Maybe This Time

Special Chapter

Dylan Keith Lopez 's POV

After she died, it always felt like she never left. The wind used to make me feel her love. like it never faded, even if I couldn’t see her.

And the brightest star… It carried hope, lighting my way through my darkest.

Twenty years have passed. Twenty long years of surviving sorrow. Twenty years of loving someone I could no longer hold.

But yes. I chased my dreams after she left.

I'm a pilot now.

"Wife… are you happy now?" I whisper to the sky.

“How am I as a pilot? Do you enjoy flying with me?”

I look again at the brightest star.

I've grown used to this, talking to her every night for twenty years.

And then Brent comes to my mind.

He's managing our business now. I transferred all of my properties to him. He uses the money wisely… he even built an organization that helps orphanages.

Alyana never made a mistake when she chose to save him. Because in the end, he became my family, too. He's the proof that I was never truly alone after she left.

"Wife." I whisper again.

“I'll keep flying. I'll spend every one of my days in the sky… so I can always be closer to you.”

I close my eyes.

God, I miss her so.

The radio crackled, pulling me back to reality.

“Captain Lopez, prepare for landing.”

“Copy.” I replied, my ingers steady on the controls.

The sunrise was painting the clouds gold. It always looked different from up here… so peaceful. It reminded me of her... She's now free and unreachable.

I exhaled.

The tires touched the runway. We had landed. A heaviness settled in my chest. Flying in the sky always made me feel closer to her… as if I was finally where she was.

-

The doors of the airport opened, and the humid air of Manila greeted me.

“Welcome home, Captain!”

Ground crew, staff... and there was Brent, leaning against the car with a stupidly proud grin.

“You look like someone who owns half the country.” I said, grinning.

“Technically… you gave me that half.” he said with a smirk, opening the car door for me.

“Another flight talking to the sky?”

Nang-asar pa talaga. I didn't answer. I didn't have to. He already knew.

Brent's expression softened.

“She'd be proud, you know Dad." He smiled.

I looked away, jaw clenching just slightly.

“She better be.”

Traffic pa talaga. That’s why I love flying planes than driving cars. Walang traffic sa himpapawid.

A billboard flashed: Lopez Aviation: 20 Years of Safe Skies.

Brent caught me staring.

"You built something great, Dad."

“No,” I whispered. “She did.”

If Alyana had never believed in me… I would've never taken flight.

-

That night, back at our home, I stepped onto the balcony.

The city lights glow below while the star in the sky glow more brightly. And I found the brightest star.

I raised a tired hand and waved at the brightest star.

Just like I always did.

“Good evening, wife. I love you beyond and infinity.”

I smiled bitterly. Nakatingin lang ako sa bituin. Alam kong nakatingin rin s'ya sa akin ngayon.

“Ang ganda mo palagi.”

I let the tears fall down my cheeks.

Now that I have so much time to be with you… you are no longer in this world. No matter what I do, I can never bring back the time I lost.

“I will spend my lifetime being a pilot until we meet again, wife."

That’s my promise.