Aurora Borealis

Chapter 66 - Lullabies of Longer Slumbers

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"I promised I would never leave you,

Then you should always know,

Wherever you may go, no matter where you are,

I never will be far away."

Hindi ako karunungan sa paggigitara.

Aero only taught me a few basics so I could play this as an accompaniment for a certain song. I have few band-aids wrapped around my fingers in case I'd get hurt from the strumming.

"Nahuhuli ka, East." komento ni West.

"We never practiced, West. So, please manage your expectations. Ikaw na lang sana ang naggitara." nakapikit kong tugon. Siya na nga lang ang nakikisuyo, siya pa ang may ganang magreklamo.

He continued singing. "Goodnight, my angel, now it's time to sleep,

And still so many things I want to say.

Remember all the songs you sang for me,

When we went sailing on an emerald bay.

And like a boat out on the ocean,

I'm rocking you to sleep.

The water's dark and deep, inside this ancient heart,

You'll always be a part of me."

Slowly, I opened my eyes and stared at the strings as they bounce and vibrate from the touch of my fingers.

Sorry, this isn't much.

This is the only thing that first come to mind when we thought we should do something for her.

Warmth glazes my eyes. I can't hear it clearly, but it's as if something as heavy as the gray cloud rumbles inside me. I kept on looking at the ceiling, trying so hard not to let my lips crumple down.

We only have few minutes left.

I just hope this moment would never end.

"Good night, my angel, now it's time to dream,

And dream how wonderful your life will be.

Someday your child may cry..."

West stopped midway. I also stopped strumming but I didn't bother asking him what's the matter.

I noticed him swallowing lumps on his throat and took a few breath-ins.

"Bakit ka huminto?" he asked as he wiped it with a handkerchief.

I can't stop the crumpling of my lips anymore. "Because you stopped, too."

He let out a chuckle. "Oh come on, that's no valid reason. Music background never stops even when musicians can't continue singing a song in the middle of a performance."

We spared a few more seconds before he sang again, but this time, I joined him. "... and if you sing this lullaby,

Then in your heart there will always be a part of me

Someday, we'll all be gone.

But lullabies go on and on,

They never die,

That's how you and I will be."

Ibinaba ko ang gitara at sinandal iyon sa pader.

"For real, I don't want to let go yet." wika ko at niyakap ng mahigpit si Mommy.