MGA PAKIWARI AT PAGMUMUNI-MUNI (An AlDub Collection of Poems and Short Stories)

Of Satin Ribbons and Sunrises

For pandita0314

The satin ribbon gracefully danced with the wind while it held her final breath.

//

"Mahal, can you push me outside?" she called softly for her husband of 50 years, as she twirled a white satin ribbon in her dainty, fragile hands - the same ribbon that she wore on her hair during their wedding. She wanted to see the rising of the sun, feeling that this might be the last time that she would be able to do so.

"Sandali lang, mahal," she heard him answer her back from somewhere around the house. She waited for but a few heartbeats before she finally felt her wheelchair move.

"Hindi ka ba lalamigin nyan, mahal?" her husband lovingly asked, even as he draped a thick comforter around her frail shoulders once they were outside on their patio. "Bakit mo ba kasi gustong lumabas ng ganitong oras? Mag-a-alas singko pa lang ng umaga. Wala pang araw. Tsaka ang lamig lamig dito sa beach house, mahal. Hindi ba makakasama ito sa --"

"I'm all right, love," she answered, cutting him off, looking up at him, smiling, trying to reach for his hand which he gladly gave. "I just want to see the sunrise, that's all. Kahit last time na."

"Don't say that," he whispered, squeezing her hand lightly. He knelt beside her before planting a kiss on her temple. "Maraming sunrise at sunset pa ang makikita mo. Hindi pa ito ang last. Tsaka diba sabi mo nga may --"

"Mahal," she interrupted once more, her other hand that was holding the ribbon - reaching up to touch his face. She smiled at him, amidst the pain in her frail body. She smiled at him, even through his worry for her. She smiled at him, like nothing was amiss. "I've accepted it already. You should too. Doctors said anytime now, remember? They couldn't do anything for me anymore. As long as I'm comfortable. Yun na lang daw talaga. At least even in my death - I'm here. With you."

"Mahal..."

"I love you."

He closed his eyes, as a lone tear escaped which she lovingly wiped away. She leaned down and gave him a kiss which he softly returned. She smiled against his lips as she felt the soft rays of the rising sun on her face.

She gently pulled away as she watched the sun starting to rise on the horizon, painting the sky with its orange and yellow hues, the light blue backdrop beginning to shine through. She watched as the moon and the twinkling stars bid her goodbye to welcome the new day that the sun was bringing.

"Ang ganda," she whispered with a smile, her eyes not leaving the beauty of a new day even though her breathing was becoming slightly labored.

"Mahal, ok ka pa ba? Ipasok na kaya kita? Masyadong malamig dito, baka hindi na kayanin ng katawan mo. Tutal nakita mo na ang araw so pwede na -- Mahal? Mahal?! MAHAL!"

Her head suddenly slumped backwards, her hand in his slacking. Her hand that was holding the ribbon, falling on the side of the wheelchair - letting go of the ribbon. The wind picked it up, making it sway and dance as it took it in its embrace.

She took her final breath, watching the sun rise, watching a new day unfold, with the love of her life, with the memory of the happiest time in her life, with a smile on her face.

//

A/N. Tulad ng sinabi ko dun sa nauna, may pinagdadaanan lang.