Turning Tables

Solace

A/N Hello :)

I apologized for the delay in uploading this chapter.

But here it is and I hope you enjoy it.

Thank you so much for all your encouragement and support.

Have a good weekend everyone :)

***

Once the meeting with the board members was done, there was one more thing left to do before I dedicate myself to the pursuit of Jade.

On an early Wednesday morning, I drove the two-hour distance from Makati to the south to visit my father.

If he was alive, I am sure that he would give me an advice on how to handle the situation.

The thought of him gone sent a wave on sadness to my being.

Although the years had passed, the grief doesn't truly disappear.

It fades and lurk in a quiet corner.

When summoned, sorrow makes itself felt with renewed intensity.

I unrolled the window a crack once I left the expressway.

The air smelled cleaner in Cavite and the cool breeze touched my cheek as soon as I opened the window.

It was refreshing to see the trees that lined up the road.

A cool mist hovered on the highway and I smiled to myself.

These are the things I missed since I moved to the city.

Not only that, the rat race is draining.

I find solace during my visits to my father's grave. 

It's the one place where I can be myself.

Just like when he was alive, I don't need to censor myself when I talk to him.

The difference was, now there's only me talking.

Whatever message he had to say must be felt by the heart.

I saw the huge billboard for the Providence Memorial Park and I made a right turn and follow the road that would take me to my father.

The clock on the dashboard read 7:47 am.

Perfect!

I will have the place to myself just the way I like it.

Fifteen minutes later, the security opened the wrought-iron gate to let me in.

The elderly man knew me from my frequent visits and he smiled warmly when he saw me.

"You don't need to sign the visitor sheet Miss Althea," he told me as he pressed the button to open the gate.

I thanked him and was on my way to the site where my father was buried.

***

The cemetery was deserted just as I predicted.

When I reached the lane where my father was buried, I parked in front of an old acacia tree but before I got out of the car, I grabbed the bouquet of white roses I brought.

The flowers were my father's favorite.

He used to give them to my mother when she was alive.

When she passed, he gave them to me as gifts.

I unlocked the car door and got out.

Unlike most days, I wasn't wearing high heels.

I thought of Angel when she commented on my footwear.