France Adriane J.

Calaminos
Grade 9 – St. Cecilia

Performance Task:

SHE'S GONE

"She's gone!" The nurse at the information counter of Santisima De Dios Hospital responded
when Ralph asked where the patient Donna who was confined in Room 214 was.

Donna has been Ralph's girlfriend for 8 years and they have already agreed to get married next
year. The bridegroom is full of lofty dreams. Although they have been together for two years,
they have planned the family well, in fact they endured and prevented Donna from getting
pregnant for fear that their wonderful plans and dreams will be fulfilled.

But now that Donna is gone, how are her tomorrows coming? Who with him developed the
dream that in duration completion would seem jigsaw puzzle with small pieces? How could he
wake up in the morning when there was no longer the only reason for his waking up? Who is
with him every night to count the stars in the sky? How can he build a home if the pillar on
which it is supported is tainted by destiny?

It's a mess.

Ralph rubbed his forehead as if it would fall along with his tears that suddenly dripped when he
heard that Donna was gone. He leaned against the wall and sat helplessly and wept with great
anger and grief. Why is it that with the increasing number of days, the battery of his cellphone
has lost power even today. Perhaps Donna's siblings were calling her when she was dying, she
could have talked to her even at the last moment. Perhaps Donna's mother was angry with her
for thinking she let it take her breath away while her name was being searched and called.

"Why do they have to get Donna out of the hospital right away without letting me know?"

Ralph was confused. Mixed emotions prevailed in his heart.

How happy he was this morning; it was replaced by despair.

I hope he never enters the office again. That's why he was hesitant that morning, that's why
someone seemed to be whispering in his mind that he was going straight to the hospital. If he
only knew that their marriage and tears would be worth all his efforts, he would not have
regretted whatever he earned and spent it all and used it to make his partner happy. What else
are his savings for?

Ralph knew that the loneliness in their house that they had just laughed at would reign
supreme. His every day will be a calvary. His night will be dark as well as the morning to come.
It was a long time before the dream had crumbled again. It took a long time to recover from a
crutch. He didn't know when the smile he had burned would return. She did not know when
her tear -stained eyes would see the light again.

He was just released from the hospital last night. They were still talking happily with Donna and
her illness was hardly a topic because the bride's platelets were constantly dropping, a sign that
the dengue fever had subsided for four days after torturing her partner. They discussed the
details of their wedding next year and pregnancy plans for the same year, Donna's imminent
promotion to the job as manager of the Logistics Department at the company she works for and
Ralph's plans to go to Dubai in case something good happens. opportunity.

So Ralph couldn't have imagined that Donna would be gone in the blink of an eye! His life is
gone, his tomorrow is gone. Many dengue cases have led to ‘unexpected’ and sudden death
even though it is said that the victim’s condition has improved. The patient was presumed to
have taken the lead but despite the waiting nurses and doctors, availability of the hospital’s
medical equipment still did not save the life of the dengue victim.

"Sir, sir…" the nurse patted Ralph with his head bowed, slumped on the floor and leaning
against the wall. His eyes were swollen, hiccups that were obvious from a cry. He heard the
nurse but he didn't care what it said, he raised his head slightly.

"Sir, I mean 'she's gone' she's been discharged, Ma'am Donna. He said he wants to go home
because he wants to celebrate your anniversary. Here is the waiver he signed earlier. ” Long
explanation by the nurse.

Ralph was dumbfounded by what he heard from the nurse.

He didn’t know what his reaction would be.

Their anniversary yesterday.