House Arrest

This is due to my recuperation from the near-death experience yesterday at church. To which, my sister's cool reaction was, "Why ate, nawisikan ka ba ng holy water? Ha...ha... Anyway, here's what happened:

We were all standing for the singing of "Our Father". Two lines into the song, I see spots of white. I felt nauseous. I had to sit down, grasped my forehead, closed my eyes, and got transported to another place and time. I was dreaming when I felt two strong hands grab me by my shoulders, then pain near my elbows. I felt disoriented. I figured, I passed out and fell face-first. The stranger caught me before my head hit the hard cement.

I tried opening my eyes but I see white-- fortunately not the kind of white light at the end of the tunnel. It was as if a thin cloth was pulled over my eyes. I cringed. There was pain in my abdomen (puson) as if something is being crushed inside. I passed out the second time.

When I came to, people were in queues. Oh, communion. Then a sharp pain in my nape. I was sweating, but I felt cold. I closed my eyes for the third time (grateful that it was not the last).

There comes a time when you are left with no choice but to trust other people and allow them to help you. Let me rephrase that-- Near-death or not, I always have to trust other people and allow them to help me.

I opened my eyes again. This time, no more white cloth. I said, 'Water, please." The "lady" assisted me towards the side of the church, near the garden. No longer queasy but the pain in my abdomen and legs were too much to bear. In a fetal position, I was grabbing at my abdomen, face distorted in pain. I wanted to cry. Then I saw a painting in the garden-- Jesus kneeling down, praying. And I thought, for sure my pain was nothing compared to the agony He had at the garden. I offer a prayer. Inhale... Exhale...

At this point, there were more people. The "lady" brought me water. Someone was massaging my hand. Another was pressing her thumb at the midsection above my upper lip (I don't know what it's called). One was fanning over my face. Somebody rubbed my back with efficacent oil. And another brought atis leaves for me to sniff.

Some were just standing, watching and murmuring, "Ang putla nya." "Baka nausog." "Sa init yan." "Baka naglilihi." (Haha. I just wish).

With the kind of collaboration that just happened, who would not be revived? And as sudden as it had hit, the pain went away (never to return, I hope).

It felt nice to be cared for. When you are someone who had too few hugs for more than two decades, you'd feel warm and fuzzy to be cared for, even by strangers.

I thanked everybody. I got the "lady's" name-- Lou of JP Rizal St. I wanted to get her number so I can thank her appropriately. I went against it because I thought she would feel better thinking that she was able to help someone who can never repay her.

I'll just pay it forward.

I thanked God for my second life.

I pulled out my phone from my pocket, and the first person I call was "him". But that is another story. *wink*

-Verna