When Things Fall Into Place

Untitled part

Chapter 1:

It is as if the sun had dried out all of the Earth. It is humid, sweaty and sticky. The air is heavy and hot that it almost burns your lungs. I hate this time of year. I hate summers. I hate hot days. I hate the fact that I had to bring three extra shirts to work. I do not have that much space in my bag, really. I have a liter and a half water bottle inside plus my laptop in my cramped bag and I just make room for the shirts thus making it heavy. In addition, when my bag is heavy, my body exerts more effort thus making my armpits cry like little boy.

You see, I was not like this before. I loved summer. I love eating halo-halo and having long dips in swimming pools and beaches. However, five years ago, at this time of year, my wife died of leukemia. It was a painful experience for my little boy and me. Those hot trips in the oncologist's clinic, those sweaty days where we visited the cancer clinic for my wife's chemo sessions were nothing but hell on Earth. But what killed me inside was seeing my wife in pain. Seeing her slowly deteriorating and slowly succumbing to the disease. I was still fighting because I cannot just lose my wife, my love, my best friend. I just cannot. But to her, it was all God's plan. She said she is not surrendering but if it is his will, then we should welcome it with open arms. I could not accept that. So, I decided I should still fight. I needed her to be well, I needed her in my life. But not long after, with all the money spent, she died. There was a note in her hospital pedestal, which I found when I was gathering her clothes and belongings that said:

"John, I love you with all my heart and soul. You made me happy and I feel blessed a thousand fold. When I gave birth to Joe, my life became even more meaningful. I praise God and thank him for giving me you and Joe. I love you both with all my might. I love you to heaven and back. God knows how much I still want to be with you. But things do happen for a reason. Things happen according to his plan. John, take care of little Joe. Be there for him. If the time comes that you should love someone, tell her that I love her. Tell her thank you for loving and taking care of you and our little Joe. Show this letter to her. Hug her for me. Please know that as long there are stars in the universe, I will love you and Joe so much!"

Joe and I cremated her mother's body. One fourth of the ashes were kept as a remembrance in our house. I gave the other one fourth to her family. The rest were scattered on the open field of the University of Santo Tomas where we met, fell in love, and eventually got married. I scattered it in the dead of night where there were only a few students left in the campus.

I embraced my role as a single father. Providing for my needs and as well as my son's. Joe was still a baby when her mum passed and now, in just a few months, he will be attending grade school. At first, it was somewhat difficult. Adjusting my body clock to wake up at 5:00 o'clock in the morning to prepare Joe's baon. It was also a sacrifice to make amends to my boss in the university. I haggled if I could teach at ten in the morning right after I send Joe to school and have my break at twelve noon to fetch Joe, and then teach again after I bring Joe to my sister's home so she could babysit him for a few hours. It was tiring alright. At first, I would just cry inside my car in the parking lot due to sheer exhaustion. However, not soon after I got the hang of it. It became routinely easy as the day goes by. I realized that my wife was special. That innate skill in balancing everything in our family is something to celebrate. She was a Godsend, gone to soon.

Chapter 2:

June is here and the rainy season began. Senior Kinder is finally done for Joe. I realized that he is becoming more independent, inquisitive and becoming more hardheaded. My sister said it is normal and that there is nothing to worry. He will be alright. It was then I met his first-grade teacher Claire. Claire was a petite lady who wore thick glasses and always smiling. She is jiggly and always upbeat. It is no wonder why kids love her. I shook her hand I introduced Joe and myself to her.