Remembering A Loved One Novels & Stories

Habang papalapit siya sa puntod na kanyang dadalawin ay humihigpit naman ang pagkakahawak niya sa mga bulaklak at mistulang bumibigat ang bawat hakbang niya. It is the first time that she visits his tomb. Ayaw niyang dumadalaw sa puntod ng mga mahal niya dahil ayaw niyang muling masaktan. Visiting someone's grave has never been a good idea for her because it'll bring back the memories. Besides, the dead would only be few feet below the ground, or sometimes not. They are really there, lying in their eternal home. They are very near, but we can't have them anymore.

Nagising na lang siya isang araw at pinapakain na ang memorya niya ng mga alaalang nawala sa isip niya. Aiah pities herself. She does not remember any memory from the past. She forgot the first time that she had a crush, the first time she kissed a guy or even the first time that she truly fell in love. She forgot everything. Nakalimutan niya na rin kung sino-sino ang kapamilya niya. She forgot her mom, her dad, until she was reminded that they were already dead. She forgot about his brother, Ezekiel, who is also subtle about her these days.

Although the pain on her eyes are showing, I could sense na pilit niya iyong inaalis at pinapalitan ng isang masaya at masiglang mga ngiti. “Don't force yourself to remember me, love. I may not know what happened to you for those long years that we've parted, but I know you will remember me. Maybe not at this moment, but at the right time. I always believe in that. And if ever you will no longer remember me, I'll do everything to make good and happy memories with you. Just please, give me the chance. I'll be a better husband.” Naguguluhan man ay pinilit ko pa rin ang ngumiti. Hinawakan ko ang kanyang pisngi. Hinimas ko ito gamit ang likod ng aking palad. Gumuhit ang tila sakit sa aking dibdi

“Is there anything I can do to support her through this process? I just want to see her smile again and have a chance at a normal life.” Tumango ang doktor na may ngiti sa labi nito. “Your presence and support are crucial. Reconnecting with loved ones can often serve as a catalyst for memory recall. Encourage her to engage in activities she enjoyed before, and perhaps spend time looking at old photographs or talking about shared experiences. It might help trigger some of those present memories.”

They respect people who visits their loved ones to reminisce the memories when they’re still breathing. “Gio, bakit ganun?” mahina niyang sambit at hinaplos ang pangalan nito. “It’s been three years but it still hurts me knowing you’re now really gone. Knowing you’re not here with me anymore. Masyado namang seloso si Lord para ipagdamot ka niya sa ‘kin nang ganito kaaga. Ni hindi ko man lang nasabi sa ‘yo at napairama kung ano ang nararamdaman ko para sa ‘yo.

"Won't you tell her about that incident?" Natigilan siya. Kanina lang ay iniisip niya iyon pero hindi pumasok sa kanya ang ikuwento ito kay Lexie. Pero ngayon na tinanong siya ng kaibigan ay hindi niya malaman kung ano ang isasagot. "I—I really don't remember some pieces of that incident. Even her face and their names— you know human memory is strange. Your brain will shut down the bad memories as a defense mechanism to protect your fear. And it will let you forget something terrible that happened. Lahat sila, may nakakalimutan katulad na lang ‘yung may nangyari kahapon or kanina lang. Pero ako ang pangalan nila. Dahil estranghero sila na nakilala ko noon at nagpakilala lang at sinabi ang pa

“Coming in the door and getting a hug from you was a breath of life for me at the end of a long day. We could sit and play or read and it was so easy to be together.” Dahil sa hikbi ni Missamy, niyakap ko na siya. Yeah, I think we were close those times Dad. “Time is strange thing. It's hard to appreciate what you have until you're looking back at it. Those days are gone and exist only in happy and bittersweet memories. How can happy memories make me so sad? Did I hug you enough back the? Did I appreciate what I had? Probably not. Oh, to have those little hugs again.”

Kahit sino, mahahalatang may halong lungkot ang mga salitang 'yon. I reached his face. "Of course." "I'm in my late twenties and yet I still long for this kind of affection," he smiled sadly. "My mom died when I was five. But I remembered, she used to do this... drying my hair." Nakaramdam ako ng lungkot dahil sa sinabi niya. I know that feeling. When you missed one particular thing, pero hindi mo na muli pang magagawa dahil ang taong nagsanay sa'yo sa bagay na 'yon e wala na. You forgot how it feels.

"If you only learned to open your eyes, my daughter." Hindi rin ako nagtagal roon dahil hindi ko na kaya pang makinig sa mga pangaral ng matanda. Hanggang ngayon, kahit na papauwi na sa kasintahan ay hindi pa rin matanggal sa utak ko ang narinig mula sa dalawang taong gusto lang atang guluhin ang isip ko. I took my phone out of my pocket and called the man I wished to spend my whole life with. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang agad niya 'yong sagutin.

I planned on making one for Femella. Dahan-dahan akong tumayo sapo ang sumasakit na ulo. The return of the memories is overwhelming me. Hindi ko alam ang mararamdaman. I'm torn between being happy because my heart remembers what my brain has forgotten or blame myself for not trying hard enough to remember all these before. Bumalik ako sa kotse at nagpatuloy sa pagmamaneho. I'm looking at every house, tree, and even the dogs in the streets that will trigger more memories to materialize.