Charles' Beneficiary (1)

Meanwhile, at the National Hospital for Eyecare, there was a young man about 25 years old lying in total darkness. His head bandaged all over except that of his nostrils and mouth where tubes were inserted . He had been unconscious for two weeks since he was admitted. According to gathered information, he was found out by local residents in the Northern Region as a foreign tourist who visits the place every year since three years ago. He was a mountain climber and a famous blogger.

Accordingly, the weather had been foggy and humid that day when the watchmen found him at the base of the 2,500 feet cliff. His face was unrecognizable and he has no much things on him for proper identification. However, when they saw that he was a foreign tourist, the watchmen immediately brought him to the nearest hospital where he was finally identified having taken out a piece of properly folded paper slipped at the innermost pocket of his tight shorts. The Hospital contacted the number written on it and emailed the email address on it as well. After treating his slight body injuries for a week, the general doctors recommended him to be forwarded to the National Hospital for Eyecare. Apparently, his head has had the hardest hit and his eyes were plucked out by some pointed objects. He needed eye transplant.

At the National Hospital for Eyecare, his doctors enlisted him in the waiting list as the top most beneficiary of any eye donor. Meanwhile, Mr. and Mrs Carlson were also wracking their social media accounts to ask any eye donor for their only son. They posted a great sum of money for anyone who will bring them as soon as possible. They were ridiculed and scolded on social media for their arrogance. Probably it was not their intention to be arrogant but it came out that way to the readers. In the end, the couple who owns the Biggest textile company in the US just resigned to wait for donors. Mrs. Carlson flew immediately to the Philippines to check his son's condition. After seeing that his son's doctors and nurses were very attentive and caring, he arranged his son to a VIP ward and deposited a large sum of money under his son's hospital fund then went back home. Their business had been expanding to Europe and she needed to attend so many businesses engagements aside from his husband's engagements.

After having been enlisted as a top eye beneficiary for two weeks, the doctors were becoming anxious. They would need to permanently close the wounds if there was no donor in the next couple of weeks..

....

That early Monday morning, four people entered the office of the head surgeon at the Philippine Heart Center. Mr. Marquez pushed his son's wheelchair inside as Mrs. Marquez and Daryle followed close behind.

"Good morning Mr. and Mrs. Marquez, good morning Charles, and this is...?" The surgeon was very professional. He didn't fail to greet everyone in his presence.

"Daryle, my daughter. " Mr. Marquez suddenly said, seeing the interest in the doctor's eyes.

"Good morning Daryle, nice to meet you! Please take your seats." He gestured with his hand and smiled as he took his seat.

Charles was still asleep. He was probably exhausted from the long trip.

The surgeon asked some questions about Charles' past condition and his latest body reactions. After having all his information sheet fille up, he looked at Charles who was still asleep.

He looked at the other three behind the sleeping handsome young man and sighed.

"I regret that we could not find a donor for him after these long years. He was on the toplist of heart beneficiaries for the past four years but none matched his." The surgeon explained.

Mr. and Mrs. Marquez bowed their heads as they wiped their eyes. Daryle handed them some tissue from her packet. "Uncle, Aunty, please be strong now." She whispered as she gently patted their shoulders.

The doctor noted her words calling them "uncle and aunty" when in fact Mr. Marquez introduced her as his daughter a while before. He smiled inwardly as he looked at Daryle with an affectionate gaze.

"We can move him to the private ward now. If he will not wake up by this afternoon, then we can start preparing ourselves...sir, madam" He said gently. He pressed the button at the side of his desk. Not a minute later, two nurses who looked polite and gentle mannered appeared.

"Please take them to the private ward. " He ordered the two young nurses. They moved quickly and efficiently as one took over the wheelchair while the other one moved ahead to open everything door. The three of them followed.

After they were settled in their private room, they all lied down in exhaustion till noon. There were frequent rounds of nurses who came to check on Charles' condition. When the couple saw that their son was not yet waking up, they asked the nurse about some certain information. The nurse nodded a lot of times and then invited them to the nurse's station. They gave them a list and some information sheet to fill up.

Daryle, on the other hand was watching Charles inside. His face became much darker and his breathing barely heard. She can't help but hold his hand and stroke his hair as she whispered close to his ear.

"Charles, are you hearing me?"

There was a gentle squeez from his hand. He was listening.

"Charles, I love you. I'm here beside you. Please wake up now" She followed up.

He struggled to open up his eyes and smiled faintly. He slowly turned his head towards her.

" Hi beautiful..." he said then inhaled silently. "I'm going to die ... feee....ling really haaaa....ndsome. " he managed to stretch his breath as he tried to lift his other arm to reach her nearly tearing eyes.