e s o p h o r i a -all about my imperfections as a confused sinner.

Rhythm Of Life

She struggled, trying to get on her feet and fumbled again. The beady, innocent eyes of the one year old remained fixed on her parents. Overwhelmed by much excitement and elation, their child was finally learning how to walk! They watched intensely as the bundle of joy chuckle at its own unsuccessful attempts to walk.

Indeed, Trisha was the light of their lives. Bernard and Xing Rui. A couple who loved children but never had been successful for the past six years. Trisha was a divine intervention from God, miraculously brought into this world. Their fervent prayers and desperate cries in the past finally paid off.

The vibrant glow in her cheeks, glittery twinkle in her eyes and soft peals of laughter had brought much cadences and articulation to the couple’s rhythm of life. Even the gibberish as an attempt to speak, like her parents, seemed like melodically graceful tunes to their ears.

The rhythm of their life entered a different phase. A phase of lively, vibrant sounding tunes which seemed to diffuse happiness wherever they went. There was so much joy and pure exhilaration that came with the childlike exuberance dissipated from Trisha.

Time flew by quickly, like the fast paced rhythm of happiness that resembled their lives. It was nearing Trisha’s second birthday. She was due for her annual baby check up. Inquisitively natured, Trisha looked around as her round eyes scanned the clinic. It was finally her turn.

She did not cry upon entering the unfamiliar surroundings, unlike other toddlers. Her eyes wandered as she observed the settings of the place. Soon, the doctor carried out the usual procedures.

His eye brows furrowed as the creases in his face deepened. He shook his head gently as he averted his attention to Bernard and Xing Rui. His brows still knitted, panic seized the loving couple. They grabbed each other’s hands tightly, preparing for the worst.

The doctor pronounced that Trisha’s occasional slight fever was a symptom of cancer. Thus, confirmed that she was diagnosed with leukemia, cancer of the blood. The couple stared listlessly at the undersized two year old, still unaware of the tragedy that had befallen unto her.

Tears cascaded down their cheeks as they hugged each other in despair. The toddler stared at her mother’s flustered expression, as bewilderment overwhelmed Trisha. She had never seen her mother acting like that before. Cold realization began to dawn within Bernard and Xing Rui. Such unforeseen tragedy caused a plunge in their emotional status as the rhythm of their life started to weaken and change distinctively.

The familiar stench of disinfectants no longer stung Bernard’s nose as he walked down the same corridors. He was haggard and forlorn, as a deep sense of anguish was exhibited on his expressionless face. The once vibrant, lively, chirpy father looked as if he would falter at the slightest blow of emotional shock. His heart raced wildly as he rushed to his child’s weak cry for company during the painful yet regular procedure of chemotherapy.

Being present to see Trisha’s suffering filled the couple with dread and absolute devastation. Their lives was changed dramatically. Watching the only hope in their lives scrunch into a tight grimace of pain during the treatment was did not get anymore bearable as time passed. Trisha never seemed to get better either. She was weary and forlorn. The emotional turmoil was too much for a girl of her age to bear.

Trisha was reduced to a frail, pale and sickly child. In her thin, reedy voice , she requested for her favorite cartoon character to be printed on her two year old birthday cake as a celebration. Bouts of intense sorrow overwhelmed Bernard and Xing Rui as a surge of tears welled up in their eyes. They nodded in agreement as Trisha smiled weakly. Deep inside, both Bernard and Xing Rui were uncertain about Trisha’s ability to pull through. Thet had never felt so helpless and could not imagine a worse fate.

Trisha’s life faded away slowly and painfully the next day. The heart rate monitor beeped monotonously, in a total resemblance to the rhythm of Bernard’s and Xing Rui’s life. Cold, monotonous and dreary. The couple watched in rapt silence as their eyes laid fixed on the limp piece of their own flesh. Trisha let out a plaintive whine as pain consumed her slowly. More tears fell freely down the parent’s cheek as Bernard rushed forward to cuddle her. Trisha cowered in the warmth of her father’s chest for the last time.

As the monitor’s annoying beep penetrate the disconcerted silence in the room, vivid memories of Trisha flashed past their minds. The couple could not gather enough courage and fortitude to face such an adversity. Life, for Xing Rui and Bernard would never be the same again, and so will the rhythm of their lives. It will never be like before while Trisha was around. Trisha made the miraculous change in their rhythm of life.

Andrea Yim
12:04 AM