Lost Realms

Love Across Time

Content Warning:

This story may contain disturbing content, including references to suicide, which may be harmful to some audiences. Reader discretion is advised.

THIRD PERSON'S POV

Sa dilim ng kanyang kwarto, where Yana found solace in her studies, a dove perched on her window sill, leaving behind a letter na may nakasulat na "Love, William." Intrigued, she opened the letter, and her eyes scanned the heartfelt words:

Dear Yana,

Alam kong habang binabasa mo ito ay maraming mamumuong tanong sa iyong isipan. Pero bago ang lahat, I'm William your boyfriend in the future. We'll be meeting in a month sa playground. I just saw you there crying while reading a letter. I offered you a handkerchief but the moment you saw me, bigla mo na lang sinabi ang pangalan ko at niyakap mo ako na para bang kilala mo na nga ako. Alam kong hindi kapani-paniwala ang mga sinasabi ko pero it is really true. You can ask me anything by writing a letter and ibigay mo lang yung letter sa dove na nagbigay ng sulat na 'to sa'yo.

Love,

William

Hindi niya alam kung papaano ito nangyari, but there was something in the way William described their meeting that felt oddly real. Hindi makapaniwala si Yana sa kanyang binasa kung kaya't sinubukan niyang sumulat pabalik. Nagtanong siya ng mga pangyayaring maaaring mangyari at tumugma nga ito sa mga nabanggit ni William. Dahil dito ay tuluyan na ngang naniwala ni Yana.

Bukod dito ay nacucurious din siya kung ano nga ba ang itsura ni William kung kaya't nagtanong ito kung pwede bang magbigay si William ng picture niya. Also, may itinanong din si Yana kung bakit nga ba sumusulat si William sa kanya from the future.

Naglakbay ang oras, at pagdating ng gabi, while walking through the playground, may dumapo na dove sa kanyang balikat, handing her another letter. Excitement filled her as she eagerly opened it.

Dear Yana,

I'm glad you're curious enough to write back. Here's a picture of me, as promised. I know it's hard to believe, at wag ka sana mabibigla, pero to answer your question, I'm reaching out to you from the future kasi I missed you. I failed to save you. You committed suicide because of the problems that you couldn't handle. I know na it is partly my fault as I wasn't able to be with you in those times na kailangan mo ako. Pero sana makabawi ako sa'yo someday.

Every word I write carries the weight of a thousand unsaid apologies. As I look at the picture, it's not just an image; it's a plea for forgiveness. The pain in your eyes, the burdens you carried – I see them now, and it breaks my heart. I wish I could have been there, the anchor in your storm, to shield you from the tempest that raged within.

Gabi-gabi, I find myself haunted by the echoes of your silent struggles. The thought that I wasn't there to catch you when you fell is a wound that time cannot heal. How do I express the remorse that courses through my veins like a relentless tide?

Sana mabigyan mo ako ng pagkakataon na baguhin ang kasaysayan na ating iniwan. I am reaching across the chasm of time to tell you, Yana, that you are not alone. Your pain is my pain, and your smile is my salvation. Nandito ako ngayon, handang magsilbing tanglaw sa dilim na dumapo sa ating landas.

I long to see the day when your laughter conquers the echoes of your tears. In every heartbeat, in every letter sent by the doves that traverse time, my love for you grows stronger. There's an ache in my heart, a longing, na sana'y mabigyan kita ng pag-asa at pag-ibig na dapat mo'y nararamdaman.

Hindi sapat ang mga salita para ituwid ang mga pagkukulang ko. Pero sa bawat letra na ito, umaasa akong maiparating ko sa'yo ang pagmamahal na hindi ko naibigay noon. Let this letter serve as my solemn vow to heal the scars of time and to stand by you, now and in the future, as the companion you deserve.

Nagmamahal,

William

Ang kanyang mga mata ay biglang namutawi ng di-matitinag na pag-asa, at tila ba'y huminto ang oras habang pinipigilan ang pagtibok ng kanyang puso. Naluha si Yana, ang bawat luhang dumadaan ay tila pasan ang bigat ng nakaraan, while she tightly clutched the picture of William as if holding onto a lifeline.

At sa ilalim ng gabi, nasilayan niya ang lalaking nag-aalok ng panyo, the world seemed to blur for a moment. Hindi niya malaman kung siya ay nananaginip o kung totoo ang mga kaganapan. She couldn't believe her eyes, ang lalaking nag-abot ng panyo ay walang iba kundi si William.

"William?" Yana said in disbelief, her voice barely a whisper, as if afraid that saying it too loud would make this surreal moment vanish. And at that moment with her heavy heart, hindi siya nag-hesitate na yakapin si William ay umiyak sa halo-halong emosyon na nadarama.