CHAPTER 31: MAKE A WAY

Up to this time I am caught in a daze while listening to Lewis’ narration and explanation. I absorbed the things he said wholeheartedly while my smiles never ceased to end. Even now my heart was enthralled by the sudden medical breakthrough that everyone declares. My mind was stationary, rewinding and reliving all that occurred a while ago with gratefulness and extreme happiness.


Words couldn’t express nor explain how thankful I am to God for putting light and hope in our hearts. It was indeed great news and up to this moment, my heart was enrapturing. It gives great pleasure to me seeing my father’s eyes full of promises and overjoyed.


Even Lewis, by the sound of him as he speaks, was in total awe at this unbelievable and undeniably remarkable turn of events. His voice, together with his facial expression, were sealed with jubilee and marvels, which was fulfilling to behold.


“What happened to your father was purely unbelievable. I am still caught between disbelief and overwhelmed.”


“I was ecstatic as well, Lewis. I am a believer of miracles, but this was too much for me to grasp.”


“Your presence helped him recover, Penelope. Your presence didn’t only put joy in his heart, but gave him new hope to fight for his life. You are his life saver. This calls for a celebration, don’t you think?” His words were so exuberant, filled with lively energy and excitement, that my head automatically nodded at his suggestion. He swiftly held my hand and led me towards the dining room. He ushered me to sit before walking away. Minutes later, he returned with two glasses and a bottle of champagne.


“I didn’t think you drink, Doctor White,” I said teasingly, which made him chuckle.


“I drink occasionally. Do you drink, Miss Hunt?” He asked while opening the bottle of champagne.


“Not lately, but yes, I do drink.”


“Then let’s have a glass or two for your father’s health success” He handed me a half-filled glass before pouring his own glass. “A toast to new hope.”


“To new hope” I raised my glass before taking a sip. The sweet tasting chilled liquid glided into my throat with ease, which relaxed my system when it settled down.


We drank more than two glasses while happily conversing and deeply indulging in each other’s company. Lewis has a funny side in him, which I never thought he does. He would often crack some jokes, which would lead us to burst into laughs, filling the entire room with our merry voices and cheers.


I was slightly light-headed when he suggested that we should call it a night. We almost devoured the whole bottle if he hadn’t made the suggestion. I was so engulfed with our bonding that I lost track of the time. The whole household was in silence as some of the main lights were dimmed as we walked slowly towards the staircase.


I feel myself floating like a feather. I never drank alcohol for quite some time. The last time I did it, which caused me a terrible hangover the following day, was after the time I filed a divorce against Michael. Suddenly, I felt something inside of me stirred at the thought. A bitter bile filled my entire system, as all the pain of that day came back flooding my mind, which caused my heart to ache immensely. My steps halted as I gripped my chest where my heart lies underneath. Then out of the blue, I burst in languishing tears like it was hell on earth for me and without escape.


“Penelope, what’s the matter? What’s wrong? Is there something aching inside your body? You’re gripping your chest tightly” I heard Lewis’ panic voice as he guided me towards the living room. He helped me settle on the sofa before examining my closed eyes, which were still shedding with grieving fluids. He then checks my wrist before calling out my name again. “Penelope! What’s the matter? What are you feeling? Tell me, what’s wrong with you, Penelope.”


I could no longer hear his words as my mind continued to swirl in intoxication while my heart continued to swell in excruciating pain of my past. All I did was burst into tears as my body trembled in suffering. I didn’t know what happened next as I felt my body slumped on the cushion and my consciousness left me.


***


I got alarmed the moment I had a glimpse of Penelope straddling her chest, somewhat having a hard time breathing and weeping her hearts out. I did what any doctor would do by first checking her pupils and pulse. After seeing that all were stable and there’s not a hint of her having seizures whatsoever, my heart slowly calmed down. She might have been too intoxicated and must have stirred a past occurrence in her life that caused her to outburst suddenly.


I was left without a choice but to take her to her room the moment she passed out. I made a mental note not to let her drink too much while carrying her. Halfway to her room when I heard her whispering something that caused something in my heart to flinch.


“Michael… Why did you… Have to hurt me… This much… I gave you my all… Defy everything for you… Why so much pain… Michael…”


Hearing those words coming out from her lips and at her drunken state, automatically solidifies my hunches about her past experiences. I got a clue that she must have suffered a lot during the time we talked at the coffee shop, but I never thought it was too much that even in her unconscious state, her suffering from that man continues in devouring her.


All of a sudden, anger filled my heart for the man whom she called her ex-husband. I am clueless of what really happened to her and how all her sufferings had started, but seeing her this broken and totally fragmented, were enough for me to hate that man for hurting this precious woman.


As I gently lay her down on her bed, deep compassion filled my heart and grave pity. As I looked at her puffy eyes and cheeks soaked with burdensome tears, I couldn’t stop myself from cursing inside my head to the man who was the root cause for her to be damaged this way. Slowly, as light as a feather, I sat beside her as my eyes were fixed at her beautiful face. My hand tenderly caressed her cheeks and lightly brushed off those unwanted beads.


“If only you were mine, you wouldn’t cry those miserable tears, Penelope. You would only weep in joy and content in my hands. I would never allow you to shed a single drop if not because of happiness. You didn’t deserve to be this miserable, Penelope. It pains me witnessing how broken you are now. If only I could remove those pain away, I would have done it now, so you would no longer feel any remorse and suffer this much. Could you be mine? I could cherish you and take care of you more than that man could ever do. Just say you will and believe me, I will make you the center of my life.”


I was unaware that droplets of fluid were rolling down on my cheek. I got too attached to her that I could no longer perceive what was happening to me right now. All I ever knew was I wanted to give this woman all the love she deserves, all the care and pampering that I knew she never experienced in that man's hands. There was this eagerness inside of me to make her experience those wonderful feelings, which I knew she didn’t experience with her ex.


‘I will crawl into your heart, beautiful. Even if you don’t want to and even if you push me away, I will make a way to steal your heart. And once I successfully did it, you would never look back at those painful past ever again. I will help you forget about him. I will help you overcome your dreadful past by filling your hearts with happy memories and only joyful moments.’