26/04/2025
“GENTLE REMINDER TO ALL PARENTS‼️‼️”
It was supposed to be a perfect day. A simple day of bonding with my Ella kasi summer na. We’d been so busy this school year kaya excited talaga kada bakasyon.
“Mom, tara na! Marunong na ako mag-swim!” Ella said, smiling, as she jumped into the pool. I couldn’t help but smile, seeing her so excited. She’d become such a confident swimmer. I was so proud of her. Laking tuwa ko na alam kong kaya niya nang mag-isa sa tubig, kahit minsan, nag-aalala pa rin ako.
Nakaupo lang ako sa poolside, watching her play with another kid, a little boy, na kalaro niya. It made me so happy seeing her so carefree, so full of life.
"Mom, tignan mo mawawala ako dito sa ilalim ng tubig!"
She shouted, swimming across the pool na parang may naghahabol sa kanya kahit hindi siya masyadong umuusad. I waved at her, proud beyond words. Then, I looked away for just a second. Just to check my phone, work stuff, emails. Gusto ko lang mag-relax pero baka may urgent na kailangan ayusin.
But when I looked up again, everything changed.
My heart dropped when I couldn’t see her. Nawala siya bigla sa kung saan siya kanina at yung dulo part pa naman na yun medyo malalim na. Panic gripped me, and I stood up too quickly, my legs shaky. "Ella!" I shouted, but my voice felt like it was tr@pped in my chest.
I scanned the pool again, kinabahan na, and that’s when I saw the little boy. His face was pale, his eyes wide with f3@r. “Tita! Tita!” he screamed, pointing towards the deeper part of the pool.
My blood ran cold. I didn’t think. I just ran.
When I reached the spot, I saw her. Ella’s small body, floating in the water. My world went silent. I couldn’t hear the lifeguards sh0uting, or the kids playing around. I could only hear my own p@nicked breath.
My baby.
I dove into the water without thinking, but it felt like the world was moving in slow motion. The lifeguards reached her first, but it felt like forever. I felt helpless, desperate. The boy was still crying beside me, his little hands grasping mine like he couldn’t understand why Ella wasn’t getting up.
They pulled her out, and the lifeguards tried their best to revive her. Pero ang katawan niya, malamig na. So cold. I saw her face, pale and lifeless. Ang mga mata ko, blur. I couldn’t breathe.
The lifeguard turned to me, his face solemn. “I’m sorry, ma’am. Wala na.”
Parang ang bigat ng katawan ko. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t think. It didn’t feel real. Hindi ko kayang tanggapin. Hindi ko kayang umiyak nang malakas. Parang may pader na bumangon sa katawan ko.
And then I looked at the little boy, still crying beside me. He was confused, so scared. I saw him holding Ella’s favorite toy, the one she always took with her to the pool.
“Sabi niya mag-swim lang daw siya sa ilalim…”
Sabi ng bata. Hindi ko rin maipaliwanag sa kanya. I couldn’t even understand it myself.
The hospital room felt cold. The doctor, with his somber face, had already given up. The words “She’s gone” echoed in my head over and over, but they didn’t make sense. Hindi ako makapaniwala.
Yung last na sinabi niyang mawawala siya yun na pala yung huling mensahe niya. Parang ako na lang yung naiwan sa mundong ito. Her laughter, her excitement—lahat ng yun, bigla na lang naglaho.
I wanted to scream. I wanted to shout. "Why? Why my Ella? Why so sudden?" But all I could do was hold that bear, now a painful reminder of what I had lost. Wala na si Ella. Ang saya niyang bata, ang babaeng puno ng buhay, nawala na lang. And I was left with nothing but emptiness until now. Walang nakakapaghilom sa sug@t kahit ilang taon na eto nangyari sa akin. It felt like I failed her. Hindi ko siya na-protect. And I never forgive myself for that. Minsan naiisip ko na sana ako na lang.
Kaya sa mga parents jan, be extra careful. All eyes to your kids. Don’t let them do their thing tapos hindi kayo nakatingin. Kahit saglit lang andaming pwedeng mangyari.
Anne
20**
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STORY NOT MINE
