Love Found Me (English Version)

Epilogue

Claudine's POV

I stared at the vast greenery in front of me and tried to breathe in the fresh air the nature has blessed me with.

A month has passed since I decided to stay here in Hospicio de San Carlos.

A place where terminally ill patients confined until they wait for their dying days.

Life is indeed short and unexpected.

You never knew what will happen next.

I used to be the bubbly and cheerful person in our family.

I was born to make my parents life colorful and vibrant.

Yet here I am, sitting in this wheelchair and treasuring my remaining days.

I sensed someone looking at me and smiled when I opened my eyes.

His swollen eyes met mine and came towards me.

His arms encircled my shoulders when he leaned down to kiss my cheeks.

"I love you, Claudine. I will never get tired of saying this coz this is what I really feel." Nicholas' words rang in my ears as my tears dropped instantly.

"Can I make a request?" I asked and his forehead creased in response. "When I die, love again. I want to see you happy. Don't keep the love that you can give."

Nicholas' shoulders started shaking and his voice became hoarse.

He will always be my first and final love.

I will always remember his handsome face. His intricate eyebrows and blushing rosy cheeks that always get me in a dreamy feeling.

"I cannot promise that, love." Nicholas said and shook his head vigorously. He wiped his tears.
"I cannot live without you. I-I can't see myself loving someone else."

I held his hands which were resting on top of mine and together we cried for the love we always look forward to have.

For the love that we won't get to enjoy.

I tried to lift his warm hands despite of my frailty and kissed them.

I held his hands to my cheeks and let my tears fall.

It's like the heavens understood how we felt that moment.

Raindrops started falling as if they were crying too.

Me and Nicko were too swept away to care if we are soaking wet.

With our wet and gloomy faces, we felt our instincts leaned in to share that one sweet kiss.

***

Nicholas' POV

I watched Claudine's parents met their family, relatives, previous workmates and friends of hers as they stood in front of their daughter's coffin.

Today is the third and last day of Clau's wake which was held in a Funeral Parlor near their area.

People who have come to know my love's quirky and perky personality visited and expressed their sympathy and condolences to the bereaved family.

I sat in a corner not far from where my love is and wiped these tears.

Since the day that I first met Clau, I just knew that my life will change forever.

Even in those span of seven months, I have come to love her and care for her.

Before she passed away, there was never a dull moment when we are together.

I would like to believe that she is truly happy with me.

And that she's not hiding her pains and sufferings.

I stood up and silently walked to the chapel.

There, I just stared at the cross quietly as I reminisced our happy times.

I always thanked the Lord that I met such a wonderful woman who made me see life in a different light.

Even for a short moment, I get to be with her and I get to express my feelings for her.

In another lifetime, I will always choose her.

I remembered how she joked with me about not being able to get married before she dies.

It was still unbelievable how fast cancer has spread all over her vital organs and respiratory tract.

I thought I will get used to seeing patients die in front of me considering I am working in a palliative center.

But no. Seeing your future die in front of you is a whole different case.

It will never be fine.

I will never be used to it.

For Claudine who was eager to find love despite her age, she found it but death stole it away.

Death stole our moments away.

It pained me even more when she died in my arms on my special day which also happened to be our supposedly first Valentines day together.

But for me who was almost dead and just trying to survive before she came in, it was her who found me.

She was the love who found me and gave me the chance to love again.

Valentines day will never be the same again.

The next day, we led Clau to her final rest and it was too painstaking to take in.

Her parents stayed for a while while the rest of her friends and family left the funeral.

"I will miss my daughter. Even if she's a handful, she's very kind." Her mom said while hugging Clau's picture frame and staring down at her.

"I feel the same, Auntie. I will miss her chirpy and quirky behavior." I said, my voice hoarse and tears are ready to escape again.

"We'll go ahead, son. My wife is tired already. Don't stay up too late, alright?" Clau's dad told me and patted me on my shoulder.

"Yes, uncle. I'll just stay here for a bit. Take care, you both." I smiled and said.

I watched them gave Clau's spot a last look before leaving me here.

I stared down at Clau and dropped her final red rose.

"I love you, Clau. You will always be my last true love." I said sincerely and let my tears fall.

As if the heavens heard me, a gentle gust of wind kissed my skin.

"I miss you, love."

It was then that I realized that love has indeed found me.

It was Clau who renewed my hopes of being in love.