Only For The Brave Novels & Stories

But for love. THE END

Tila binigyan siya ng espasyo para bumuga ng apoy. Huminga nang malalim si Cinderella at nangingibabaw ang tapang sa bawat salita. “My mother was not perfect,” matatag niyang sinabi na parang sigaw sa katahimikan. “But she was brave... braver than you’ll ever be. She loved quietly, fiercely, and sacrificed everything for me. Unlike you, she never twisted her pain into a weapon to tear others down. That’s where you and she will never, ever be the same.”

At sa digmaang ito, walang bayani. Mayroon lamang mga taong piniling lumaban— Para sa sarili nilang kalayaan.

Muli nya akong niyakap. Isinandal ko ang aking ulo sa kanyang dibdib, ramdam ko ang mabilis na pag tibok ng kanyang puso. Hindi ko mapigilan na yakapin sya pabalik, pakiramdam ko na pinaka ligtas ako sa bisig n'ya, parang payapa ako sa mga yakap nya habang pinapakinggan ang nag haharumintado nitong puso. "You'so so brave, Jael. You're the bravest person I know. You've been through so much in your life, and you still stand strong." He said.

Hindi ito matapang o ganap, ngunit sapat upang masilayan ang init at pangako sa isa’t isa. Biglang humina ang hangin, ang mga dahon sa paligid ay nag-iyak sa simoy. “Yanna, huwag kang matakot,” bulong niya, hawak ang aking mga kamay. Para bang sa bawat haplos niya, nawawala ang takot at nadarama ko ang init ng pagmamahal.

Bahagya pa akong nagulat nang hawakan niya ang kamay ko. "Life must have been tough for you," her gaze was so soft that it gaves me so much comfort. Comfort that I didn't know I've been longing for. "But I want you to know that I'm so proud of you for not giving up in your lowest. Thank you for being brave, Ciara. You may not know this but you did it. You made it. You fought well and you did a great job fighting for your life through your hardest times. You're a brave warrior, Ciara, because you're still here, fighting for everything. And I'm so thankful for that. Please, keep going, I know you're almost at the end and something's great are waiting for you. So please, survive from this cruel

Pero hindi siya umatras. “Then I’ll deal with it.” Tahimik. Ngumiti si Isabella. Mabagal. Mapanganib. “Brave.” Humakbang ito palapit. “But bravery doesn’t save people here.” Huminto ito sa harap niya. “Power does.” Tahimik. At doon— May napagtanto si Lena. Hindi sapat ang pagiging matapang. Kailangan niya ring matuto.

Paulit-ulit niyang inaayos ang cuff ng kanyang damit kahit maayos na iyon. “Bro, relax,” bulong ni Marco, ang kanyang best man. Ngumiti si Ethan nang bahagya. “Hindi ako kinakabahan sa kasal…” sagot niya, “…kinakabahan ako na baka panaginip lang ‘to.” Tahimik ang paligid. Hanggang sa— Tumugtog ang music. How to be brave? How can I love when I'm afraid to fall? But watching you stand alone

Hindi malinaw kung panunukso ba iyon o paghanga. Pero alam ni Max, hindi galit ang tono ng boss niya. Seryosong tumango si Max. “Madam is really brave.” Napataas nang bahagya ang kilay ni Arturo. Brave? Yes. Very brave. Maging siya ay hindi inasahang kayang ilantad ni Marian ang pinakamadilim nitong nakaraan nang ganoon katatag. Hindi lahat ng tao kayang gawin iyon. Lalo na ang isang babae.

Pero masaya ako dahil sa pakiramdam na may nagaalala pa pala sa akin. “I really admire you for being brave. You've done enough, give yourself a break. Be brave enough to fight for what you think is right and what you deserved. You deserve more.”