CharDawn Snippets

emilarco - MAMU

The Montenegro home will never be the same from now on. Donya Margaret Montenegro, the matriarch of the family, passed away in her sleep peacefully, and it came a shock to the whole family especially to her unico hijo, Marco. They never thought the day will come because she has always been healthy and have been taking care of herself well. They would like to think that she wants to be with her husband, Joseph and her sister, Henya, who passed away a couple of months before her.

Emily is on top of everything since her passing. Funeral arrangements, taking care of the food, entertaining the guests, and making sure the family is okay. Marco would try to put on a face during the day, greeting business collegues and guests, but it's a different story at night. He would sulk in one corner of the room and stare at his Mom's casket. He would skip meals and would only take coffee to keep himself awake. The same case goes for Johanna and Nathan, just like their father, quiet and would always view the casket, silently crying for their beloved Mamu. But Emily is grateful that among them, Daniel, her seven-year old son, understands what's happening, and letting him know that Mamu is now in heaven with Lola Henya, Ate Katerina, and his Kuya Daniel.

They laid Donya Margaret to rest, beside her husband, in the family mausoleum. It was an emotional day and all Emily could think about is her husband who has been quiet since he woke up. He would only speak when being asked but he never engaged into a conversation. The guests said their goodbyes and they are the only ones left. Johanna, Nathan, and Daniel are already inside the car while she waits for Marco, still staring at his mom's tomb.

"Mahal... halika na.. umuwi na tayo.", she asks her husband. She held his arm but he just stayed still. "Marco.. para makapahinga ka na rin.."

Marco held her hand, "Mauna na kayo. Pakisabi sa driver na balikan na lang ako.", her husband says. She wants to disagree because she's worried but maybe she should give him a little more time. She nodded and gave her husband a kiss on the cheek before riding the car.

Emily couldn't sleep as Marco hasn't been home since they left him at the cemetary. He's not replying nor answering her calls as well, but the driver told her that her husband stopped by at a bar. She is now waiting for him to get home and just as expected, he is drunk. With the help of the driver, they were able to get him on the bed and Emily went on taking care of him. She wants to get mad, but knowing what recently happened, she'll let this one slip.

"Mama..", he mumbles. She feels sad and scared. She doesn't know how long will Marco continue to grieve but she hopes for the best in the next few days.

"Mama.. don't leave, Ma..", he mumbles again. This time, Emily goes near her husband, caressed his face, to calm him down.

"Sshhh.. Marco.."

"Maaa...", he mumbles a little louder.

"Marco, matulog ka na..", she tries to relax him down. Marco opened his eyes and looked at her. "Mahal..", she calls him, hoping he would recognizer her despite being drunk.

"Emily.. wala na.. wala na si Mama..", he mumbles and his face crumpled. He started to burst into tears. This is the first time that Marco cried since his mom's passing and all Emily could do is to pull him closer to her and lets him cry. She rubs his back, praying that would ease the pain in his heart. Losing a parent is never easy and she knows that. So for now, she is embracing this weakness of his husband and be that strength that he needs.

The next morning, everyone is having breakfast except for Marco, who is still asleep. Emily lets him be, as he needed as much rest as he can. However, Daniel is not used to having a quiet meal with his family so he was the first one to say something.

"Mama, why is everyone still sad? Sabi niyo po masaya si Mamu sa heaven?", she smiled at her smart boy.

"Namimiss lang ni Kuya and Ate si Mamu kaya ganun..", she answers.

Daniel looked at his siblings. "Kuya and Ate, don't be sad na. Sabi ni Mamu sa akin dapat happy lang tayo palagi diba? Because she said, marami na daw naging bad things na nangyari dati sa family natin and ayaw na niya maulit yun.."

Emily smiles. Donya Margaret has been on the positive side of life ever since she realized her mistakes in the past. She's always the first one to make things lighter and happier for their family and Emily is happy that her mother-in-law passed that outlook to Daniel.

Emily looked at Johanna and Nathan, who are showing a smile for their brother. She knows that it really took a toll on the kids, but she believes everything will get better.

"Mga anak, tama si Daniel. Ayaw ng Mamu niyo na malungkot kayo. So smile na, ha?", she says, and the two nodded at her with smiles on their faces. "Tapusin niyo na ang pagkain niyo. Sisilipin ko lang ang Daddy niyo para makakain na rin siya."

She opened the door of their room and found Marco, still in bed, staring at a picture frame. She knows who's on that as he has been looking at it since his mom died. She joined him in bed and got his arm to wrap it around her.

"Mahal...", she calls his attention. He placed the picture frame down and looked at his wife. "Kumusta ang pakiramdam mo, Marco?", she asks.

"Hindi ko alam, Mahal. Masakit pa rin. Namimiss ko na si Mama."

"Alam ko, Mahal.. pero hindi rin gugustuhin ni Mama na magmukmok ka dito. Patuloy lang ang buhay, Marco.", she says. Marco sighs and plants a kiss on her hair.

They heard a knock on the door. "Pasok!", she says, and the door opened and saw their kids smiling at them.

"Marco, sila ang dahilan sa pagpapatuloy natin sa buhay. Kaya wag ka na malungkot, ha?", she says and motioned the kids to come in. The three got on the bed while Daniel made his way on his Papa's lap.

"Papa, are you still sad?", their son asked. Marco smiled and ruffles his son's hair.

"Konti na lang, anak. Namimiss ko lang si Mamu mo.", he says.

"Daniel, tell Dad about your dream.", Johanna butts in and Marco and Emily wonders about it. Daniel haven't mentioned anything to them.

"Papa.. Mamu was in my dream last night.", the boy says innocently.

"Talaga, 'nak?", Marco asked and his son nodded. "Anong nangyari sa panaginip mo?"

"Sabi niya na happy siya doon kasama si Lola Henya. Wag na daw tayo sad kasi hindi naman siya sad eh.", Daniel says that made them all smile. Marco looked at the people around him and realized that their's nothing to be sad about. He still got what he needs and that is enough.

"Thank you, Daniel. From now on, hindi na tayo magiging malungkot. Pero I think we need to thank someone other than Daniel.", Marco says. His kids gave him a questioning look and then he faced his wife. "Thank you, Mahal. Thank you for everything you've done for us."

Emily smiled. "Mahal ko kayo kaya gagawin ko ang lahat para sa inyo. Basta dapat wala ng malungkot ha? Bibisitahin na lang natin si Mamu kapag namimiss niyo siya, okay?"

They all smiled at her. Johanna and Nathan moved closer as the family shared a hug. "We love you, Mama!", Daniel mumbles and gave his Mom a kiss.

They lost a family member but that doesn't mean life should stop for them. The Montenegros will surely make Donya Margaret proud even though she's in heaven.