You, Again

They say time heals everything.

Sana totoo 'yun.

Because no one tells you about the mornings. The ones where you wake up and for one small, merciful second - you forget. And then you remember. And the weight comes back, quiet and familiar, like it never left. Like it's been sleeping in the same bed as you this whole time.

No one tells you that healing isn't a destination. Na minsan, ito ay isang bagay na ginagawa mo araw-araw - paulit-ulit, nang walang katiyakan na magiging okay ka sa katapusan.

Pero ginagawa mo pa rin. Kasi wala kang choice.

For five years, that's exactly what Althreiana Mayari Villacorta did.

She rebuilt herself, slowly, the way you rebuild anything that's been broken - carefully, imperfectly, with the kind of patience that doesn't come naturally but comes anyway because you need it to. She made a life out of the pieces. Small but hers. Quiet but enough.

Akala niya, tapos na siya. Akala niya, kaya na niyang huminga nang walang sakit. But some loves don't care about your progress. Hindi sila nagbabasa ng script mo. Hindi sila sumusunod sa timeline mo.

And some wishes - 'yung mga hiniling mo nang buong puso sa isang gabi na akala mo'y wala namang nakikinig -may sumasagot.

For Threia, the sky answered. At dinala siya pabalik - sa pinakamasakit, pinakamaginaw, pinaka-siya niyang bahagi ng nakaraan.

Pabalik sa kanya.

The one she swore she was finally over. The one who would break her heart the same way, in the same places, all over again.

And the worst part?

Mamahalin niya pa rin siya. Kahit alam na niya kung paano magtatapos ang lahat.