The Lies Between Us (Lie Series #1)

TLBU #25

I've realized for the past five years of my life that everything that happened to me in the past was not my fault.

I am just a victim of someone's unfair way of thinking in life. A collateral damage on someone else desires to fix what's been broken on them, an innocent girl who got wrecked on the other side after they've got what they wanted.

The hardest part of healing is to forget everything and forgive the people who wronged you. What we cannot forget is that even we were not at fault, the aftermath that engraved in our hearts will forever make us remember the pain.

Healing is our responsibility because it's actually not returning to how and who we were before, it is becoming someone we have never been — someone stronger and someone wiser.

Life hurts us all in different ways, but it is how we look at it and who we become after the pain— that determines whether a tragedy becomes our greatest teacher in life or in the beginning of the story of how someone can be the hero of herself.

"Elli." I heard a soft voice that made me back to reality. Lumingon ako at nakita ang Daddy kong nakangiti.

Habang nagtatagal, nakikita ko ang pagkakaparehas namin mula sa tangos ng ilong at magagandang mata na kita mo agad kung anong nararamdaman nito.

Lumapit siya sa'kin at niyakap ako ng mahigpit. "I miss you Dad." He let go of me and slightly pinched my nose.

Binaba niya ang dalang mga bulaklak sa ibabaw ng puntod ni Mama at ng baby ko.

Luciana Cayetano Alcazar
Born: September 28, 1975
Died: March 14, 2008

Angel Cayetano Fontanilla
Died: April 18, 2014

In loving memory of those forever in our hearts.
Loving you always. Forgetting you never.

Inakbayan ako ni Daddy at sinandal ko ang ulo ko sa kanyang dibdib.

"Happy Birthday Baby Angel!" I happily greeted but a warm tear fell from my eyes. Mas lalong hinaplos ni Daddy ang balikat ko.

Kung nabuhay lang ang baby ko, five years old na sana siya ngayon. Siguro kung buhay pa siya, madali na lang sa'kin patawarin lahat ng may kasalanan sa'kin dahil binigyan ako ni Lord ng blessings na mas magpapatatag sa puso ko. Pero nung nalaman kong nawala ang baby ko, mas gumuho ang mundo ko.

"For sure your Mama are now celebrating your baby's birthday in heaven." Maligayang kwento ni Daddy. "Knowing your Mama, she will throw a big party."

Natawa ako sa sinabi Daddy at umayos ng tayo. Pinunasan ko ang mga luha ko. "Oo nga Dad. Spoiled niya panigurado yang first apo niya."

"Hindi man natin sila kasama ngayon, alam kong lagi silang nakabantay sa'yo. Kaya h'wag ka ng malungkot, mahal na mahal ka nila parehas." I nodded and hugged him tightly.

"Let's go now. Nagluto ng cake ang Yaya Linda mo. Nasa bahay na din sina Andres at Beatrice." Daddy said.

"Okay Dad." I answered.

I glanced one last time on their grave. "I love you Mama and Baby Angel."

***

"Where are you?" Kuya asked over the phone.

"Why?" I glanced at my side mirror so I can change lane. Ang bagal mag drive ng nasa harapan ko.