SHORT STORY

WAKE

I was on our way home with my friends from our field trip. But then, a strange thing happened. That most of us knew that this would happen. Our driver told us the car had lost its brake. We panicked, of course. Many possibilities came into our minds. Is kamatayan already calling us? I pictured out many horrible things. I almost lost my consciousness because of fear. My friends were already crying, I could see they’re also afraid. But, I was not crying. I’m just afraid. Then I laughed at their faces. Do they really think we’re going to die? Of course not! I would not let it happen! It was the last thing I remembered then everything went black. I didn’t know what happened next.

            Pain woke me up. I was bleeding all over but I’m alive! Precious God! I’m alive! But where are my friends? Why am I alone here? Where on earth am I? Why it’s very dark here? It was just then that I realized I’m on a pit of a cliff. I almost died with pain and agony.

            I didn’t know how I got out from the cliff. I walked…ran…walked and ran. I’m not tired but blood kept on pouring down from my wounds. “Will I die because of blood loss?” “No! I still want to see my family… My mom.. My dad.. I want to be with them.”

            It’s already dark.. But a glimpse of light caught my attention. It looked so familiar. I ran toward the light source and I cried for gratitude. It’s our house! I knew it’s our house! I’m finally home. I got inside our house immediately. Many people were there. I knew few but others are unknown to me. They were mourning but they seemed not noticing me. “What on earth is going on?” Then suddenly, I saw my friends. They’re all alive! “Thank You God! You’ve saved us!” But why are they all in black? Who’s dead?! Then I saw my mom crying, beside her was my dad trying to console her. In front of them was a coffin. “Who’s really dead?!” “Why are they crying so hard?!” “Is there someone more important for them than their only child?!” “Mom, I’m here!” “Can’t you see me?!” “Why are they not taking to me?!” “Dad! What’s wrong?!” My sweat, blood and tears mixed up on my face. For heaven’s sake, what the hell is happening?!

            It was just then when I finally decided to take a look at the coffin. Then I saw someone very familiar. I don’t know why but I just  cried when I saw whose inside. Then I caught a glimpse of my reflection from a distant mirror on the wall. It was my last felt teardrop then a 3-word phrase came out from my thirsty mouth, “It was I”.