Lightless Sunshine

Epilogue

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Epilogue

I do have a mom now…

Those were the exact words I uttered when one time, Dad introduced me to a woman named Veronica. The word ‘mom’ was so foreign in my mouth.

My little, fragile heart stung a bit.

“Hi, anak…” Her sweet and soft voice permeated my ears, making me look at her side and… see her protruding belly.

Nagtataka kong tiningnan ang babae sa harapan ko. Dad was beside her, snaking his arms on her waist while the both of them were towering me.

Dad has this nervous smile as he looked at me, while the woman, on the other side, was smiling widely as if she was happy. She looks like someone who was given a lollipop by her parents. I remembered my cousins having that kind of look.

“Anak, come here.” My father bent down his knees to level my height.

Hesitant at first, I slowly walked near him and stopped in front of them. I didn’t ask nor utter a single word.

I was confused about what was going on but… At the age of four, I learned how to avoid sticking my nose in someone’s business. I mind my own little world.

“She’s Mommy Veronica,” Dad suddenly said. I didn’t react and commented.

It was so foreign to me. I grew up having no mother beside me to raise me.

At first, I didn’t seem to understand what was going on. My dad only said she’s going to be my mom. Wala akong alam maliban doon. The word ‘mom’ was an alien to me because I never had it since the very start.

Nasanay kasi akong si Daddy lang. It was only Dad and I.

My father often read me books until I fall asleep, cook for me whenever our chef isn’t around, play with me whenever he have free time, and fetch me to school after his work. Every time I was in pain, he was always there to kiss the pain away.

It was only Dad. And Veronica suddenly appeared, making our lives shake.

She was like the light in our dark and lonely life. The spark that lit us all of a sudden in the midst of the seemingly eternal darkness. She was like the missing piece of our dull house.

She lit up the house into a home…

Simula nang ipakilala siya sa akin ni Daddy, walang ibang pinaramdam sa akin si Veronica kun’di pagmamahal lang ng isang ina na hindi pamilyar sa akin pero sobrang gaan sa puso at sarap sa pakiramdam.

I could still remember the first time I called her mommy. We both cried as I hugged her tightly while saying my gratitude and happiness. I was beyond grateful she accepted me like her very own child even though we aren’t related by blood. She has a pure heart and she showed me the love of a mother. She cared and loved me, and I know it’s genuine.

When they got married and Mommy Ver delivered my sister, Gebby, I think I am the happiest kid in the world at that time.

I finally have my family now. A complete family.

I could feel myself changing. Naging masiglang bata ako at naging masiyahin simula nang dumating sila sa buhay namin ni Dad. I’d often smile, too, which was rare. I am not used to expressing myself in front of people I barely know.

Veronica encouraged me to call her my mother and treat her as a mother. God, she has the purest heart.

Everyday, I’d get fonder and fonder by her. It was impossible not to get fond of Veronica. She has shown me everything I haven’t felt till she came. She came into our lives and took care of us like a lovely housewife. She never raises her voice at me. She never did.