The Four Summers with Mignonette

The Long Lasting Summer

Lara made way so he can meet his daughter, Bella. She has his eyes, but she looked more like of her mother. He couldn't explain the happiness of being a father, but it pains him as well, thinking his child might grow without a mother.

The child knew who he was. He felt so much warmth in his heart and was not able to hold his tears when she called her Dad. It was the most beautiful word he ever heard. He was crying like a child while hugging his 4-year-old daughter. The happiness of seeing Bella and the fear of losing Mignonette has taken all his strength and he just broke down. Bella wiped his tears. Her tiny hands held his trembling hands. She gave her the same bright smile of her mother, again he wanted to drown himself in tears. Bella tried pulling his hand " Time to see Mama." He gathered all his courage to see Mignonette who refused to see him at first, ashamed of how she looks. After some time, she let him inside her room.

He couldn't hold back his tears when he saw her. She has lost so much weight. She was pale and life in her was draining. At that moment he wished he could exchange his life for her. He regretted the lost times when they could have been happy together. He touched her cheek and kissed her gently. Sorry was the first word he uttered but Mignonette stopped him from saying more. She asked him to sit with her and hold her. That day, without words, they just held hands and hugged each other.

"What are you thinking? Mignonette spoke. Her weak voice brought him back to reality. He smiled. "I'm just thinking how lucky I am to have married the most beautiful woman in the world."
She chortled.
"You always have your ways with words Mister."
She reached out for his hand, there was warmth in it despite its paleness.

The sun was already setting, and it turned the sky red. She smiled and spoke.

" Thank you for the flowers." He just answered her with a smile.

" Why did you marry a sick woman Lucas?"

"Because my heart is incapable of loving and marrying someone else."

"I'm sorry for the lost times." She said.

" Oh Mig, the lost times are nothing compared to these wonderful past few months, right?" She smiled and squeezed his hand.

"I love you Lucas and always will." She raised her weak hand and softly caressed his cheek.
He clipped some strands of her hair to her ear so he could clearly see her eyes.

"And I have loved you since the first time I saw you Mig, always will and always did even at times when you didn't feel that I do."

"You should smile a lot my love. Did you know that I fell in love with you when you smiled at me? Be happy Lucas even when I'm gone, alright? Take care of our Bella."

He suddenly felt like his heart was being cripped with her words and it was hard to speak.

"Don't speak like that Mig." His voice cracked a little.
"We will take care of her together, okay." He looked at her reassuringly and she just smiled.

As the red sky turns black, the rain started to fall, he got up to get the blanket then wrapped her with it.

"Finally, it rained. My plants were drying up, Nelma always seemed to forget to water them, you should remind her more ".

He just gave a chuckle and kissed her hand. She leaned on him then he wrapped his arms around her.

"Thank you for showing me the best sunset I have ever seen."
Her eyes were closed as she spoke, but she was smiling.

The music was still playing from the cassette. The melody fits perfectly with the pitter pat of the raindrops and the slightly chilly evening breeze. He started humming with the song...

"Speak softly, love so no one hears us but the sky.
The vows of love we make will live until we die.
My life is yours and all because
you came into my world with love so softly love..."

He kissed her gently and looked at her one more time. She was at peace...in his arms. #

Corazon