18th of a series
In the shadows of sight: My husband’s journey through darkness
We left Dubai filled with so much fun and unforgettable memories that we will treasure for the rest of our lives. Back in the Philippines, Romy continued writing for his columns and entertaining friends, mostly ladies who wanted to listen to his jokes. One time I saw him being surrounded by young women beneath the historical Balete tree at the Capitol site in San Pablo. He was like a thorn among the roses. It was lunch break and I wanted to join him for lunch. As I approached the group, I could hear the giggles from the ladies. He was so absorbed in holding the hands of a young woman that’s why he did not notice me approaching. I signaled to Rodelo “Deloy” Evangelista, his cousin, not to point to me.
I silently stood behind him and listened to what he was saying. He was trying to read the palms of the woman like a true palm reader. As he touched the palms, I heard him said sweet nothing and nothing more. At that precise moment, I immediately reacted by saying “Totoo ba ‘yan?”. Instantly, he let loose of the hands and turned to me with his chinky eyes wide open, apparently surprised by my sudden appearance. He exclaimed, “Asawa ko, kanina ka pa?” Everybody in the group except the woman laughed out loud. Though I sensed something unusual, I just kept it to myself. Days, months and years passed and Romy continued to write without much fuss. One day, I noticed that he was scratching his pen piercely against the bond paper he was holding. It seems to me he was trying to squeeze the ink out of the pen, so I asked him, “What’s wrong?” He said he needed a new pen because the one in his possession was not working anymore. “But it is new ”, I told him. For the first time in nineteen years of our marriage, he blew his top and asked me to just get him another one.
To avoid further argument, I got him another pen but just the same, he said it’s not working so I gave him a black pentel pen. I looked at him intently trying to find out what’s wrong. As he began to write, I noticed that the words he was writing were going either upward or downward. He also appeared bothered by something he was not telling me so I suggested that he take a rest and continue writing the following day.
At dinner time, I asked him if there’s something wrong with his eyes and he confessed that his vision was getting blurred everyday. I immediately scouted for an eye specialist but there was none that I found in San Pablo. I was referred by a friend to an Ophthalmologist at Los Banos Doctors Hospital – Dr. Eric Pua.
After a series of tests, Romy was found to be suffering from glaucoma, an eye disease which could have been reversible if treated early. For several months, I would bring him to Los Banos at least twice a week with high hopes that his eyesight can still be restored. Unfortunately, in June of 2019, Romy finally lost his eyesight.
Dr. Pua discussed with Roreen, who went on leave from work to see his father, that it is not possible anymore to restore his sight. Roreen cried and said they are willing to spend a fortune for an eye replacement but the good doctor explained that only the cornea can be replaced not the eyes.
Looking back, there was no sign that he would become totally blind. He conducted lectures on Leadership and even recited a poem he personally wrote for my retirement from government service in 2016. He was a jolly-good-fellow who would not cry over spilled milk but after losing his eyesight, he became an irritable, incorrigible, gloomy old man who wouldn’t want to be left alone even for a minute.
To be continued
Melinda Bagsic Evangelista
I was born to write and I believe that’s my calling. I love writing because it brings me to the realm exclusively of mine. It is also my opinion that “immortality” can be achieved not by searching for the Holy Grail and drinking from it but by living your life worth-writing or writing something worth-reading. Since I cannot promise you a life worth-writing, I keep myself busy writing something worth-reading. I am thankful to God for giving me the talent and skill to see life in different perspectives not seen by many and the courage to share it to my readers. This first ever Tutubi Digital News Magazine is a perfect avenue to bring you the many facets of life that you can ponder upon in this time of the pandemic. Enjoy reading all the articles.
