The susunod evening, after they returned tahanan from their jobs, Lydia and John listened to Pattie's new album. Afterwards, Lydia talked with Pattie. Pattie asked, "Have you listened to my new album yet?" Lydia said, "Yes, we just finished listening to it." Pattie asked, "How did you like it?" Lydia said, "It was really good. I think Foxy enjoyed it, too." Pattie said, "I'm glad to hear it." Just then, Lydia's cellphone rang. It was her father. She said, "I'll let you talk to John a minute. My father is calling." She went into her bedroom to talk privately. Her father explained, "Your grandmother is in the hospital, and it's not looking good. She has pneumonia in both lungs." Lydia said, "Oh, no. This is the beginning of the end, isn't it?" He said, "Yep, I'm afraid so." She said, "Elderly people usually don't survive pneumonia." He said, "They don't." She said, "Well, I'm going to go. Keep me posted." He said, "Okay." She returned to the living room, and John was still talking to Pattie. John noticed Lydia looking sad. He asked, "Is everything all right?" She said, "No." Pattie asked, "What's wrong?" Lydia said, "My paternal grandmother is in the hospital. She has pneumonia in both lungs." Pattie said, "Oh, no. I'm sorry to hear that." Lydia said, "I don't think it'll be much longer." She later told the rest of her mga kaibigan about it. Rebecca asked, "Is there anything I can do?" Lydia said, "Just keep talking to me, and I'll be just fine." Marie said, "Don't worry, Lydia. We're here for you." Catherine said, "Plan on us coming to see you." Gavin said, "Yes, please do." Lydia said, "You all don't have to do that." Gavin said, "We're your friends. It's our duty to be there for you." She said, "You're all so kind. I appreciate it." That night, Lydia snuggled with her beloved puppy, Foxy, and cried herself to sleep.
TO BE CONTINUED
TO BE CONTINUED
Old Fashioned German Shepherd
I wear a mask,
Around those I'm not close to.
It's the only thing,
That I can think to do.
To some I may seem cynical and arrogant,
And others see me laugh and act like a clown.
The truth is that I am down.
Beneath this mask,
My tears fall like rain.
Though I do not cheat and usually don't lie,
I have feelings and can cry.
What they will never know,
I am in so much pain.
It's a miracle I'm even sane.
If not for my friends,
There'd be no one there,
Because I'm the queen,
Of walang sagot prayers.
Even extended family will never see,
The real me.
I say to them,
I wear a mask around you,
Because to cry in your presence,
Is the worst thing I could do.
My mask only comes off,
For immediate family and friends.
That's how it'll always be,
Until the end.
Around those I'm not close to.
It's the only thing,
That I can think to do.
To some I may seem cynical and arrogant,
And others see me laugh and act like a clown.
The truth is that I am down.
Beneath this mask,
My tears fall like rain.
Though I do not cheat and usually don't lie,
I have feelings and can cry.
What they will never know,
I am in so much pain.
It's a miracle I'm even sane.
If not for my friends,
There'd be no one there,
Because I'm the queen,
Of walang sagot prayers.
Even extended family will never see,
The real me.
I say to them,
I wear a mask around you,
Because to cry in your presence,
Is the worst thing I could do.
My mask only comes off,
For immediate family and friends.
That's how it'll always be,
Until the end.
