Rom's Love Story:

He was an odd child to say the least. There was nothing that engages the child. The child like urges that all other kids have, playing tag till sundown, playing in the mud, exploring areas that specifically say do not trespass, the wonders of existence does not fuel him. He looks at them all with a bored expression, as though he has seen it all. As though he has been there and done that.

The child had never engaged in any activities that interests him. He's parents tries to get him into one, but none could spark that childlike sense that they expected from a child. Eventually, they gave up getting him engaged into something. But nonetheless, still loves and adores their child whatever he's interests might be.

He doesn't have much friends at school. Probably because of the weird air that surrounds him. An adult like air that doesn't match his appearance of a child. His peers tried to get him to be sociable with others, but he prefers not to. Like an old soul that watches the clock tick away as it slowly saps out his life.

His birthday's shows that as well. Even though he's a child, his birthday isn't as grandiose as kids have these days, where games and clowns are part of the program. Instead, his birthday is much more adult approached. Just a cake in the center, some not too over the top meals, inviting only relatives and friends. Some presents, but most of which are shirts and pants. And some birthday money. That's the kind of birthday he celebrates every year.

On his 9th birthday, the child received a book from his father. It's a fairly thick book. It was plain hard bound book with no title at the cover. He wasn't a reader, nor was he interested in reading that book. He flat out told his father that. But nonetheless, his father urged him to keep that book, and place it where he can see that book the moment he entered his room.

Confused, the boy the keeps in his desk collecting dust. After school he often wonders what that book contains but has never really had the urge to open it. The spine is still stiff, and corners of the pages are still flat. But still, no matter how much he stares at the book at stands on his desk, no urge would give him the reason to open it.

On his 10th birthday, a chess pain suddenly befalls on him. It was bad enough that he had to skip school and go to a hospital rather than their pediatrician. Sickness and him were never really that close, although he had a case of a couple of colds, that's about their relationship is. So he found that the examination was completely boring.

And just as when he though they were through examining him, they ordered an X-ray and some blood tests. And ordered for the mother and child to wait in the emergency lobby, while the father goes with them for some discussions. Both of them were left waiting for a long, long time...

Then, when the clock strikes for lunch, the father came back. The mother, instinctively understood, and left with him, telling her child that they'll be fetching some lunch. And with a nod, they both left him in the emergency lobby, watching a show on TV, that generally doesn't interest him.

And when they came back, he was admitted in the hospital right then and there.

It was right around when the season of falling leaves have started. He found himself in the hospital once more, escorted by his mother this time. This time today, he would be having his usual checkup. He has been to and fro of the hospital ever since. Admitted and discharged, admitted and discharged, ordered to the clinic, again and again, and again.

In no time at all, several months has passed performing such a futile cycle. With each new cycle, his appetite decreased and his medications increased. Slowly, he could feel his own physical strength chipping away. Like an old tree entering winter. Even the weighing scale rudely informs him.

And yet he, looks at himself with a detached interest. As if it were happening to someone entirely. As though watching a play on the front row seat. He looks at himself with bored expression as though he has seen it all. As though he has been there and done that.

And it's not as though he could not grasp what had so suddenly happened to him. From the bits and pieces that they had informed him. From the long over time hours that his father is taking during work. From the eye bags under her mother's eyes every morning. He can imagine what is happening to him.

And it's not for the better either.

It was the time when snow begins to fall, in the day where a New Year was about to come. The boy was discharged from the hospital as part of a New Year's treat. And Although he has a disinterested look, and a little tired from the slight exercise of the long walk home, it did make him slightly happy to spend the New Year's back home.

Strangely when they've gone back home, all of his family relatives, classmates and teacher were there. Everyone made a giant surprise for him, his classmates greet him with the most terribly acted smiles. His teachers and other relatives, has a strained-forced smiles on them. They made him sit on the table, his classmates exchanging topics after topics. His relatives greet him and wish him well. And though majority of them are sincere, he can't help but be astonished at such an incredible display.

And as the New Year festivities finally drown out, on the 3rd day after the 12th full moon, it was when they were heading to the hospital together. The three of them marched the snow filled city, crossing intersections after intersections, each step getting closer to their goal. And as they the pedestrian lane, where they were advised by the stop light.

It was then, that a truck, lost control of his brakes.

And upon waking up, the familiar white ceiling greets him. Although his vision is slightly blurry can make out familiar ceiling that he has seen over and over again. As he regains some sort of strength, his eyes wonder around. And on his side, a man, older than his father, wearing a distinctive white coat, and holding a clip board greets him.

The young one listens to the doctor's explanations in their usual roundabout way. Not getting straight to the point and creeping on in on the real subject. And though all of them are true, he hears them all as though it was not his own business. Wearing his usual disinterested look, the doctor kept babbling on and on.

And finally, after everything had been said, the doctor had changed tones bringing the attention of the boy. And confessed the situation about his parents and him. And though for any child this could have been a shock, his only response was:

"I see…"

What could he have said? He doesn't know the answer. But it was the only thing that had left his mouth from beginning to end. The doctor's pen fly across the paper on the clipboard in response to his words. And business like to the very last, the doctor left the room.

After a day or two, he had been transferred to a hospital near the city's edge, much farther from the hospital that he previously regularly attends. Transferring to the 17th floor to the 4th room, it was a simple room much like how he had seen over and over. The nurse informs him of all the details that he had heard before, before leaving him to his own devices.

The room is especially clean, the sheets are white and the curtains are as well. The breeze from the window blows nicely in his room. A plant on the window side table that adds a bit of flair. And although it's spacious enough to fit a 15 people in, for a little boy like him, it's much too big.

"…" but, still with a disinterested look, he sits on the floor, as though waiting.

Waiting for his clock to tick down.