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Maybe God thought that Luke was too good for this world. He
decided to bring him back to His side. Luke contracted
leukemia that fateful 1994. He kept his illness from me and
thus I didn't know anything about it at all. It was only
when he started looking sick that I noticed something was
wrong with him. When asked why, he would pass his paleness
off as a slight flu. I didn't believe his words but I didn't
say anything. It was September 1994.I was waiting at the
'Home' for Luke.' A call for you, Calista. It's from a
hospital,' a helper at the 'Home' passed the phone to me
worriedly.
'Yes, hello? This is Calista here. Can I be of any help?' I
asked, chewing my lips nervously, sensing bad vibes in my
spines. 'This is the Boulevard Hospital. We found your name
and this number in Mr Pietra's wallet. He had fainted on the
streets just now and someone brought him in. I was hoping
that you can come down to the hospital now and help us with
the documents.'
I hung up the phone and ran all the way in the rain to the
hospital which was a mile away.
I signed whatever documents that were needed and ran to the
ward that Luke was in. There he was my angel, lying almost
lifeless on a bed that seemed too large for him.
'Calista, is that you?' He asked when I held his cold hand.
'Yes it's me,' I choked on my words. 'Aww.. please don't
cry. Everything will be alright,' he smiled. I looked at his
pale face and it broke my heart. 'Luke,' I sobbed. 'Why is
God so unfair to you?' I bawled out on his chest.
He stroked my hair and said softly,' God is fair, my love.
He's gonna take me to a far better place called Heaven.
Don't you agree?' I didn't answer him as I was lost in my
own thoughts. I really didn't know what was going to happen
to me without him in my life. Moreover, I had this dreary
feeling about going to hospitals ever since I was young. I
felt so lost and detached from the world. Why must God take
away my one and only true love?
Three months had passed ever since Luke was admitted into
the hospital.
It was December and Christmas was nearing. My visits to Luke
had grew lesser over the three long painful months. Each
time I visited Luke, we would have nothing much to talk
about. There was always this awkward silence between us. I
didn't know what caused it but I guessed it had something to
do with the atmosphere in the hospital. Luke had lost his
cheerfulness over the months. He was always too tired to
talk. At times, he would try his best to listen to me while
I talked to him but the pills they fed him always put him to
sleep before I could finish. We drifted apart somehow
although I still loved him a lot. I had only visited him
once during December since I was busy working and the 'Home'
needed helpers desperately.
It was the 24th of December. I realized that I had not
visited Luke for almost three weeks! How funny time seemed
to fly when you were busy. I had prepared a gift for Luke
for the past two weeks. It was a piece of cardboard pasted
with 3D star stickers .I called the constellation that I
made up 'Love Luke'. I hurried to the hospital with the gift
in my hands. I walked briskly to Luke's ward. On the way
there, I felt a sudden fear in my heart. I didn't know why
but somehow, it made me hurry my pace. To my ultimate fear
and worst nightmare, Luke was not in his ward.
He was gone! I ran to the counter and asked for Luke but was
handed a package and a letter instead. I opened the letter
with my tears flowing down like mad.
'My beloved Calista, Please don't cry when you get this
letter. I just want to let you know that I will be happier
at the place where I'll be going soon. God and my parents
are waiting impatiently for me. I'm looking forward to see
them again. I know how busy you've been these past few weeks
and I really missed you terribly. I know how much U dreaded
coming to the hospital although U never said anything. I
felt it. To tell you the truth, I've thought of ending my
life at times to end the pain and loneliness that my illness
had brought me. However,I remembered that life is bestowed
by the love of God and it would be a terrible mistake to
kill myself just to escape misery.
Now, I'm glad God decided to take me away earlier. I don't
want to be a burden to you and I cant thank you enough for
all the love and patience that you had given me through the
hard times and the good times. U love me just the way I am
even though I cant even do a small thing like watch a movie
with you. Please don't blame God for taking me away. He does
it because He loves me, just as much as He loves you.
Don't ask why all the time. Things are planned and they are
meant to be this way. Don't keep thinking that God is unfair
and stop bearing grudges against him. God is a fair God.
Everything that you lost today will be compensated in
another way tomorrow. Just keep on believing. Remember that
I'll always love you even when I'm not by your side. U're
the most beautiful person that I've ever 'seen' in my life,
even though u r always complaining about the way you look.
Beauty comes from within. Just to tell u that u will always
be a part of me that I cant live without. Thank you once
again for your sweetness and your wonderful unselfish love.
P.S. I'm sorry that I cant celebrate Christmas with you.
Here's a gift I've prepared for you ever since the start of
December.
Love,
Luke.E.Pietra.
I tore open the package, sobbing all the while. Inside it
was a picture made up of tiny stickers of stars.On top of
the black paper was written 'Love Calista'. He too had made
up a constellation for me. I knew how much effort and time
he must have put in in making the gift since he wasn't able
to see. I cried my whole heart out that night at the
hospital. It was Christmas Day,25th of December,1994.Luke
was laid into the ground. The rain was coming down hard.
Nothing could describe my sadness. I was filled with
remorse. In my busyness, I had neglected Luke. I should have
spent more time with him. I didn't even get to see him for
one last time before he died. I didn't really treasure him
until he was gone. I missed him so much now. I wanted so
much to hug him and to tell him how much I loved him. But it
was all too late. I had let time slip by and it would never
come back to me. I had lost Luke forever. Forever, that word
suddenly sounded so strange to me as I watched Luke's coffin
being lowered into the ground.
I cried for the man who taught me the ways of life. The one
person who changed my views towards many things. The angel
who taught me to overlook others' flaws and to see the
beauty behind imperfections. The one who told me to accept
whatever cards that were dealt to me. Now this one person
had left my side forever. Gone like the two pieces of
pictures that carried the words 'Love Luke' and 'Love
Calista'. They were buried together with the memory of Luke.
Treasure what you have now before it becomes a regret, when
it becomes too late. Time always slips us by when we least
realize it. Let the people you love know what they mean to
you, because you never know what might happen......life is
too fragile.
Back to The Story Of A Blind man Part
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