When I Was Your Woman

First heartbreak.

Fifteen years had passed. Yet the pain is still in Racchi's heart. She still remembers the letter that she wrote for her father when he left them.

"Father. Can I still call you that? Or don't I have the right anymore? It hurts knowing and realizing that you left us for another woman. But you know what hurts most? It's seeing Mom being the best Mom to us and best wife to you, but still you choose to hurt her. I can accept if you only hurt me, but the fact that Mom hurts more this time, I can't stand it. Don't you know the sacrifices she made for our family? She worked so hard as early as the sun rises until the sun sets. I know she is the only one feeding us with the penny she earns from doing laundry from our neighbors because the money you earned from the business you have is only for yourself. How selfish are you? How heartless are you? I know that everytime Mom asks money to buy food for us, you scolded her even in front of lots of people. If you only treat her that way, why did you marry her in the first place? Why did you let her fall in love with you if you cannot reciprocate the love she has for you? Are you being a man now? You kept on telling me and my 3 sisters that if you caught us having relationship with man while studying, you wont let us study anymore. I can understand it. But what I can't understand is why, you, a married man with four daughters has the guts to look for another woman? We obey all your rules, we study so hard, we help Mom with all the chores in the house. Can't you see our worth?Are we that easy to be left? Are your consciense not working? If one day, you will realize that we are precious to you, I hope we still can see that you mean a lot to us. If one day you will realize that life will be happier if you are with us, I hope we also feel the same because if our hearts can't forgive you anymore, I will also bleed for your pain."

It was 2006 when Brad Miller left them for another woman. Racchi was still 16 and on her first year in college. That was her first heartbreak. Not from any random man, but from the man that gave life to her. She doesn't know what are the thoughts of her father after reading her letter or if he read her letter. 16 years had passed when she last saw him and without any news about him. In her heart, she still longs for a father's love and still pray that one day, there family will be complete again.

Now, she is 31, has job but still broke. Broke financially, emotionally and physically.

After her graduation, in not so famous university, she applied in Stayingwell Laboratory. After five years, she became the Accounting Manager. The salary is not bad but because of all her responsibilities, she always deprives herself. All her 3 sisters have families of their own now and she is the only one supporting her mother's daily needs and medication. She also supports her sisters' families because their married lives are not doing well.

Ring.ring.ring. Racchi comes back to reality when her cellphone rings.

"Yes, you called late this night. Something happened?" It is already 11pm and her worry get stronger when she hears her sister's cry.

"Rusty, what exactly happened? Please tell me now."

"I am on my way to hospital. Baby Leigh-anne can't breathe again. Maybe because she wasn't able to take her maintenance drug for quite awhile". Leigh-anne is 5 years old and the only daughter of her sister Rusty. She has a congenital heart disease.

"Oh God. In which hospital are you going to take her?". Racchi is in the city because of her work while her sisters and mother are in uptown. "I will take her to the public hospital. You know I can't afford in private one". "Okay, I'll wire you money now then update me every now and then." Rusty's marriage is a failure also, thus, she is the only one who's taking care of her daughter.

After wiring money to Rusty, she tried her best to sleep because she still has work tomorrow. But no matter how much she tried, she can't. It was around 2am that she decides to call Rusty to know Leigh-anne's situation.

"How's the baby?" "She is sleeping now. The doctor said I have to let her take her medicine everyday so this won't happen again. If not, worst will happen. I don't know what to do". Racchi hears Rusty's sobs and can't help but also cries. But she did not let Rusty know she is crying. "Don't worry, I'm here. Everything will be fine. Let's always pray about this."

Racchi can't turn her back from Rusty because when she was studying, Rusty is the one who pays for her tuition fees and allowances. Rusty is also one of the kindest and humblest person Racchi knows. And now is the time to help her sister also even in her simplest way.