I'll Be Back

13

Aiah arrived in Louisiana after a grueling 21-hour flight. The exhaustion of the journey weighed heavily on her, but it was nothing compared to the emotional fatigue she felt. She stood outside the airport, the humid air of the Southern state hitting her as she took a deep breath. She hailed a taxi and gave the driver her address, her heart pounding with every passing second.

As the taxi navigated through the familiar streets, Aiah’s mind was a whirlwind of memories. She hadn’t been home for weeks, and the thought of facing the reason why she left made her stomach churn. Every turn brought her closer to the house where so many memories were made, and now, where her father no longer lived.

The taxi pulled up to her house, a modest two-story home with a well-tended garden her father used to care for. She paid the driver, grabbed her bags, and stood at the foot of the driveway, taking a moment to collect herself.

Aiah walked up to the front door, her hands trembling as she fumbled with the keys. She finally managed to unlock the door and stepped inside, the familiar smell of home wrapping around her like a comforting yet suffocating blanket. She closed the door behind her and set her bags down, her eyes scanning the living room, which felt eerily quiet without her father’s presence.

"Mom?" she called out, her voice echoing slightly in the stillness.

There was a pause before her mother appeared from the kitchen, her eyes red and puffy from crying. “Anak?” she said softly, her voice breaking as she rushed to embrace her daughter.

Aiah hugged her mother tightly, feeling a rush of emotions overwhelming her. "Mom, I’m so sorry." she whispered, tears streaming down her face.

Her mother held her for a long moment before pulling back slightly to look at her. “I’m just glad you’re home, anak. Ang hirap hirap pag wala ka.”

Aiah nodded, wiping her tears. “Nandito na'ko, Mom. We’ll get through this together.”

They moved to the living room and sat down, the weight of their grief hanging heavy in the air. Aiah’s mother took her hand, squeezing it gently. “He talked about you every day, you know. He was so proud of you, even if he didn’t always show it.”

Hearing those words brought a fresh wave of tears to Aiah’s eyes. She had always hoped that her father was proud of her, despite their last argument. “I wish I could’ve been here sooner.” she said, her voice choked with emotion.

“We can’t change the past, Aiah. All we can do is move forward and honor his memory.”

Aiah nodded, taking a deep breath. "When's the funeral?” she asked, her voice firm despite the tremble.

“Tomorrow” her mother replied, her voice heavy with sadness. “You wanna go to  viewing tonight? Your father wanted a simple ceremony.”

Time skip

Aiah and her mother attended the viewing. The funeral home was filled with family and friends, their faces etched with grief and loss. Aiah felt a pang of guilt as she saw the familiar faces, people who had known her father all their lives, and here she was, a stranger to them now.

Aiah walked up to the casket, her heart pounding in her chest. She looked down at her father, his face peaceful in death. The sight of him brought a rush of memories and emotions, and she couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. “I’m sorry, Dad,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “I’m so sorry.”

Her mother stood beside her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. They stayed there for a long moment, sharing their grief in silence.

Later, as they walked back to the car, Aiah felt a strange sense of peace. The pain of her father’s loss was still there, but seeing him one last time had given her a sense of closure she hadn’t expected. That evening, as they sat in the living room, Aiah’s mother turned to her.