Last Teardrop

Chapter 25: Be Okay

There are moments in our life when we wonder how we will be able to handle all the hardships thrown to us. And for a moment we thought that we will not be able to carry all those burdens. Funny how we still find the courage to fight it for whatever cause it may be. In the end, we still got that little faith that kept us hanging and never letting go of that one thing which is constantly our reason why we chose not to give up.

I loved him. And yes, I still do.

At nights like these, I have been lying on my bed, talking to my heart and trying so hard to explain. Sometimes, I wonder what could have been, might have been. And yes, I still think of him every now and then. Beautiful days had passed completely by chance. But even though how beautiful that day is, it will eventually have their sunsets. Maybe, there are things that are just not meant to be. As I reminisce what had happened a couple of years ago…

Daniel has not woken up yet. It had already been a week after the tragedy but he was still in critical condition. I have met his family, and jasmine was also there to support me. Every night I prayed that he’d wake up one day and we would be living happily together. My dad was also there to comfort me. Those days were definitely one of the most hurting.

“Daniel is awake!” the doctor called out,--“but he’s weak and not stable yet.”

Everyone was asking a lot of questions. The crowd began to talk a lot.

“He wants to talk to a certain Samantha Astillero.”

All eyes looked on me. I made my way to the hospital room where Daniel is staying. When I reached inside, he reached for my hand, And despite the burns and the pale face, he tried to smile at me.

“Daniel!”

I started crying. I don’t know how it happened but people told me that they saw us outside the building that day, both of us unconscious. But I was wearing his jacket and his wounded arms were all around me. Until the end, he was still trying to protect me.

“Sam, Don’t cry.” He smiled again. He kissed my hand and continued. – “I remember how strong and independent you were – My coke girl. Though it pissed you off, I never regret the day I accidentally poured coke on you.”

Suddenly his eyes were sad.

“Samantha, my life was ripped into small pieces, but you managed to complete me. But you, you were meant to fight from the start. I don’t want you to stop fighting Sam. I know that even without me, you’ll manage it.”

Startled, I looked at him straight in the eyes and held his hands tighter.

“If I ask you to leave this room now, and never come back, and just forget everything and leave it all behind – Can you?”

My tears were flowing again, and I didn’t know what to say. Is he saying goodbye?”

“No.”

He smiled. “You can Sam. It’s always been about choices. You know you can, but you just wouldn’t.”

“Why are you saying this?”

“I can’t hold on any longer Sam.” He said almost running out of breath.

“Dan??? Wait, I’ll call the doctor.”

But before I went away, he pulled me back, Hugged me tight and whispered slowly,

 “ We may not be together now, but in another lifetime, I will try to find you – where we can be together, and our love can last forever.”

And gradually, his tight hug started to loosen. I called out for his name a few more times, but there was no longer any reaction.

My Coke Guy.

Tears flowed again as I remembered how things turned out. Sitting alone in a cold night like this, in front of his grave, I know that I’ll never be able to love someone else as much as I had loved this guy – Daniel.  Sometimes, no matter how much you loved each other, fate will always find a way to keep you apart; and worst is you just have to learn to be okay with that.

“Samantha?”

I looked back and saw a familiar figure coming closer.

“How are you Sam?” he asked again as he looked at me in a very concerned way.

“I’ll be okay. It’s nice to see you again Pat.”

He smiled, and looked at the grave. “I come here often, but I haven’t bumped into you.”

“Yes, it’s already been 3 years.” I smiled back.

He stood up, looked at me, and handed me a hanky. “He wants you to be happy Sam.”

“I will be Pat.” as I reached for the hanky and slowly, wiped away my tears.

This will be my last tears. And I will be waiting for another lifetime; to fill another story of the man I love the most. But now, it’s all about choices. I will be slowly healing my heart because I know I can, if I would just let it be – just as what Daniel had said. 

Patrick came nearer and hugged me. “I missed you, Sam.”

And sometimes, all you need is a broken heart to realize that something even better is right in front of your eyes, just waiting to be found.

========== END ============