Archanghel: Tale of the Universe

Chapter 31

Xandriel opened her eyes. The first thing that greeted her was the ceiling of their room. From her side, she could hear Janus’s voice cooing to someone and the little cry of a child.

“Hush, little one. You’re going to wake your mammy up. Do you want that?”

Xandriel turned her head to see her husband, Janus, with their baby in his hand. Janus was doing his best to put the child to sleep, but the child was reluctant. Instead, he just kept crying. That put Janus in a dilemma. Xandriel smiled at the sight she was seeing. She did not expect to see Janus in a bind. He looked cute.

“Xandriel, you’re awake.” Janus was shocked as he saw his wife looking at him.

He looked at Xandriel apologetically as he continued to sway the child in his arms gently and gently leaned down to let Xandriel see the child. Xandriel's smile only grew when he finally got to see the child. She had carried him for nine months and then delivered him for hours, all the while enduring the pain. She touched the child’s cheek and it stirred towards her hand.

“How long had he been crying?” Xandriel asked as she watched the mouth of the child following her fingers' movement.

“Not long enough. I think I know what he was crying about but I was reluctant to wake you up since you’re tired.” Janus put the child beside his wife when Xandriel extended his arms to get the child.

He helped Xandriel carry the child gently on her chest. When Xandriel pulled her shirt up, Janus turned away and stood up. He rubbed the back of his head and was looking at the window shyly.

“Should I step out?” He finally asked when he couldn’t take the awkwardness anymore. Xandriel looked at him, who was trying to give her some privacy and the way his eyes tried to peek at the child brought amusement to Xandriel. She almost laughed out loud at the question. Janus was still the same as ever, always thinking about his wife above all else.

“You can stay. I know you also can't take away your eyes from him,” Xandriel answered.

Janus abruptly looked at her and beamed. He sat down beside her and secured the position where he could stare at his child while still giving Xandriel some privacy. The both of them watched as the child sucked the n****e of his mother as if his life was dependent to it. His little hands were clinging on to Xandriel’s clothes in a tight grip.

“Thank you,” Xandriel whispered.

Janus smiled and caressed the knuckles of the child. Warmth surged into his heart and body and he felt contented just seeing his wife feed their child. It was breathtakingly beautiful and the more Janus looked at Xandriel, the more she became beautiful. His doubt was washed away by that serene moment.

“What should we name him? Lola Isma asked me earlier and I said that I would wait till you wake up to decide.” That made Xandriel think.

They haven’t talked about it yet. The need to think of a name didn’t bother them then. So, Xandriel felt rushed now that the child was born. Then it struck her. A perfect name for their child.

“Josiah. Josiah Axle.” A name that means salvation. It doesn’t hold much meaning to be honest, but Xandriel knew that it would be special. He will be special.

“Josiah…” Janus rolled the name on his tongue.

He liked it. The name Josiah fits their child for a lot of reasons. He looked down at his son. There was a shadow of smile appeared on his lips as if he was telling him that he too liked his name. Janus chuckled, which made Xandriel look over to Josiah.

“He must’ve liked his name. Didn’t you?” Janus caressed his cheek gently. “From now on, your name will be Josiah Axle. Our son.”

They shared a few moments of peaceful bliss as a family. A new life was always a gift and the start of something new. Xandriel and Janus were filled with unexplainable content and happiness. They both cherish the moment they had. Every minute that had passed was embedded in their memory. Forever, he will remember and forever will relive those memories.

Suddenly, Janus stood up as if he remembered something. He kissed Xandriel on the head and Josiah on his knuckles. He was saying that he had something to do. When he got out of the room, bewildered Xandriel only heard him scream Josiah’s name. She can also hear the protest he got from the two old ladies who Xandriel think were busy somewhere at the house.

“Your father is so hyper. He was very happy that you’re here. I’m also happy. Everyone is happy. Thank you for being alive, Josiah.”

Xandriel kissed her child’s head full of love. She felt contented. It was as if she had found her purpose in life. Her strength. Her whole world. It was this little person she was holding. And she promised herself that she would do everything for him. For his happiness.

+++

“Ate Rabia? Ate Rabia? Mom wanted me to give you this.”

Izel shouted at Rabia’s front door and she followed with a knock. No one answered. She tried knocking again, just a little bit louder than the first. But still, no answer. She tried calling her name again, and was answered by a long silence. After trying a few more tries, Izel decided to go back home and leave. She would tell her mother that Rabia was either out of the house or she was asleep. She arrived back at their home with her mother setting their table for lunch.

“Ma, Ate Rabia was not home or she was still asleep. No one was answering.” She told her as she put down the *tupperware she was holding.

It contained a portion of their food. Her mother was a good friend of Rabia's and whenever she had too much food, she would always pack some to give her friend.

The mother looked up at the clock and furrowed her eyebrows. It was already too late. It was not like Rabia at all to oversleep like this. She picked up the tupperware on the table.

“You get your sisters here. I’ll bring this over to Rabia.”

The mother went out and went to Rabia’s house. She didn’t bother to knock at all, since she knew that no one would answer. She tried to push the gate and was really surprised when she saw that the gate was opened. She let herself in. The front yard was quiet so she immediately ran to the door. She turned the door knob and made her confused when it opened.

She didn’t need to walk further in because she already saw Rabia on the floor and unconscious. She threw the tupperware she was holding somewhere and ran to check on the woman. She was cold and was not moving. She shook her but she got no response. When she placed her pointing finger on Rabia’s nose, she stumbled down. Rabia was not breathing. She was not breathing. It took a few moments before she realized what she must do. She got up and called for their neighbors.

“Everyone! Help! Help me!” She screamed at the top of her lungs as she ran outside. Everyone was alarmed at her shout. One by one, they peeked outside their house and went to her.

“Why? What’s wrong? What happened?” The oldest lady in the neighborhood ran up to her in a panic.

“Doctor... we need a doctor. Kei… we need Kei here. Rabia, she’s… she’s lying… inside.”

Everyone was startled by her news. A group of women and their husbands went inside Rabia’s home while a bunch of kids were called to fetch the doctor that was living in the neighborhood.

The people who went in rushed outside in panic. They, too, urged everybody to call an ambulance and help. The older woman was consoling the one who entered Rabia’s house.

She was trembling and on the verge of crying. They all waited in panic and worry. Not long after, Doctor Kei Lorenzo arrived. The crowd dispersed to give him a space and he quickly ran inside the house. He immediately checked the body lying on the floor.

It was his day off, but an emergency would still follow him like a tail. He did his best to check on Rabia. He also checks her pulse, her pale skin, the color of her nails and lips. Then he sighed. He looked at Rabia for a while before he announced his diagnosis.

Everyone was waiting in silence and anticipation. Kei met everyone’s eyes. And then he opened his eyes to say something that made them all gasp.

“Ate Rabia was dead.”

He only said those in a hushed voice. But it was enough for everyone to hear. It rang in their ears as if Kei had just yelled at them. Every single person who heard it was in a state of shock. They can’t believe their eyes. They couldn’t believe what they were hearing. Rabia passed away. She had died. In a poor state and alone. The women who were close to her cried. The others sympathize with her. The oldest woman almost fell to the ground from shock.

They were in despair. How pitiful Rabia’s life had become. She had just lost her child. It felt like it was the end of the world for her. Losing a child is not as painful as when loneliness decides to take over her life. It was different and no words can describe such agony. She might’ve taken her life as a decision. Everyone thought of that and at some point in their minds tried to accept it, since it sounded likely to happen.

Just then, the ambulance arrived. Everyone made way for the paramedics and Kei stood up to talk to them. She tried to retell what happened. How unfortunate Rabia’s life had become. How she must’ve took her life to end the suffering she was going through. When the paramedics secured Rabia inside the car, the oldest lady followed inside as well as the mother who had discovered her.

Doctor Kei was left behind with a promise that he would follow them. He turned to the remaining neighbors. He knew what they thought about the incident. And he was ready to debunk it.

“Ate Rabia died from a heart attack. It still needs investigation but it looked like he had tried to ask for help but she wasn’t able to do so.”

Kei wanted to do it, explain the death of Rabia. He felt obliged to do it. He didn’t want to let everyone think that she took her own life when she didn’t. She died of a heart attack and she must’ve been happy and peaceful about that too. With that, everyone was left silent.

+++

Gabriel sighed as he watched the body of Rabia being carried inside the ambulance. He had known the woman for a long time. Seeing her devastated after the death of Xandriel almost broke his heart. The only thing that was stopping him from meddling was the status he was in. It was one of the most hated scenarios he had to watch. To see a mother crying for her lost child.

Gabriel tried to think positively. Xandriel might be heartbroken if she ever heard about this news. Who wouldn’t? But he consoled himself with the thought that one soul had left the earth and another arrived.