ANNIE

    Annie lies in bed.  The sun was up but she barely sees what's outside.  It's another day in the four corners of her room but she has lots of things to do, a lot of books to read, a lot of thinking, a lot of praying...she has to do everything before the sun beads her goodbye...

    Annie was a happy girl.  She has a very happy point of view towards life.  She's never made it hard for herself because she believes in acceptance.  She has always accepted things on a positive way.  She's taught by her parents that things don't turn out the way she wanted it to be because it's the will of God and that if ever she wanted something to happen, she has to work for it.  Her parents would always say that she's the driver of her car and God is the tour guide.  As Annie grows, she has manifested in herself all her parents' teachings.  And for this, her parents became very happy and contented with the way they have molded Annie.  They know that Annie have become responsible and they were very proud of what she has become but there are things only Annie knew...

    When Annie was 5, she fell from her bike, had a few bruises but she didn't tell her parents.  She knew she has to learn things on her own.  When she was in grade school, a classmate always bugs her.  He calls her "acne" instead of her name.  But she didn't mind.  She didn't hold a grudge although sometimes she really gets irritated and angry.  She knew that the kid would stop teasing her sooner or later and if ever he doesn't stop, Annie doesn't care -- not at all.  She never told her parents about this.  When she was in fourth year, she had her first boyfriend.  She introduced Kyle to her parents and Kyle did the same way.  But in a few months' time, she saw Kyle dating other girls.  She was hurt and of all the things that happened to her, this one caused her so much pain.  She still managed to talk to Kyle.  She broke up with him.  Kyle didn't like the idea but after a lot of explaining Annie did, they walked their ways away from each other.  The emotional pain caused her so many sleepless nights.  It took quite a long time before she could get over Kyle.  But she has to.  She tried indulging herself into a lot of things.  She read books, she joined clubs, she participated in school activities.  And it paid off.  She has no time at all to think about the pain her love for Kyle caused her.  She forgot about it and she didn't notice she was completely over him.  She didn't tell anyone about this.  She has her parents and friends but she didn't want to burden them with her personal problems because she knows that they also have their own burdens. 

    In college, Annie experienced more of the harsh of life but it didn't take her far from herself.  She'd overcome almost everything.  She made herself differently strong.  And for every problem, for every trouble and for every heartache, she would always learn and she would always be stronger.  Truly, the pain have always made her stronger and better.  It's as if nothing could break her down but...death.

    One day, while walking through the lobby of the university, she felt something quite different.  She felt cold and dizzy, everything became blurred.  She held her things closely to her.  She started uttering her little prayer but everything was turning gray...until she sees nothing but darkness.  The next thing she knew was she's lying in bed.  She saw an unfamiliar smile in front of her.  It was the university doctor.  

    "Thank God you're awake!  Annie...sorry we checked on your things...anyway, I already called your mother and she'll be here any minute," the doctor said.

    "Thanks, doc.  What happened to me?"  Annie asked.

    "You fainted at the lobby.  We checked on you already.  Annie, there's something wrong about you.  I haven't found it  yet but I advise you to have yourself checked up by a specialist.  How long have you been feeling this?"

    "I've been feeling the dizziness thing since high school but it's the first time that I faint.  Whatever you said, I would do it but please promise not to tell anyone else...including my mother??"  Annie was almost begging to the doctor and she was almost teary.

    "You shouldn't do it that way, that would be harder for your parents...but if that's what you want then I won't interfere," concluded the doctor.

    When her mother arrived, she took Annie home.  Annie never told her what exactly happened.  She and the doctor said she fainted because of empty stomach.  The next day, Annie went to the clinic the university doctor referred her to.  She had herself checked.  When she got home in the afternoon, she felt differently again.  She felt weaker, she felt like doing nothing else but lie on her bed.  On the third day, she came back to the clinic for the result of her check-up.  On her way home, she felt helpless but she didn't want to tell her parents about what's happening.  She believed in her strength, she believed that these are God's plans.  She believed that nothing else could break her down...but death. 

    And death came near.  She has leukemia and in the four corners of her room, she wrestled with it.  But the signs were showing off.  Her parents took her to the hospital.  And she hated herself for causing her parents the pain she wouldn't want them to suffer from.  This is a time of no choice... no choice at all.

    Annie lies in bed.  The sun was up but she barely sees what's outside.  It's another day in the four corners of her room but she has lots of things to do, a lot of books to read, a lot of thinking, a lot of praying...she has to do everything before the sun beads her goodbye...

    Her mother came in, teary-eyed as usual, with a priest Annie requested.  Her mother could not accept what's happening to her but after hearing Annie, she finally gave up her life to the Redeemer.  Annie's mother realized that Annie had lived her life and that her journey has to end....Annie told her it would be better this way than being raped or murdered... still bringing out the positive things out of her death.  And on the bed, Annie lies helpless, weak and only a few breaths away from a place beyond.  But she smiles.  She smiles at the sight of the last things she could ever see.  She smiled at the priest, she smiled at her parents, she smiled at everything... and she passed away...peacefully.

    Annie lies in bed.  Traces of tears were still on her face...and the smile on her lips is not fading.  Annie is gone but her smile will still be remembered.  She was a strong girl and nothing broke her down.  She was a strong girl and not even death broke her down.