GRACE TUCKED IN LETTERS

At the most unexpected time last month, amidst the hustle-bustle of being in the medical school, somebody boldly laid his intentions in pursuing me. But this is not about the details of who he is and how it started. Neither is it about the real score between him and me. This is about how that opening-of-door for him paved the way in unlocking the window of a relationship beyond important than anything. That is my relationship with my father. Looking through the lens of the past, a single mistake of getting into a wrong relationship resulted to a broken trust. Yes, in between the seven years, our relationship was neither hot nor cold. Most of the time, it was just silent. I could vividly remember how tears had fallen from his eyes, wordlessly begging to stop my stubbornness yet I did not. I pursued. My own pains rooted from the scathing words I received from him blinded me. An insensible pride indeed. It was only when I met a fatal accident that I was able to recognize the weig...

I moved to my chair as the exam was about to start when all of a sudden, my heart pumped as hard as it could. Yes, it was a no-surprise attack ever since I was diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse. In as much as I did not want to panic, my heart pumped as if it was in a fourth gear. My chest started to get tight and heavy. My skin became cold and clammy. Despite the air-conditioned room, I perspired profusely. My classmates turned to me, asking if what was wrong but I was already devoid of words. All I could think about was to leave the room and so I did. While the exam pursued, I was outside the room, sitting upright on a vacant chair enduring its pain while conserving my energy because the only thought that crossed my mind was to take the exam no matter what. Failure to take it will mean an automatic remedial. With every beat, I whispered my prayer “Lord, calm my heart. Not now.” Deep within the recesses of my being, I knew that when it prolongs, it might cause my heart to stop ...