The Witness

Chapter 22 - Pieta

Hours passed, though each second of each hour felt a full day in itself. Mely Alinsangan sat on the couch, unable to stretch or lean back, every muscle in her taut body alert to the slightest change in the air, to any vibration in the phone in her hand.

The children's school had a special feast day, and so they had no classes. Upstairs, Sean and Ella laughed and played, with Ingrid watching over them. Rico was in the kitchen, solving a puzzle on the table. Sighing, Mely finally put her head on her hands.

Just then, right before the third hour ended, there came a knock on the door.

Mely lifted her head and looked at Rico, wordlessly ordering him to answer it. The boy frowned, put his puzzle pieces down, and obeyed.

On the doorway was a police officer, his hat on his hands. "What do you want po, Sir?" Rico asked politely, but nervously.

"Is your mother here, iho?" The officer sounded serious. "I'm afraid we have terrible news."

Mely forced herself to stand and walk towards them. When the officer narrated what happened, Rico shook his head, screamed, and thundered up the stairs. Mely didn't say anything. She stood frozen, pale, shaking. The words floated around her ears but she didn't take them in.

She only did when he said, "There's evidence he wasn't alone. A girl's shoe was found in the wreck."

Rosa, Mely thought. Oh God, no. "Was she--did she--?"

"We don't know who she is, ma'am. We're sorry. But she might have something to do with your husband's death. Every evidence we have so far shows that it had been deliberate." He cleared his throat. "You have to claim your husband's body. You need to join us at the hospital, and we'll show you the girl's shoe and other things in the wreck. We are so sorry, Ma'am, for your loss."

Mely closed her eyes. Tears streamed out anyway, and she wiped them with one hand while clenching the other into a fist. Then she looked at the officer in the eye. "Wait a moment," she said. "The kids will join me."

"Alright, Ma'am."

When she arrived upstairs, the children already knew. Ingrid and Sean held each other, sobbing. Rico was facing the wall. Ella was crying too, although Mely had no idea if her youngest was even aware of what death was, or if she just cried because she felt everybody's pain. All four children looked at her for answers, for consolation.

She had to be strong. "My dears, we're going to the morgue with the officers. Get dressed, and do it quickly." They obeyed, sensing the urgency. Sean ran to his room; Ingrid led Ella to theirs. Rico was about to head to the room he shared with his brother when Mely stopped him.

"Mom," Rico whispered worriedly. "How about Ate Rosa? Wasn't she in the car with Dad?"

"They found her shoe," Mely replied, "but not her body. She survived. But she's in danger." She closed her eyes and composed herself once more. Then she opened her eyes. "Rico, take care of your siblings and bring them to the police car when you're done. I'll follow you. But I'll have to call Denise Nunez from News8 first."

***

Sacrifice. That was what their Christian Values teacher wanted them to write about for today's essay. Miguel's seatmates and friends were already in the middle of their essays, but he still had to start. He'd written an entire paragraph, but erased it when he realized how dangerous it was. His Ate Rosa running away from home  and telling the truth to a lawyer, and eventually to everyone through a radio show, was interesting and exciting to write, not to mention the very definition of sacrifice, but it would expose his sister and confirm everyone's suspicions. Although, Miguel caught himself thinking, who else could it be? The identity of the star witness of Sylvia Francisco's murder could not be any more obvious.