the curtain.
She opened up her eyes and looked at me, still scratching her eyes.
"Auntie Megumi, Ohayo!"
"Ohayo, Suzume-chan!" I said.
I watched her as she sat there, her back leaning against the headboard, her arms stretched in an attempt to soothe her muscles.
Then her hands stopped in mid-air and her yawn stopped like she had just had lockjaw.
Huh? Why?
Oh, I see.. She was thinking of her newly-found friend. I knew it 'coz she placed her arms down on her lap and looked at the figure lying beside her.
Then she shook Akane's arm gently, probably wanting to wake her up. No, she shouldn't. The child needs as much rest as she can get.
"Don't wake her up, Suzume-chan."
But Suzume looked at me, her eyes widening. She wasn't going to retort from my order. If she was, she'll have her lips in a pout by now and her brows meeting each other already.
But no. She didn't.
Instead, she looked straight into my eyes and said,
"Auntie, I think Akane has a fever."
I sighed.
Geez, I thought it was something really awful for such a small girl to become really serious about.
But then, even if it's just a fever, I still have to tend to it.
I approached the bed and gestured for Suzume to move out a bit and provide space for me.
I could see Suzume was really concerned. She moved out immediately and sat down on the couch I was sleeping in earlier.
It's really un-doctor-like to follow old measures but I guess it's pure reflex that my hand moved to her forehead to feel her temperature.
It's not hot at all.
Instead, it's cold.
I looked at Suzume and asked her,
"Do you know what a fever is, Suzume?"
She told me while stuttering that she wasn't so sure about what it really was but she thought that if you have a fever, either you're too hot or you're too cold. That there's just this noticeable change in your body heat.
I froze.
If she's far colder than normal, it would only mean two things. Either you're cold from the night's wind or you're... Dead.
There's little chance that the first choice is the right one since the sun is currently shining bright. Too bright even, that it woke me up earlier. Plus, she's still wrapped in the blanket I placed around her last night. I think she's still in the same position I left her that time.
Chikuso.
Now I'm using roosterhead's language. No. I shouldn't worry about that in my current situation.
Back to the point. If she's still in the same position and she's grown cold, it means she didn't move and she's been stiff.
If something, somebody has no movement, it only means one thing.
There's no life in it.
Damn.
Damn.
Damn!!
Wait.. I have to confirm it first.
"Wait here, Suzume."
The child looked at me, confused.
"Is there a problem auntie?"
"No. I'm just gonna get something, okay?"
I hurried to my room and got my bag.
I ran. I have to.
I can't afford another life taken away in front of my very own eyes.
I can't afford another life taken away without me being able to do anything to save it.
I fumbled on my pockets.
Now where is the key??
Nice timing.
There! I found it!!
I immediately inserted it in the keyhole and opened the door. Then, without wasting a single breath, I snatched the bag from the lounge chair and ran back to the end of the hall where the children were.
It seemed like a death row to me. It seemed like I needed the light I put away this morning to make the place look brighter.
I need light.
I need something to pull my hope from.
There's no more time. The sooner I get this over with, the better.
I ran back beside Akane and pulled out the stuff I need to diagnose the patient.
I have to check her heartbeat. Her pulse. Her blood pressure. Her temperature.
Vital points. Arrgggghh!!!
Negative. Negative. Negative.
I knew it.
I just placed the blanket securely around her and hugged her one last time.
I just can't take it. I cried.
No. I shouldn't cry.
"Auntie, why are you crying?"
No. I shouldn't cry. I should wipe away my tears so as not to let the other kid be affected with the traumatizing effects of the diagnosis.
"I'm fine, Suzume.. It's nothing."
"But---"
Then the maid, the lively one, entered. Thank goodness. She's my savior. Savior from the further alibi I'd have to give Suzume so she won't know she's just lost her newly found friend.
I wish I could just tell her. Your friend is dead, Suzume-chan. You can't play with her anymore. She won't be back here again. Ever. You won't see her smiling again.
I knelt. Well, I fell to my knees. I told you. I can't stand another death.
The maid just looked at me sympathetically. It was like she's asking what has happened and what makes me so sad. It's a good things she notices the lonely feeling in the air.
I looked at her, tears threatening to fall from my orbs once again, and nodded to Akane's direction.
She followed my gaze and her hands clamped to her mouth. She got my message. Good.
She was about to say something but she stopped when she noticed that Suzume was trying to pick up whatever conversation we're having right now.
She just said, "Akane's father is in the third floor. It's hard to miss. It's the only room there. He wanted to speak to you."
I stood up, and scratched my eyes and pretended that my eyes are just itchy or something. Suzume shouldn't see it or else she'll question it again.
---
I walked straight to the office in the third floor. It was indeed hard to miss. I didn't even notice that I'm already here. My feet had a life of its own and brought me here.
Knock. Knock.
The gigantic door slid open. The office was large. That's all I could make out in my present state of mind, at least.
Akane's father was there, seating cross-legged in his big lounge chair, sipping coffee and reading the morning paper.
"You're too oblivious." I told him.
He looked up from the paper and said naturally, "You must be Miss Takani. Your salary is there, in the opposite desk. I hope that'll be enough."
Then he went back to his reading.
This man really is irking. What the hell?! Is that all he cares about? The finance his daughter needs??
I spoke up, softly at first, my fists balled.
"I don't need that."
The stupid, insensitive man put the newspaper down and intertwined his fingers and placed his elbows over the desk and rested his chin on his hands.
"What did you say?"
This time, I looked at him, square in the eyes.
"I said I don't need that. Neither is that what your daughter needs. Do you think money is all she needs? Is that how low you think she is? Huh? Huh?"
He tried to interfere. "What—"
But I didn't let him.
"No. I'm not yet through here. Did you, even once, try to give the comfort and security your daughter needs? NOT the money, that is. Did you even think of her depressing condition? Were you there when she needed you? Huh?"
He just sighed and slumped back on his lounge chair.
"Yes, yes, no, no and no. You happy now? She's gonna die anyway. I've told that to lots of people that it seems so natural to me now."
My, how insensitive! Bastard!
"That's too natural, actually. I won't even wonder if you won't be affected with the news I'm going to give you right now. Right here."
"And what is that?"
"Your daughter is dead. Yeah. Dead. Seems natural huh? You've been waiting for it for quite some time, right??" I'm close to crying but no. I'm not crying this time.
"She is? Well, then.. I can prepare for her burial right away. Since your job is through, you can go home as soon as you want to."
Has this man grown senile?? His own child died and he's still so insensitive about it!!
I can't take it anymore. That's exactly what I'm gonna do. I tramped my way out his office and before I go out, I heard him muttering something about proper burial.. Silly old man.
I ran back down to Akane's room and kissed her one last time. I took Suzume's hand and the bag and nodded to the kind maid I've met.
We were about to go out the room when I stopped. I looked at the maid one last time. "What's your name?"
She answered, "Karin." And for the last time, she smiled and went beside Akane.
I told her, "We'll meet again some time."
With that, I left that hell of a house and started heading towards my home. It's far away but I know I'll reach it and feel safer there.
---
Suzume, whom I seemed to have pushed aside since the event, pulled my kimono a bit, catching my attention.
"Auntie Megumi, where are we going?"
"Home." I said. Straight to the point.
"How about Akane?"
This one, I thought about for a while before answering.
"She's going with her mother where she'll be much happier."
At least I'm not lying.
Suzume seemed content with my answers. She actually seemed to understand what I meant by that. Sometimes kids can be mature, too, you know.
With that, we headed to our home.
