Live In Peace Novels & Stories

He understood. Too quickly. Too deeply. Torren lifted a hand slowly. Stopped just before touching my face. He always does that now. Like he was learning restraint in a world that never taught him how. “We don’t know how to live in peace,” he said quietly. I almost laughed. Because it was true. We didn’t. Peace wasn’t something we were trained for. It was something we survived after surviving everything else. “And if this is it?” I asked softly. His eyes darkened slightly.

I asked quietly. Aaron tilted his head. “After this?” “Yeah,” I said. “After peace. After healing. What do we do then?” He smiled — that small, honest kind of smile. “We live,” he said simply. “That’s all we were ever meant to do.” And he was right. Healing wasn’t a finish line. It wasn’t about moving on — it was about choosing to live again, every single day. “Mommy! Daddy! Look!” Azi called.

Dinampot niya ang cellphone na nag-iingay na nakalapag sa passenger seat. "Hello." ["Sir, nakaready na po ang troops na makakasama niyo sa Camarines Norte."] "Alright. Pahintay na lang ako," sabay patay ng smartphone at binalik sa passenger seat. Sa kasamaang palad, hatinggabi na nang makarating kami sa Dumagmang Labo, Camarines Norte, kung saan siya madedestino mula ngayon. Puno ng kadiliman ang paligid ng kampo, mga ilaw lang sa mga poste ang nagbibigay ng liwanag sa kapaligiran.

Ito ang dahilan kung bakit ilan sa mga katulong ay hindi tinatanggihan ang alok sa kanila ni Peace; inaabangan pa nga nila ito. ‘Haha! iniisip naman kita ngayon, hindi ba, Jean?” Ngumiti si Peace at mapusok na dinagdag, “Oo nga pala, maglinis ka ng maayos at palihim kang pumuslit sa kwarto ko mamayang gabi. Lalakbayin ko ang buhay kasama ka, ano sa tingin mo?”

Patuloy na kumakatok si Logan sa pinto. Actually, wala naman siyang kasalanan. He doesn't know what I've been through. Kaya hindi ko siya puwedeng isama sa gulo ng buhay ko. Logan lived in a peaceful family. Bakit ko siya isasama sa magulo kong mundo? He has the right to live... happily. Pero ako? Hangga't hindi ko nakikilala ang totoong nagmamahal sa akin, hindi ako matatahimik. Because it's indeed true that peace brings love, equality, and a harmonious relationship.

"It’s about two people trying to find peace amidst the chaos around them. Just like us." Just like us?

His eyes are screaming for danger and vengeance, but it is odd that I felt safe and secure while staring at it. “I want to live a peaceful life. A life that is not chaotic and problematic. " I stated habang nakatitig sa kawalan. The silence between us stretched. It is not awkward like in some case. It is peaceful for me. “I want my children and my family to be safe. Gusto kong mabuhay nang walang iniisip na threat sa aming kaligtasan. Na magagawa naming lahat ng naisin naming nang walang inaalalang sakuna na maaring mangyari anumang oras. I have been craving for that kind of freedom since then. I continued while still leaning on him.

dagdag ni Billie, "ay perfect." Ang kanilang forever ay hindi na isang destination, kundi ang patuloy na pagtatayo ng kanilang Legacy of Peace, isang support beam sa bawat sandali.

alive. ***

"Aren't you happy? Makikita ka na ng mundo, sa wakas. Ilang taon ka ring nagtago. Shouldn't you be glad to yourself?" Hinilamos ko ang mukha ko gamit ang kamay at umiling. "Ami, I don't need to be known just to be happy. For me, peace is the opposite of the result of being famous. Ayos na ako sa buhay ko. Ayaw kong lumabas sa media."