1 Sunrise-a long prologue
The engines of the plane are too loud but in Alexander's mind,Its only him and his son,Ren.
Tears are both flowing from their eyes.Its a regular goodbye from a father to a son yet this moment, it's not the father who is leaving,its the 4 year old child.
5 months earlier,
3:00 am.The wind is blowing hard again.
Temperature is nearly negative and the fog is still thick.
Alexander,a farmer gave a glimpse to his wife Leah and their children Ren and Xandra.
Ren is three years older than his sister which is now 5 months old.
He smiles,put his dusty boots on and exists his home while carrying a hoe.
The coldness of the wind penetrates his thick jacket and gave his body a chill.
He grinds his teeth and continues to the mountainous vegetable terraces.
Alexander builds his strength and manually plows the ground continuously untill the sun has risen.
An echoing "Daddy!!!" was heard and as he looked up, a sweet smiling child embraced by the rays of the sun is calling for him.
Its time for breakfast.
He wipes his cold sweat,carries his kid and walked home.He could not explain it but his heart is beating so fast.So fast that he cannot respond to his child's questions.
Arriving to the house,he was shocked.His tears are about to fall.His wife is lying on the ground,unconscious.Immediately,he picks her up.His son starts to cry while he makes him promise not to leave his sleeping sister.
His kid nodded and in haste,he picks his wife up and carried her.Not caring about being tired,he climbed a mountain and crossed a river just to get to a far neighbor who owns a car.
Upon arrival he begs the owner to give them a ride to the hospital.Witnessing the condition of the wife,the owner immediately started the engine and rushed to the nearest Hospital.
A red light started to darken the moment his wife entered a certain room.Unable to do anything ,he bowed and prayed.
An hour later,doctors came out looking really tired.Nurses guided Alexander to the bed where his wife is lying.She is wrapped in many injections and apparatus.Seing her like this really broke his heart.
"Are you the husband?"asked a doctor behind him."Yes I am,"he answered."Im sorry sir,this is all what we can do.Your wife has a brain cancer which was most likely ignited by an accident when she was young.This affected the part of her brain that maintains her consciousness.We still don't know when will she wake up.Sir stay strong".
The words of the doctor released a ton of tears from his eyes.He cannot talk even if he wanted to.His heart is in a pain he never had before.
He sat quietly on the floor and without knowing,he slept.He immediately stood upon remembering his children at home.
He gave a kiss to his wife 2:00 in the morning and rushed home.He thought he had enough heartbreak for the day but he was wrong.
He saw a bowl with a mixture of powdered milk and water.Next to it was his 3 year old child Ren hugging his sister. Ren is trying to fed his sister even with little knowledge about how to do it.He slowly carried them to their bed and sat beside them.
"What did they do to deserve this?Why does it have to be them,why not me?"
A question that circulates in his mind.The next hour,the sun started to rise but its not the regular sunrise.
Its the saddest sunrise that ever happened to him.He wakes his children up,fed them and dressed them up.
They hiked and visited Leah in the hospital.Upon 3 hours of walk,they finally arrived.The first son,Ren started crying as he saw his mother.
Hours become days.A nurse was headed towards him and gave tons of papers.
Alexander humbly apologized and asked if they can read what is in the papers.
"Sir these are your bills,this is a government hospital so consultations are free but you need to pay for the weekly medications.You will need $50000-100000 a month."
This stopped his world.Immediately thinking on how could he pay that amount.
He cannot feel anything at that moment. Only his pained heart and his flowing tears.He cannot do anything.His legs became weak.
He sits down into the floor alleys with his head down.
"Excuse me.Are you okay"
"Im Jake, I am sitting earlier in that bench when I saw you, Is there a problem?"
Alexander looked up with his teary eyes.
"No it's okay,I'm sorry for bothering you.Thanks. "
Alexander stood up and went to his wife's room.
Without him knowing Jake followed him,on that moment,a nurse approached and he took the opportunity to ask some questions.
"Miss, excuse me.May I ask about what happened to the patient inside this room"?
The nurse explained the situation.
"Sir the patient is in comatose which is most likely induced by an accident from her past years.She needs medication and it cost a lot,I believe that is the reason for the actions of the husband."
Jake softly said thanks and gave a glimpse before leaving.
Alexander is now looking at his wife.His mind is filled with how's and why's.His tears is now dripping again to his daughter whom he was carrying.The savings they had are almost gone.
Without any relatives,he doesn't have anyone to depend on.A morning after, a receipt came with instructions of buying medicines.It costs a lot.
When he looked at his pocket,its barely enough for a two day food for them.When the Doctor came he begged him and tried to asked if the hospital can help them but the doctor didn't even answer.He bowed down,went to his knees and cried but nothing happened.
Without knowing what's happening,Ren-the first son,cried and hugged his father from the back.
"Dad,what's happening?"
Alexander didn't answer,he just hugged him back.
"Mister,in this hospital, unable to pay the medications and bills will force us to transfer you to another hospital"
With his face touching the floor,Alexander once again pleaded but there was no answer.A moment later,he felt a tap on his shoulder. Its Jake.
"Stand up Mr.Alexander.Doctor,I will pay the bills."
He gave the needed money and helped Alexander in getting up.
"Thank you,thank you very much.One day I will return the favor,I promise."
No,don't mind it,says Jake.
Maybe I should introduce myself properly this time.As you know,Im Jake,Im from the U.S and Im here for a vacation.I'm with my wife,her name is Sarah.
They heard a knock on the door and a woman opened it.She is tall,blonde,and looks sweet.
"Is this the correct room?Hi Jake,Is this him."
"Yes this is Alexander,this is Ren,his son and this is his daughter."
Alexander greets the woman and thank them again for their kindness.
Eventually,they became acquaintances.Jake and his spouse helped Alexander on taking care of his children for almost two months.
Because of this,Alexander continued his work in his farm.Everyday, he visits his wife at the hospital which always break his heart.
Two weeks after the incident,when Alexander is about to enter his wife's room,he noticed something different.
The room is filled with nurses.
"Excuse me,what is happening? "asks Alexander.
"Honey,is that you?"
A familiar voice stunned Alexander. His wife is awake. She is in her bed and is undergoing minor examinations.
As the nurses went out of the room,Alexander rushed to his wife.
"Leah,oh my God"
"Thank you Lord you are awake"
"I missed you very much"
"What do you need"
"Alex,Im okay im just dizzy and my head hurts".
"How are the kids?Are they okay?"
"Yes they are okay"replies Alexander.
He embraced his wife once again.Suddenly someone opened the door.
Its jake and his wife.
"Oh my God,Oh my God"
"She is awake."
Surprised by the scene, the couple immediately congratulates Alexander.
"Honey these couple are angels sent by God.They helped us with financial matters "explains Alexander.
"Wow thank you so much,I cannot think of a way which we can pay you but maybe one day "
Sarah,Jake's wife smiles and tells Leah that they don't have to think about that.
"Leah, Events come with a purpose, dont regret them"
Jake and his spouse left. Jake also gave a warm kiss to the forehead of her wife and got ready to return home.
"Honey,I will be back with the children".
Two days later,
"Good Morning,Im the doctor of Leah.If you want you can be discharged."
"Alex honey,lets go home please"pleaded Leah.
The doctor explains that if that would be the decision they can be out afterwards.
"Using the credit card that was given to as by a certain man,I think your cleared.Maam please take care of your health "Adds the doctor.
A little later they went home.
"Alexander,I'm very sorry for what happened,if i just took care of my self then this could not happen."
"Stop it Leah,its not your fault. Its nobody's fault.Let's just be thankful that you are now okay."
Alexander has been trying really hard after his wife was discharged. He is taking care of his wife and children while looking for a way to gain money for the following days.
"Dad, I want to have that toy!"
"Dad my sister needs to have her diaper changed "
"Dad,my sister is crying "
"Aww my head is aching again."
Despite the hardship, Alexander decided to be strong for his family.Every day he is working nonstop while taking care of the children.
Every night before he sleeps,the pain in his muscles climbs through his body but he won't utter any words about it.
Everytime he looks at his family, tears build on his eyes.
"Did I do something really horrible that my family have to endure this?"
While working in his farm ,two familiar faces appeared.
"Oh God this is killing me.Oh hi Alexander,your house is very far I can't believe you"
Its Jake and his wife.They came to let Alexander know that they are leaving.Alexander once again thanked them thoroughly ang they gladly accepted it.
While looking at Alexander's situation, Sarah proposed something.
"We are leaving the day after tomorrow. I noticed that you have pressure on you because you have many things to take care of.We want to help you"
"Alexander,we would like to take your Son to the U.S"
"You might want to think about it tonight "
Alexander didn't know what to say. He didn't know what to feel. The night after that,he cannot sleep.Together with his wife they discussed and tried to decide on what would be best for their son.
In the middle of the night,both of them are crying.
"Honey I am against on being away with my child but it is the best for him"
They finally decided to let their child go
When Jake and Sarah returned, they found out that they agreed.They were so happy and promised that they will take care of Ren.
An hour before the departure, Jake and Sarah are waiting for Alexander to take Ren to them.It has already been thirty minutes but Alexander won't show up.
Jake went to check and he is shocked on what he found.
He found a teary eyed couple embracing their son.
Jake gave them a few moments and they finally decided to start in letting Ren go.
The engines of the plane are too loud but in Alexander's mind,Its only him and his son,Ren.
Tears are both flowing from their eyes.Its a regular goodbye from a father to a son yet this moment, it's not the father who is leaving,its the 4 year old child.
"Son We love you. "
