This cannot be real. This must be a really bad nightmare.
Those two sentences kept running through my head. Bessima was still doing CPR on Farah, as the boat sped back towards the jetty in Kota Kinabalu, where the ambulance we called earlier was waiting. The only thing I could do was stand by helplessly and watch, as Bessima kept trying to inject life into my wife's lifeless body. If Bessima wasn't with us, I would have no idea what would have happened. The moment when we turned around to find Farah, and she was just floating silently in the water, I almost went insane with fear. But it was Bessima who remained calm and took charge of the situation. She immediately instructed me to get back on the boat, and she carried Farah up to the boat. I was completely useless, frozen with shock. When Bessima struggled to lift Farah into the boat, I didn't even move to help. My mind was completely blank. Bessima immediately checked Farah's vital signs, ordered the boat driver to call an ambulance, and started CPR on Farah without missing a beat. At that moment, I thanked God that we had such a capable doctor with us, and all I could do was pray to God for Farah to be alright...
"I'm so sorry Zarif, I'm so sorry." Bessima kept repeating those words as tears streamed down her face. Her words seemed to echo painfully inside my hollow heart. They told me that she's dead. My wife, who was just happily enjoying our honeymoon just a few hours ago, was dead. They're not sure why, but a post mortem will be done to check the cause of death. I don't care why. I don't care about anything at all, except the fact that she's dead and she's not coming back. After that fact registered in my head, everything went black.
- 6 MONTHS LATER -
I've been recuperating at my parent's home for the past few months. Thanks to God's guidance, and the support of my friends and family, I've been able to accept Farah's death. The coroner's report stated only that she had died of cerebral death and acidosis. One theory was that Farah was nervous and hyperventilated, resulting in acidosis, and she lost consciousness, and we were too late to notice and prevent brain death. Although it was unlikely, they did suspect poisoning because of some signs, but were unable to find a motive nor the source. The scuba tank that Farah had used fell into the sea when Bessima was trying to pull her up into the boat, so they couldn't check that, so there was no other leads. But I was at peace, and whether her death was an accident or not, I was finally able to let her go.
Bessima has been so loyal to me throughout the ordeal, cooperating with the police and helping me get back on my feet. She's been an absolute lifesaver, but her companionship to me has strained her relationship with her fiance, and her engagement got broken off. I felt really guilty about it, but Bessima has remained her cheerful confident self, and thanks to her I've slowly gotten my smile back. Another person who has unexpectedly been a great help was my ex-girlfriend, Yati. She came for Farah's funeral, and has been a good friend to me and my family. My mother has been especially relieved with Yati's return, as she had always wanted Yati and I to be together. Though both Yati and I have moved on, it's comforting to have her by my side, as she knows me and my family well, having grown up together. To my surprise, Yati and Bessima have gotten along well, and are friends now. Mother keeps telling me to choose one of them, that I should start moving on, and Farah would have wanted me to be happy. To be honest, both of them have been on my mind lately, but I can't really choose.
Next week, my family is bringing me to a beach resort to unwind and to get over my fears of the sea since Farah's death. Though I am a bit anxious, I know I must confront my fears; after all, they always tell you to get back on the horse once you've fell. Yati and Bessima are coming along too, and I've decided to use this chance to decide once and for all who to choose. I wonder what will happen this time...
Await the next episode...
Those two sentences kept running through my head. Bessima was still doing CPR on Farah, as the boat sped back towards the jetty in Kota Kinabalu, where the ambulance we called earlier was waiting. The only thing I could do was stand by helplessly and watch, as Bessima kept trying to inject life into my wife's lifeless body. If Bessima wasn't with us, I would have no idea what would have happened. The moment when we turned around to find Farah, and she was just floating silently in the water, I almost went insane with fear. But it was Bessima who remained calm and took charge of the situation. She immediately instructed me to get back on the boat, and she carried Farah up to the boat. I was completely useless, frozen with shock. When Bessima struggled to lift Farah into the boat, I didn't even move to help. My mind was completely blank. Bessima immediately checked Farah's vital signs, ordered the boat driver to call an ambulance, and started CPR on Farah without missing a beat. At that moment, I thanked God that we had such a capable doctor with us, and all I could do was pray to God for Farah to be alright...
"I'm so sorry Zarif, I'm so sorry." Bessima kept repeating those words as tears streamed down her face. Her words seemed to echo painfully inside my hollow heart. They told me that she's dead. My wife, who was just happily enjoying our honeymoon just a few hours ago, was dead. They're not sure why, but a post mortem will be done to check the cause of death. I don't care why. I don't care about anything at all, except the fact that she's dead and she's not coming back. After that fact registered in my head, everything went black.
- 6 MONTHS LATER -
I've been recuperating at my parent's home for the past few months. Thanks to God's guidance, and the support of my friends and family, I've been able to accept Farah's death. The coroner's report stated only that she had died of cerebral death and acidosis. One theory was that Farah was nervous and hyperventilated, resulting in acidosis, and she lost consciousness, and we were too late to notice and prevent brain death. Although it was unlikely, they did suspect poisoning because of some signs, but were unable to find a motive nor the source. The scuba tank that Farah had used fell into the sea when Bessima was trying to pull her up into the boat, so they couldn't check that, so there was no other leads. But I was at peace, and whether her death was an accident or not, I was finally able to let her go.
Bessima has been so loyal to me throughout the ordeal, cooperating with the police and helping me get back on my feet. She's been an absolute lifesaver, but her companionship to me has strained her relationship with her fiance, and her engagement got broken off. I felt really guilty about it, but Bessima has remained her cheerful confident self, and thanks to her I've slowly gotten my smile back. Another person who has unexpectedly been a great help was my ex-girlfriend, Yati. She came for Farah's funeral, and has been a good friend to me and my family. My mother has been especially relieved with Yati's return, as she had always wanted Yati and I to be together. Though both Yati and I have moved on, it's comforting to have her by my side, as she knows me and my family well, having grown up together. To my surprise, Yati and Bessima have gotten along well, and are friends now. Mother keeps telling me to choose one of them, that I should start moving on, and Farah would have wanted me to be happy. To be honest, both of them have been on my mind lately, but I can't really choose.
Next week, my family is bringing me to a beach resort to unwind and to get over my fears of the sea since Farah's death. Though I am a bit anxious, I know I must confront my fears; after all, they always tell you to get back on the horse once you've fell. Yati and Bessima are coming along too, and I've decided to use this chance to decide once and for all who to choose. I wonder what will happen this time...
Await the next episode...
