One Because of a Thousand Whys (Novellete)

FINALE: THE WHYS AND WHERE

(CONTENT WARNING: This chapter expresses philosophical views that may cause conflicting views in the comment section. And I understand that after reading this chapter, you'll have the desire to express your 'own' opinions, and it's allowed (because I love knowing different views) but it's PROHIBITED to reply to someone's comment to refute his own perspective and to ignite a debate.)

FINALE: THE WHYS AND WHERE

"CONGRATULATIONS, JOY CARBONELLE!" A banner with my picture and name covered my face as soon as I stepped into the garden of my grandmother's house. When I wiped the banner with my hand, Lili's face emerged in front of me.

"Ate Joy, congratulations! You're now a nurse!" She threw the tarpaulin down and jumped from the chair.

"Thank you, sweetie." I caressed her hair.

"The day you saved me on that bridge, I prayed and begged to the Lord Jesus not to take your life away because here—" She tapped her heart. "I believed that you would save many, many people, Ate! And you will!"

"Praise God! Because of Him, I survived death. And I have learned to accept love." And I had learned to see life the way I had never seen it before – that I could start a new journey despite how dark and painful my past was.

Only by knowing and understanding how deep, how wide, and how accessible God's love made me leave the past behind, and embody the purpose bestowed upon me.

"Let's go inside our house, Ate Joy! Momma prepared chicken, pasta, rice, and many, many foods! My tummy will be full! Yours, too, Ate! Yours, too, ha?" Lili grabbed my wrist and pulled me along with her.

The day I was discharged from the hospital, they came home with me – asking me to allow them to take care of me and to live with them. At first, my mind battled between conceding and declining their offer. But there was this small, still voice that stood among all the words in my head and said: accept the love that I offer.

And, so Lili, Mama Lory, and I lived together for two years now.

"Congratulations, Joy!" Doctor Christine stood up from the sofa and she hugged me.

"Thanks, sis!" She was not my doctor anymore, but rather my sister in Christ. And, oh, I was now physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually progressing.

"I'm proud of you, as always." She pinched my cheek.

"Aw, sis!"

She just laughed.

Momma Lory, carrying a red-ribbon cake, went out of the kitchen. "Congratulations, our nurse! Congratulations, our nurse! Congratulations! Congratulations!" she said in a sing-song tone.

Lili and Doctor Christine sang along with Momma Lory. And I just stood there, overwhelmed with so much happiness.

"Thank you, family..."

"Ay!" Momma Lory slapped her forehead and put the cake down on the living room table. "I forgot the candle."

"It's okay, Mom. I'm alright with it."

"No!" Momma Lory and Doctor Christine in unison. "There should be a candle, right, Lory?"

"Agreed!" Momma Lory took bills from her wallet and gave them to me. "Since, it's just quarter six, Joy, buy your cake a candle first while I'll finish the buco pandan." She winked and went back to the kitchen.

When I turned to Doctor Christine and Lili, they were both staring at me with smiles on their faces, but when they realized that my eyes were on them, they both turned away and followed Momma Lory into the kitchen.