Hers to Love

Chapter 39

Maria's journey back to the Philippines felt surreal. The long flight was a blur, her mind heavy with the impending reality she was about to face. Her aunt and uncle, who had always been like second parents to her, greeted her at the airport with somber faces. The drive to her childhood home was quiet, the usual chatter replaced by a thick, palpable grief. Every passing mile felt like a countdown to a moment she wasn't ready to confront.

Her mother has only been in the Philippines for six months. She was living with her younger sister in Vaughan, Ontario. They have a small flower shop there. She came back to Philippines to visit her other siblings.

As they arrived home, the familiar surroundings that once brought comfort now felt foreign and hollow. The house was filled with relatives and friends, all gathered to mourn the loss of a woman who was the cornerstone of their family. Maria's heart pounded in her chest as she approached the room where her mother lay. The sight of the casket, draped in white, made her legs weak, but she forced herself to move forward.

When she finally saw her mother, lying peacefully inside the casket, the finality of death hit her like a wave, crashing down and drowning her in sorrow. The tears she had been holding back burst forth uncontrollably. She collapsed to her knees beside the casket, her cries echoing through the room. It was as if her heart had been torn from her chest, leaving behind a gaping wound that would never heal.

Maria reached out to touch her mother's hand, but it was cold, lifeless. The warmth and comfort she had always known were gone forever. She whispered through her tears, "Mom, I'm here... I'm so sorry I wasn't here sooner." The pain was unbearable, a searing ache that consumed her entirely. She couldn't comprehend a world without her mother in it.

The memories of her mother flooded her mind—her gentle voice, her warm embrace, the way she always knew how to make everything better. But now, there was nothing left but an overwhelming emptiness. Maria had lost not just a mother, but her best friend, her confidante, the one person who had loved her unconditionally.

The grief was suffocating, a relentless agony that wouldn't let her breathe. Maria knew that life would never be the same again. The pain of losing her mother was beyond measure, a wound that time could never fully heal. As she knelt there, her tears soaking the casket, Maria felt a profound sense of loss that would stay with her for the rest of her life.

----

The day of the burial was a somber one, with a heavy gray sky that mirrored the grief in Maria's heart. She had barely slept in the past few days, her body and mind exhausted from the emotional toll of losing her mother. As she stood by the graveside, the priest's words blurred in her ears, drowned out by the pounding of her heart. The ground beneath her seemed to sway, and the air felt too thick to breathe. Just as the coffin began its descent, Maria's vision darkened, and she felt herself collapsing into nothingness.

When Maria came to, she found herself in a hospital bed, the sterile white walls a stark contrast to the emotional chaos she had been enduring. Her head was spinning, and she felt an overwhelming sense of disorientation.

A doctor entered the room, holding a clipboard, his expression a mix of concern and professionalism. "Miss Maria, I'm Dr. Reyes. How are you feeling?" he asked gently.

Maria blinked, trying to clear the fog in her mind. "I... I'm not sure," she replied weakly. "What happened?"

"You fainted at the burial," Dr. Reyes explained. "Your relatives brought you here, and we ran some tests to make sure you were okay. You've been under a lot of stress and emotion, which has taken a toll on your body."

Maria nodded slowly, trying to piece everything together. "Is there something wrong with me?"

Dr. Reyes hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Maria, there's something you need to know. The tests revealed that you're pregnant."

Maria's eyes widened in shock, her mind reeling. "Pregnant?" she whispered, as if saying it out loud would make it real.

"Yes," the doctor confirmed. "You're about six weeks along. That could explain why you've been feeling sick and exhausted."

Maria's thoughts raced, her emotions a whirlwind of confusion, fear, and disbelief. She hadn't even considered the possibility. "I... I can't believe this," she murmured, her voice trembling.

Dr. Reyes sat down beside her, his tone compassionate. "I understand this is a lot to take in, especially given everything you've been through recently. It's important that you take care of yourself, both for your own health and for the baby."

Maria shook her head, trying to process everything. "I... I don't know what to do. My family... they can't know about this. Not now, not after everything with my mom. It would just be too much for them."

The doctor nodded understandingly. "I can respect your wishes, Maria. Your medical information is confidential, and we won't disclose anything without your consent. But you do need to consider what's best for you and the baby. Stress can have a significant impact on your health during pregnancy."

Maria took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "Thank you, Doctor. I just... I need time to figure this out. Please, don't tell my family. I'll handle it when I'm ready."

Dr. Reyes gave her a reassuring smile. "Of course. Take the time you need."

Maria nodded, though her mind was still spinning. As the doctor left the room, she lay back against the pillow, her hand resting on her stomach. The shock of the pregnancy news weighed heavily on her, compounding the grief and stress she was already carrying. She felt overwhelmed by the responsibility of this new life growing inside her, a life she hadn't planned for, especially not in the midst of such profound loss.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she whispered to herself, "What am I going to do?" The enormity of her situation pressed down on her, but she knew one thing for certain—she needed to protect this secret, at least for now.