With a heavy breathing, she opened her eyes only to be met with darkness, touching her pillow, the brim of sweat that socked the sheet was evident on her arms , her eyes were already moist due to the tears that poured out unconsciously.
Turning to the side, Isabelle switched on the light stand at the corner, stretched her hand to pick up the bottle water placed on the small stool beside her bed . It has already been a culture to have water by her side after waking up from her long sleep.
With one click, the top cover was pulled out, without any more delay. She drank directly as much as her little mouth could take in.
The inpatient led to a few drops that slowly escaped from the corner of her mouth down her slender neck,
Still in a hurry, Isa choked in between the lines, and was forced to put down the water which lightly splashed on the bed sheet.
After calming a bit, she arranged her pillow and placed it firmly on the head rest. Adjusting her upper self to sit upright.
Now in her adult consciousness, Isabelle made a bitter laugh.
It's been 4 months since she woke up from a coma that lasted for 3 years. Everyone says it's a miracle,only she knows how much she wished to have died instead of living like this.
The accident of 3 years ago is still very fresh somewhere in her memory.
When life has just been good, after much struggles she could finally live on her dreams and pay back the good deeds of her foster parents and brother.
Isabelle was literally an orphan who hadn't known her real parents from birth.
Mr Andrew, who did the job of a community laborer, tagged along with his fellow colleagues who set out to access the neighboring town that had experienced the earthquake.
In such occasion, was a baby cry
heard.
Initially, Andrew thought of taking her to the orphanage home in his town, which he did truly. On getting there, he discovered he couldn't bear separating with the child, He adopted and took her to his home.
Sarah, his wife, was a simple woman who after hearing about the misfortune, pitted the innocent child and warmly embrace without a second thought.
After so long of waiting, the couple gave birth to a son.
However, there was no difference in attitude. Isabelle knew of her story when she was in her first year in college. Life became harder as days went by. Her foster parents were not wealthy and on her own, she had to put up with a part-time job to lessen the burden off her parents' neck.
Isa had always been the jovial and hard working girl, who had scaled through life hardship and was awarded a scholarship after her college exams into the university.
It didn't become easier even during her university days, not until her hard work was once again recognized and landed her a job as a psychologist in one of the most prominent hospitals in Country D.
Life became good and smooth, soon promoted as the head doctor. At the peak of her greatness, Isabelle met with the most frightening stage in her life.
Hitted a spot while dealing with a mentally ill patient, was a simple incident that nearly cost her life. Unknowingly to Isabel, the patient wasn't just mentally deranged but was physically violent and had a dangerous object at her disposal.
Cut off guard, Isabel was stabbed right in her forehead and other parts of her body, later discovered by a cleaner on the top floor where the psychiatric wards was located.
That fateful day took on a turn for Isabel, who became in a vegetable stage. For so long as 3 years, she finally opened her eyes only to discover her younger self living in her adult body.
At first, everyone thought it was due to her long slumber, only to discover she was suffering from a split personality in one body.
Her younger self and older self seems to be two different souls living in one body.
It was chaotic.
Being one of the best in her field, and suffering from the same problem she treats and very well knows that there's no cure to it.
Lost in her own world, Isabella slowly drifted back to sleep, only to be met with a bucket list, in the hand of her younger Isabel. She looked down at it, remembering the time and date she wrote each and everyone of them.
Just like a trace, everything cleared.
Isabelle was woken up by the bim sound of her alarm.
This time, it happens to be her younger self in possession of the adult’s body. As a psychiatrist, somewhere within her mind she knew she wasn't incharge of her of herself as at that time but was a little conscious.
Choosing to relax, even while still in the dark, she allowed her older self to take the lead.
Imagine a 12 year old in the body of a 27 year old adult. In such a state, younger Isabelle explores all around, fulfilling each and every one of the bucket lists.
When she had her full, fatigue took over her body and she lay down on the bed to sleep.
Waking up the next morning, she knew something had changed, it's like a huge load had been lifted off her neck.
Realizing what it was, she said a simple three letter word, “welcome back Isabelle”.
Who knew, in these four months of pain, she was the antidote to her problem.
