See You Soon, Soldier (Ambience Series #1)

Chapter Thirty-six

Peaceful

"I love you, nay. Hintayin mo ako diyan, ah? Pangako, simula ngayon, mabubuhay ako ng matagal. I'm not wasting your sacrifices for me. Rest peacefully until we walk again together..."

Yakap-yakap ko ang tanging larawan mayroon ang nanay ko habang unti-unti ng pumapalayo sa katawan niya. A soldier closed her coffin that they beautifully made and crafted for her.

I didn't mind every tear that fell from my eyes. I wanted to cry my all. I wanted to cry for her that I feel like mourning for the rest of my life.

Four soldiers carry her coffin while others stand straight while she's being carried towards her grave. Up the highest hill near our house, possibly the highest peak of Mount Hundor. We walk our way up here to burry her as she will be imbedded on the mountain's peak.

I felt arms wrapped around my body from behind. Mas lalo akong humagulgol at napakapit sa braso ni Worth.

I hope my mother finally had the freedom she deserved wherever she is now. A much more freeing and beautiful kind of freedom for herself. I hope she'll find love too.

They put her on the grave and we all stand in silence, muttering our prayers for her. Slowly, one by one, the soldiers dropped each of their white roses for her. Some had letters carried with them.

Worth kissed me on the head before letting me go. He walked to my mother's grave and kneeled down. He dropped his rose and letter for her, he stood up and once again form a salute to her before looking back to me.

His father went next with President Sandler who's holding a pile of white balloons on his hand. They both did a salute too and dropped their roses. Andromeda hugged me on my side and I heard her quiet sniffs.

I breathed out and tapped her arms. She slowly let me go and I make my way to her grave. Worth waited for me and offered his hand. Napahigpit ang hawak sa natatanging pulang rosas sa kamay ko.

I took Worth's hand and looked down. I slowly let go of my red rose. It fell above all the white roses, transcending it's color.

The President let go of his balloons to the sky. Kasabay ng pagbitaw niya ay ang pagbitaw ko rin sa sariling puting saranggola.

I didn't hold on to the thread. I let it fly on it's own beyond the cliff between the spreading pile of balloons on the sky, hovering away.

I turned around when I can't take the view anymore. I buried myself on Worth's chest and cried silently.

He immediately hold me. "Thank you for having Bellemy. I promise I will love your daughter more than anything else, more than my passion, more than my life." He whispered to the air.

That somehow, made me ease. I hugged him tighter, holding my mother's picture on my chest.

I'm not hoping to heal from this anytime soon. This is something that I'm willing to heal for a long period of time and not wanting to let go yet.

After my mother's burial, Worth did what I wanted. He packed my bags and his too. He didn't carry any of his weapons, he didn't told his father about this or any of the soldiers. He just packed everything and grabbed my hand.

Andromeda followed us, carrying her bags too and we make our way on the back of the tents.

The rest of the soldiers here plans to speak infront of the world just like President Sandler offered me. I heard they were trying to break in on Walter's accesses. They still have him in captivity while narrowing down all his alliances. The states, the politicians and the scientists that answered to him. All who are responsible for the crisis before they drop the bomb to the world.