“I am in love with the memory. Yes, to the memory of an eleven-year old girl. She is also my age now, 40. And I guess, she would look just like any middle aged women; plump, matronly…yet I want to see her again…”

One night I heard my parents talking. I cannot forget this night because it sealed my fate. It is a bad manner to eavesdrop. Mother always told me that. But I could not help but listen because I heard Father mentioned my name. I stood behind the half open door of their room.

“It will be better for all of us, especially Luther. He is growing up and this neighborhood… I really don’t like it here.”

Mother looked at him. “We’ve been here for 11 years. But we cannot afford to move…not yet. Besides your office is just a block away.”

Father faced Mother. He held her hands and looked at her intently. He was smiling. “No, Luisa, I will no longer work here.”

“What did you say? You must be kidding!”

“I’m not kidding. I will not work here because I am just promoted. I’m now a Land Examiner. We will move to the Capitol.” Father was working at the Bureau of Lands, a government office.

My parents hugged tightly. Mother was obviously overjoyed. I knew she despised this place also. I left silently. I went to bed with a heavy heart. The excitement I felt a few hours ago was all gone because of Father’s news. Why now?Why not before? That night, I wept.

We lived in a two-storey 12 door apartments along Bonifacio Street. Our apartment was in the second floor. Mother said that they moved here two weeks before I was born. Coming from a middle class family, Mother had a hard time adjusting to married life. They did not have a maid because Father’s salary was just enough for food and rent. Mother did all the chores. She had barely enough time for herself. When father came home late at night, Mother had to get up to fix his dinner. Mother did not complain. That was how much she loved Father. It was the only kind of life Father had to offer to her, at least, at that time. As I grew up, seeing my Mother always by my Father’s side, I made up my mind that someday I would marry a woman like her.