Today, I'll be hearing her last will and testament.
"Mr. Stevenson, as part of your conjugal property, the house and all your properties here and those that were purchased within the period you were married to your wife is all yours and upon your disposal. Although, her clothes, shoes, and her bike were specifically advised to be given to her younger sister. Also, you'll get 2 million from her insurance policy. Should you have any question, you may come to my office. Good day.", Rick Hanford is our lawyer, he's Liz's best friend since high school and as a man, I know that he is the only one who loved my wife aside from me.
"No need to be formal and all Rick, I got that. Thank you." I seemingly told him while we're back to back because he's on his way out of the door.
"Sieg, don't thank me. I'm doing this with a rock on my chest. If not for Liz, I wouldn't be here." He said with a trembling voice like he was about to cry.
"What do you mean? We're friends, right?" I inquired with confusion.
"I know what you've been doing, Sieg. You think you can fool everyone here like Liz? Now, you can enjoy your filthy business with your walking doll. Goodbye, Sieg. I still have a lot of more important things to do than have tea time with you and discuss your dirty affairs." So he knew and he never told Liz? He really loved her I thought.
Rick was a good friend to us. He was there during our group dates, he even went out of his way to join us out of the country and go mountain climbing with us, he was one of our photographer in our prenup shooting capturing all our happy moments in his lenses , he was my best man for I don't have any close friend in mind more worthy, and he was with Liz every single day in the hospital when she was fighting for her life. He had all the chance to snatch her away from me, but he never attempted. Even if he admitted once in my bachelor's party that he's madly in love with Liz, he shook his shoulder and hugged me like a brother and told me how happy he was that Liz was finally happy and that I should take care of that smile. He was the only friend I had and now he's also gone.
As I watched him walk in our path across the lawn, he stopped, took something from his case, walked with his eyes on that well-wrapped book and said, "I don't know if you'd be interested but Liz wanted you to have this."
He handed me an old thick book-like diary wrapped in a purple paper with gold ribbon.
"What's this?" I stupidly asked.
"It's her diary, moron." He answered angrily but finally staring at me in the eye.
"What am I going to do with this?", I brainlessly inquired.
"I don't know. Tear it. Throw it. Burn it. It's your call. I don't want to take it even if you give it to me. I don't want to read how she suffered and wasted her life with you." Rick walked out after his insulting statement. Somehow, I felt like he had all the right to feel that way but with all sincerity, I loved Liz.
What happened between me and Liz is like a picturesque painting that just faded out because of time and too much air exposure that is beyond restoration but was saved thru replacement. There, I think that's the best way to describe it. Our love for each other was true and we're soulmates. Everyone can see that. But the circumstances became irreconcilable. Despite her betrayal, I still managed to cope up with her. I tried to be as sweet, warm and loving leaving her without a clue of my sidelines. I became so angry that I sought to be even. Mandy became my sweet revenge although their roads never crossed, in my mind, I felt relieved from my silent angst.
I walked towards the couch still with Liz's diary on my hand. Asking myself, what's the use of reading this crap. I want to set lose from my attachment to that woman and I don't want to have anything to do with her. She's dead. I must go on. I must forget her. I'm still alive. I have to move on.
I threw her diary in the coffee table and it opened to a random page that has nice calligraphy saying, "Please don't forget me." And there, I got curious. It invited me to read the entire entry with that phrase.
Dear Sieg,
I walked out of the testing room today. I was so scared. The doctor told me I only have two months to live. Who wouldn't be scared? What can I do in two months that will give you good memories of me? Sieg, I'm so scared but I can't share what I feel to you anymore. I don't want everything between us to change. I want to enjoy every single day with you without thinking that you will have to be careful and that we won't be living same normal crazy life that we used to live. It's selfish. You may hate me when you knew but I have to do this. After two months, if the doctor is right, when I die, there's only one favor that I would ask you, "Please don't forget me."
Love,
Liz
I went to the first page of the diary and like a manual, it has instructions.
This diary's name is Sieg. Cheesy it may seem but it's my husband's name. Everything written here are things that I can't tell my husband personally. In case you find this in a place where it shouldn't be, please give it to Mr. Siegfried J. Stevenson, of Stevenson Real Estate Corporation. Thank you. Love, Liz.
If you're reading this, Sieg, then that means I'm on way to my permanent home. I'll see you there someday but for now, I hope you enjoy reading this one entry at a time, NO CHEATING! It's going to be our last adventure together. Please don't break my heart. Finish reading this til the last page. I love you so much, hubby.
I can't believe it but I'm actually reading my dead wife's diary.
