Chapter 178 - An Angel To Watch Over Me

Miss Perez sat up abruptly, forgetting the fact that she was hooked to different medical apparatus and IV lines. 

"What did you say, Miss?" she asked, her eyes round and full.

"Yes, ma'am. Your daughter was here a while ago, and she said her name is Cherry Perez. We are even amused at the similarity of your looks and your names. You are Cherry Rose, and she is plain Cherry. How are you usually addressed?"

"I'm widely known as Miss Perez by colleagues and clients, but my family calls me Rose. How does she look like?" 

"She's a young and simpler version of you."

Miss Perez smiled and closed her eyes, wondering who came and pretended that she was her daughter. Perhaps, her friend Grace pretended to be her daughter to prevent further questioning. Then she remembered that the nurse just told her that the woman was a younger and simpler version of herself. She then wondered if she was her real self, or she was back to her delusional self due to depression?

She thought of calling Grace, but before she could ask the nurse for her phone and bag, Grace entered the room. Relieved to see her awake and looking fine, Grace sighed and smiled.

"Miss Perez, how are you now?" 

"A little better, Grace. I can't thank you enough for assisting me. You may now go home."

Grace nodded and smiled. "Visiting hours are almost over. Rest well, and I'll stay with you longer when you are in a regular room."

Miss Perez then remembered what the nurse said. "Grace, tell me. Were you with me the whole time?"

"Yes, I was in the waiting lounge."

"Did you notice anyone coming over to see me?"

Afraid that Miss Perez would get angry for disturbing her privacy by telling Cherry about her admission, she hesitated to tell the truth. She chose to lie, in the end.

"No one except me came over to assist you, Miss."

"Are you sure?" she asked, wondering who she should believe. Grace or the nurse? Or was she hallucinating only and that the nurse was only a delusion?

"I am," Grace answered firmly, looking straight into her eyes.

The nurse who overheard them butted in,"I thought you heard us, ma'am, when we asked you to go out so that Miss Perez's daughter can come in."

Miss Grace's heart skipped a beat and she turned pale, ashamed of being caught lying. Somehow, she still managed to reason out. "Really, Miss? Perhaps because I got so worried about the status of my friend that I was out of my mind."

Miss Perez saw her reaction and thought she got horrified at the news. Grace knew about her daughter's loss and how much it affected her. "I understand, Grace. Hope to see you tomorrow."

_______

Cherry went to the mall and bought the things she planned to bring during the outing. She wanted to engulf herself in other things, hoping to forget her troubles for a moment. She was still confused and part of her was still hesitant to forgive. After going through different shops, she got tired and decided to take a break at a coffee shop.

Looking for an empty space at her favorite coffee outlet, she got frustrated when she saw that all the tables were occupied. She looked around and almost everyone immersed themselves in conversations or in their laptops. She turned to go and find another place but a girl who seemed to be ten years old held her arm.

"'Auntie, you can't find a seat? You may share my table."

Surprised by the offer, her mood lifted up and happily took her seat across her.

"Baby girl, you're alone?" she asked as soon as she settled herself and some of the things she bought at the empty chair beside her.

"Mom and dad went out to do groceries but I asked to stay here because I need to find a good musical background for the video I'm going to make for mom."

"Video?" Cherry confirmed, somewhat confused about what she meant as she was still so young to create video presentations.

"Tomorrow is Mother's Day so I want to create something special for mom."

"Really?" was all Cherry could say, taken aback by the news of a special event she had forgotten for a long time.

She tried to recall some memories of her and her mom when she was still ten years old. She then saw herself sitting on a chair and her mom brushing her hair, trying to tie it into different styles.

"You're beautiful, darling. You should learn how to keep yourself pretty always."

Her thoughts drifted also to a scene in the past when she fell on the ground and got her knees wounded.

"Darling, you should be careful. As a lady, you should keep your skin flawless. Look, you might have a scar."

One day, she got herself into trouble when she fought with a boy and the latter slapped her. She went home crying and her mom hugged her tight.

"While I am alive, no one should hurt you or else, they might experience what hell is like," she heard her mom said as she comforted her.

Her daydreaming ended when the voice of the child pierced in her ear. "Look, auntie, I have chosen three songs. Can you help me decide on what's best among the three?"

A song titled, "An Angel To Watch Over Me" by Sally Deford caught her eye. She turned on the video player and listened to every word it says. The slow tempo and the melancholy of the music pierced deeply into her heart and she found herself brushing away her hot and stubborn tears.

She watched by my cradle through long, sleepless night                                  She taught me to pray as she knelt by my side

She guarded my childhood and all through the years

She echoed my laughter, she counted my tears

In the arms of my mother, I came to believe

That God sent an angel to watch over me

She taught me the meaning of courage and faith

She taught me to live with the Lord as my strength

She taught me to follow the pathway he marked

She guided my steps when the journey grew dark

And I know there were dangers that I could not see

But God sent an angel to watch over me

She taught me to serve with a spirit that sings

She taught me to seek after heavenly things

And because of her love and her kindness and care

Because of the place that I hold in her prayers

And because of her goodness, I still believe

That God sent an angel to watch over me.