Title: Memories
“Come on, Troy! Catch me if you can!” Annie ran as fast as a girl who suffered from leukaemia could. She did not mind the little pain she had to endure each time she took another step ahead. Annie turned back and stopped giggling gleefully when she realised that Troy’s voice was no longer heard.
She darted towards Troy ignoring the feeling of exhaustion that filled her body. Troy was on the ground looking all ashen and breathless.
“Troy, what’s wrong? Are you okay?” A five-year-old Annie’s voice shaking. Her face depicted that she was petrified looking at her friend’s condition.
“I’m fine. I just want to rest for a while.” Troy’s voice barely could be heard. Yet, Annie swore that she saw Troy tried very hard to put a calming smile on his pale face with his chest moving hard up and down.
Nurse Tracia dashed towards them as soon as she saw Troy was on the ground. A sense of anxiety and responsibility filled the air.
“I’m sorry, Annie but I need to take Troy inside. You can always play with him tomorrow.” Nurse Tracia gave a smile before she took Troy in her hands who was still gasping for more oxygen.
“If there is still tomorrow…” she whispered to herself. There was crystal water in her eyes looking at Troy’s face which was now had turned blue.
Days of excruciating pain, needle prickling and dose of medicine seemed to be crawling in a slow rate. However, Annie and Troy managed to overcome all the obstacles faced in front of them. One year had passed by and they still lived their short life in the Children Medical Hospital to the fullest.
“Annie, if we ever manage to become an adult, what will you be?” Troy and Annie were sitting on the hospital bed with alphabet books in their hands.
“I would like to be a doctor!” There was glistening hope in her eyes.
“I don’t want to be a doctor. I hate being in hospital.” Troy’s voice was soft. He threw his gaze to the blue sky outside the window.
Tears dropped down to Mrs. Suzy’s face to hear her son blurted the worlds out from his mouth. How she wished to switch place with her son and let her alone bear all the pain that his son had to endure. He was too small to be suffered all those pain.
Troy could not move his feet. His heart sank the minute he heard the words come out from the doctor’s mouth. A minute later, he could hear his mother’s soft cry. He might be a six years old boy but he did know the discussion outside the door was a about his death.
“Troy can only live for 3 months to one year unless there is miracle…” That was the only words that he could hear. Apart from that his ears had turned deaf.
Devastated, Troy crept out from his room with tears streaming his cheeks. Mrs. Suzy was too shocked with the news oblivious to his son’s escape.
Nurses were everywhere looking for Troy. They searched high and low but the result was devastating. Troy was nowhere to be seen! Mrs. Suzy kept on repeating Troy’s name on her mouth. Where had he been? Where was her only son?
Troy hid behind the table when the door of guest room cracked open. He did not want to face anyone right now. He needed some space! He needed to be alone! Troy shut his eyes hard and closed his ears with both of his hands trying to make his mother’s voice leave.
“Annie…” How he wished to see Annie right now. He wiped off his tears and mustered some courage to face Annie. The steps that he took seemed to be heavy and slow. A stroller that was shoved by nurses made Troy’s heart even more hurt. Death… He wished he would not die!
Troy was standing in front of Annie’s door. He pushed the door slowly, shocked to see that there were nurses tidying Annie’s bed. Troy’s eyes were searching for Annie but she was not there. Suddenly Troy felt he could not breathe. There was difficulty that he could not express each time he inhaled the air.
“Troy!” Troy heard his mother’s voice from behind of him. Mrs. Suzy lifted Troy and hugged him.
“Where have you been son?” There was glistening tears in both Troy and his mother’s eyes.
“Annie… Where’s Annie?”
“She’s no longer with us, Troy…” Mrs. Suzy bawling her head off. She knew how meaningful Annie towards Troy.
That was why she tried very hard and put all her mind to find Troy just now. To tell Troy that Annie had left them, left the world and left her soul.
Twenty years had passed by yet the memories of Annie could not be drifted from his mind. Memories between him and Annie have etched forever in his mind and keep looming large. Be a doctor… That is what he is going to fulfil. For the sake of their memories.
Written by: Nurul Zahidah Mohtar
Edited by: Madam 'Ainaa
No comments:
Post a Comment