Once In A Lifetime

Chapter 47: Peace

"Death is not the greatest lost in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live."
-Norman Cousins
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Denise could not sleep. Somehow something was bothering her. Everywhere she cast her eyes upon, she could see Inang with her pleading eyes, begging for forgiveness. She felt something terrible was happening to her.

She looked around and saw Caroline was sleeping on a coach. Slowly, she removed the IV tube from her wrist. Next, she arranged the pillows on the bed and covered them with a blanket. It appeared someone was still sleeping on the bed.

She tiptoed towards the restroom and hurriedly, removed the hospital gown and changed to her usual shirts and jeans. She covered her head with Caroline's scarf to disguise herself as someone else. Then, she was careful not to awaken Caroline until she reached for the door and went out down to the main entrance of the hospital, where she boarded a taxi all the way to their house.

Upon arrival, she felt her feet was dragging her.

What if Papa is inside? She thought for a while how she would react. Just ignore him, okay. It's for Lola that you're here.

Without any hesitation she walked past inside. Yaya Inday saw her coming. The woman approached her immediately, then wrapped her arms tightly around the girl while both of them ended in each others' arm crying.

"Oh, thank God, you're here! I miss you so much, Denise"

"I miss you too, Yaya. How's Lola?"

"She's been waiting for you. Go. She's in her room."

Inside, Gaspar was sitting besides the old woman. He could not believe when Denise emerged from the open door, coming towards them.

He stood up and met Denise, locking each other with loving embrace amidst tears and spoken words of forgiveness.

"Apo, I'm glad you're here. Please forgive us, Denise, please."

"I'm sorry, too, Lolo. Forgive me also."

From one corner of the room, a faint voice caught Denise' attention.

"Is that you, Apo?" The words came to Denise almost a whisper, spoken with so much effort.

Her heart pierced as she looked to the almost skin and bone figure of her dear Lola. She could not help but feel the guilt of pushing her to such worst condition.

"I'm here​ Lola. I'm sorry." She was trying to become strong, but deep inside, she's completely broken, seeing the suffering of the woman who love her so much.

"I'm sorry, Apo. P-Please say that you f-forgive me a-already." Inang had a hard time saying every word.

"I have forgiven you already Lola." She touched her face and leaned to kiss her.

"T-thank you, Apo. P-Please forgive your P-papa also, p-please."

"I will Lola. I will." She was now drowned with her own tears. She knew, it would be too hard to forgive her father. But Inang needed peace in this trying moment.

Inang kissed Denise' hand and held it closely on her bosom until she closed her eyes to completely rest in the arms of her Creator with a lingering smile curved at her lips.

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Denis could hardly believe everything​ from the report and the recorded conversation. For many years, he hated Arturo believing that he ruined everyone's life in the mansion, especially the life of his beloved Linda.

For many years, he lived with fear believing he would come after him and Denise in their unguarded and defenseless moments, thinking that Arturo's influence alone is enough to terrorize his weakling soul.

For many years, he tormented his own child by living in complete miseries, away from the life that she truly deserves when all his fears are but a faint shadow in his own imagination.

He was a traitor that his wife loathed when he withdrew his shares from the company. He was the villain that the town people think of when the mansion turned into ashes.

The despicable, merciless yet powerful man he thought Arturo was, is now unbelievably a man with a big heart, who turned to be Linda's flesh and blood.

He felt ashamed for harboring unmeasurable hatred towards him many, many years ago, only to be used by God as an instrument to save his only daughter from the ruins of the accidents and possibly from the cruelty of the future.

His heart was filled with remorse and regrets for allowing himself to believe on the things that are not grounded on truth, misleading him away to the goodness that there is in every man, even how wicked the times we are living.

With so much guilt, he asked the Father to forgive and heal him from the mistakes he had committed against the goodness of the man he treated as an enemy.

He never killed anyone. But he is more than a murderer for the hatred he harbored in his heart against Arturo and the suspects for Linda's death.

He felt undeserving for the love of the Father, now that the weaknesses in his own life have not been fully surrendered at the feet of Jesus.

How could he, the minister of the Gospel, reflect the heart of Jesus when in his very own heart of flesh flows the spirit of doubt, hatred, fear and vengeance?

He knelt in anguish and shame, asking the Father to lift the burden from his wounded spirit and guide him to live life the way Jesus lived it.

When he was soaked in his own tears, he heard the voices singing from the altar.

My peace I give unto you
It's a peace that the world cannot give
It's a peace that the world cannot understand
Peace to know, peace to live
My peace I give unto you
My love I give unto you
It's a love that the world cannot give
It's a love that the world cannot understand
Love to know, love to live
My love I give unto you.

He wept until he felt, a hand touching his shoulder. When he looked up, he saw his mother in white garment surrounded by a mist of clouds. Then slowly, she ascended in the air until she disappeared.

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Would you believe I cried from start to end as I write this chapter?
😥😥😥😥🤧🤧🤧