Above Cloud Nine — Chapter 36: SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW

The whole city was saddened by the earthquake that happened that night. Kamilla and Rose was all over the news. It was a pure luck that they were both alive when rushed to the hospital after being rescued by the firefighters and related personel that helped them as fast as they could. They were confined and Kamilla was the last to regain her consciousness.

She could hear a lot of voices. It's like she's being placed inside a room with full of people.

"I can't accept it! I just can't!" Kamilla could hear her mom's voice. Yes, she's very sure that it was indeed her.

"Let's respect her decision. She insisted it before she even fainted."

"She doesn't need to do that!" She felt like her mom ran out of words already.

They stayed in the hospital for nearly about two months. Kamila and Elizabeth Rose both made it but these were the days that they need to rest and heal from the operation they shared together.

"K-Kamilla?" She heard a familiar voice. She's very sure that it was Mr. Bernard, Rose's father.

She slowly opened her eyes. When she felt like the light almost pierced her, she closed her eyes again.

"Kamilla...please open your eyes." Bernard encouraged her to do it. She followed right away. She opened her eyes again and this time, she could see blurry faces. She slowly blinked her eyes until she could recognize the faces that's inside the room.

"Dear, how was it? Can you see us clearly?" She slowly looked at the one beside her. She could recognize him as the doctor because of what he's wearing.

"Y-Yes, doctor." Kamilla answered in a weak voice. Her mother stood up as she cried while going out of the room.

"M-Mom?"

When Kamilla remembered Rose, a rush of panic ran through her veins.

"R-Rose! Where is Rose? Sir, I need to talk to Rose!" Kamilla shrieked as she moved her hands and body as if wanted to get away with all the apparatus that's connected to her body.

"My dear Kamilla...please calm down. You need to rest first." Kamilla tried so hard to move that the doctor decided to inject her to calm and sleep for a while.

When Bernard was sure enough that Kamilla slept again, she followed Kamilla's mom outside.

"Why did you let her decide that way? Why?" She held his collar as she close her fist. She's crying miserably as she hits his chest with her closed fist. He tried to stop her by getting both her hands and hug her instead.

"That was Elizabeth Rose's wish, love. She never asked anything from me, ever since. It was the very first request she'd made all her life."

"You're her father! You should've stopped her. Bernard, I wil never forgive you for what you did to my baby!" She said between sobs.

He caressed her back to comfort her. He couldn't blame her for feeling this way. She never experienced being with Elizabeth Rose for a very long time. She must've been really hurt from what Elizabeth Rose decided for herself.

***flashback***

At the night after Kamilla fainted, many rescuers came inside the room. Rose witnessed all the glass residues pierced on most parts of Kamilla's body, including her face. There were splatter of blood everywhere. She could see it clearly through the flashlight that the rescuers flashed before them.

"Sir, please...do your best to save my best friend! Please!" Rose weakly pleaded the rescuers as they also gently lay her down on the stretcher.

"Yes, dear. We will do our best. Please don't worry too much." There were a lot of ambulances rushing towards the hospital. Rose was wounded but seeing Kamilla's situation, it affected her so much. She couldn't stand looking at her best friend that's almost dying trying to save her from the glass residues that was broken from the window of their room.

Kamilla underwent an operation while Rose was treated as well.

"Are you the guardian of Kamilla?" The doctor asked as he went near Rose and her father. They nodded. Rose was crying while pleading to her father. It was a life and death situation to be decided right away.

"Sir, we need an eye donor right away. The patient's eyes were greatly affected. If we couldn't perform an operation right away, it might damage her brain and it would cause her death."

"I am willing, dad!"

"Elizabeth Rose, no!"

"Dad, please. I want it. I really do. Just please save Kamilla for me."

Bernard held both of her shoulders as he looked at her. He cried as he saw her baby smiled with tears on her eyes. How could she be this selfless?It made him question himself of what kind of father was he to her. She could able to give a piece of her own, no questions asked. No pride allowed. All selfless act involved.

He hated himself for raising an angel more than a daughter of her own. He swallowed and by agreeing to her wish, the doctor put her to sleep right away.

***end of flashback***

"How could you allow your daughter to be permanently blind? How, Bernard?" She said, pulling his sleeve as she wailed in front of him. A lot of people were looking at Wilma but she doesn't care anymore.

"Please don't blame me. She did all of that for Kamilla. You're never there to know everything that they've been through for her to decide on it right away."

"You're her guardian! You should've known better! I hate you!" She shouted on top of her lungs that caught the attention of most patients and their folks that stayed outside the hospital.

He gently pulled her closer to him. He led her inside his car for them to talk more in private there. When Bernard felt that she's calmer, he held her hands.

"You also need to consider Kamilla and the future that lies ahead of her. She's been really dear to Elizabeth Rose."

"I've never loved her. Not even once. In fact, when I gave birth to her, I felt I got all the bad luck in the world."

"You should be thankful that both of our children were alive by now. Elizabeth Rose did not only save Kamilla but herself, as well.

"W-What do you mean?"

"Would you like Elizabeth Rose to live all her life full of regrets? What if Kamilla really died because she refused the kind of help she should've offered her if given a chance?" Bernard could still see tears flowing on her cheeks as she looked at him. This time, she became silent as she listened his side.

"Your baby Elizabeth Rose is brilliant, love. She knew what to do before I could even realize it myself."

"I feel sorry for Elizabeth Rose. She deserve better."

"Have you tried loving Kamilla with all of your heart?"

"She's not my child. She's a daughter of the devil."

"Please...open your heart in loving Kamilla. That guy," She met her eyes as she cried once more.

"He told me everything. He regretted everything that he has done to you. He is still serving his imprisonment for a lifetime until now. However, I admire him because he reached out for me and told me everything."

Kamilla's mother hugged Bernard right away. From the days she stayed in the hospital, it was their only chance to have a heart-to-heart talk because everybody is busy taking care of both parties: Elizabeth Rose and Kamilla.

"I am willing to accept Kamilla in the family. After all, they were sisters no matter how often you will deny Kamilla from me."

"Bernard, I don't know what to say. You're exactly the boy version of our baby Elizabeth Rose." She said between sobs. She felt her heart is overflowing with happiness because of what she heard from him.

"You heard me right. Kamilla will be staying in my house as soon as she will be discharged from the hospital." They hugged once more. When Bernard told Elizabeth Rose everything, she couldn't help but cry out loud. That was mixed emotions of love, fulfillment and completeness that she felt for the first time in her life.

"Mom, my decision was right all along. I have loved Kamilla from the very first time I saw her. Who would've thought that she's really my sister? I am really happy."

"My baby...I don't know what to say. Y-You're blind now—"

"Mom, I don't consider myself as one. I could adapt to this environment right away. The important thing is my sister is alive."

"My baby, you're one in a million. You're the best thing that happened in my life. I love you so much." She hugged Elizabeth Rose. And when she let go of her, Elizabeth Rose slowly reached out until she could feel her mother's cheek. She caressed it as she smiled.

"I love you too, mom. I miss you more even if you're just beside me."

"My precious baby, mommy will be here now. I will never, ever leave your side. I promise."

"Thank you mom. Thank you for your love." She transferred her hands down to her mother's hands. As she held both of it tight, she could see Elizabeth Rose's face lightened up.

"Mom? Can I ask a favor?"

"Anything from you, my baby."

"Mom, would you promise to love Kamilla as much as you love me, too?"