broken barriers

four.

After a week, she was already allowed to be sent home from the hospital. She was looking lively and beautiful, just the way I saw her back then. We were staying in their backyard. It was full of sunflowers planted at the edges of their white picket fences. I approached Tito Lucio because I wanted to tell something important. We went away from Mildred for some space so she won’t be able to hear what we’re talking about.

“Okay, Mario. I am allowing you to do it.” Tito Lucio said to me, proudly.

When we came back to Mildred, she asked, “What was that all about? Why did you have to go far away from me?”

I knelt down in front of her as she is seated in a white bench. “Would you be my girlfriend? Not only as a girlfriend, but my companion in life.”

She was surprised and that she immediately said, “Yes. I would be honored.” She was giggling and she hugged me right away. Tito Lucio looked happy for Mildred. And so was I.

…

“That was the last journal entry that he wrote, Mildred.” Mrs. Sanchez told me after I read it. Being disheartened weighed so much more than being glad. “I saw these at the top of his study table in his room.”

“Thank you for giving me these, Mrs. Sanchez.” I told her.

“Call me Tita Jocelyn, instead,” she insisted. I kissed her hands and wave good-bye as I left the residence.

…

After visiting her mother, I bought a long-stemmed sunflower at the nearby flower shop. I rode a taxi cab to San Felipe Neri Cemetery. As I paid the cab driver, I stood by the gates of the cemetery for a few minutes, then I proceeded inside.

I can still remember where was it. I was with Tita Jocelyn when she showed it to me.

When I saw the grave, it gave me so many memories.

I placed the sunflower above the grave and sat down beside him.

When I was about to read his journal once more, at the last page, the bottom part was folded properly. It was obvious that there was something attached. As I turn the last page away, I saw that it was being tied using a short strand of brown, twisted twine.