Please, Remember

Chapter 1 - Sorrow and Letting Go

"I love you, Kristin, and I always will. Take care, my Princess."

And before I knew it, I am running towards no one.

Where is he?

Where's Dad? I tried to call out for him,

"DAD!" but he does not respond.

Tears are flowing down my cheeks, as  I sat on a pile of stone near a river.

And there he is!

"Dad!"

I tried to call him. He is across the river. He can't hear me.

"Dad, it's me! Dad!"

He faced me then he waves goodbye and then he smiles.

"Dad, no! Don't leave! We miss you! Kuya, Mom, and I!"

"Dad!"

I shouted with tears streaming down my face. He left me. And everything went...

"KIMM! KIMM. Wake up. KIMM!" And I suddenly realized that it was all a dream. A sorrowful one.

"You are having a bad dream, Dear Sister."

It's Kuya Tim. My brother who's been there for me ever since that day, that tragic day. I couldn't help it, I felt water on my warm cheeks, then Kuya hugged me. He wiped every tear falling from my eyes.

"Wag ka nang umiyak. Nandito si Kuya. Di kita iiwan."

And with that I tried my best to stop my tears from rolling. Good thing they cooperated.

"Kuya, I dreamt of Dad." I cracked.

Kuya sighed then said, "Dad is gone, KIMM. He is somewhere far. He is in a better place. He left us, yes. But he never left us because he wanted to. It was an accident." he hugged me once more and I smiled at him.

 We both heard the door opening. It's Mom. She walk towards as soon as she found out that I was crying again.

"Honey, you..." she trails off because I suddenly released Kuya's embrace and found myself crying on my Mom's shoulder while she traces her hands on my back and flipping my long black hair along my back.

"Shhhh." then she starts humming. She really is my Mom. She knows how to lessen the pain I feel, she knows me so much that I couldn't bear her to see me like this.

"Mom, I think I'm fine. Th.. thank you." I said, my voice still cracking.

 "That's good." she lets go.

"I'm sorry, you both would have to see me like this. You don't have to agonize with me, you two!" and I giggled.

They're both smiling at me, and it is so comforting.  "We don't 'agonize' with you, KIMM. Ano ka? Swerte?" I sharpened my eyes on my Kuya. He is just so frustrating.

"Tim." my Mom said with an angelic voice. She knows how to make the both of us shut up, really.

"Kristin, we're flying back to the Philippines tomorrow, and I do not want you to go back there with such.." she looks at me wearily,

"..pain." she whispers.

I tried my best to smile. But here I go again.

Tears.

Kuya taps my back to show comfort. Mom smiles at me. "Honey, it's been a year." I looked at her trying to figure out what she's trying to tell me.

"Your Dad would be more happy to see you happy. You deserve to be and as much as I want, I would bring back time to not make you like this, but I can't. It's been hard for us too." I know Mom's about to cry. She bows down a bit and sighed. Kuya, sitting beside Mom, comforts her.

"Mommy. I'm sorry." I sobbed.

 "Darling, it's time. It is time to let go." my Mom said in a very comforting way. I nod. "Your Dad will be the happiest once he sees you being the way you were before. Bring back the bubbliest and sweetest you, because the truth is.." she began to cry, it pains me,

"I miss my daughter so much. I miss my Kristin very very much."

"Mommy, I'm sorry." I once again said. "I will try. I will, Mom." she hugs me tighter, it makes me cry even more.

"Ohhh, you lovely ladies must not cry this hard." we glanced up at Kuya .

We all laughed. It’s good to have this kind of family. Maybe Dad was gone, but I’m still left with the two most important people in my life loving me in spite of my rudeness and kasungitan.

Maybe Mom’s right. The best solution to ease the pain is..

To let it all go.

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