April 19, 2010, Monday.

It was a very bright day. Everyone in the house went about their daily routines. My grandparents cleaned the house and handled our family business. My mother helped too, and the kids fooled around. And I attended my summer class.

When the class was over, my classmates and I headed to our favourite spot. We shared meaningful conversations and played billiards. While I was out there enjoying, my cousin called me asking where I was. After that phone call, another came in, by that time, it was my mom. I wasn’t able to answer it due to the loud music from the place so I text her and asked her to call me again. We were about to leave the place and move into my friend’s house when I felt that something’s wrong. Indecisiveness occurred to me. I waited for my mom’s call before I decided not to come with them. The bad news came. Suddenly, what I thought to be a good day turned into something that I wished was not part of the year. Our beloved Nanay Lita took her last breath.

Hurriedly, I went home. I was like being chased by a monster by the way I ran. I burst into tears and hugged my mom. Melancholy filled our house. My worst fear came true without any notice. It just happened. It was not until the next morning that her body came into our place. Fear enveloped all over me, I did not want to see her lying there, cold and lifeless. I cried again until a realization took place. It was God’s will that Nanay finally rested in peace. I witnessed how she suffered from her illness. I heard her how she wept and how badly she wants to end that anguish. I can’t help but to cry more when all of these came into a flashback. Then we said to ourselves, it was just best that she ended the battle. On that way, her suffering had come to a halt, too.

Nanay Lita was one of the toughest persons I have ever known. Throughout her existence, I saw how she fought hard and stayed strong with all the trials that came her way. Her love for her family was something that we won’t trade for anything. Her memories still cloud my mind every now and then and how we still wish that she’s still alive to be with us. It’s been almost a year and we have already accepted the fact that she’s happy with our Creator. Tears have dried up and contentment has already filled our souls. I love you, Nanay, and you will always be in my heart.