The Life of Her

A Tear's Glow

TRENTON SINGH'S POV

Time was a nemesis for me - hoping that it would stop and turn back itself to correct what was mistaken and missed. Still, it was no use for I am currently bargaining with the present. Though, the past may seem not so deft, I would still rather have a preference for to live in what's right now in front of me. A choice has been made, and even the frail leaf of veracity had been slumped into dread, there's no veering around.

Now, being ripped by the words from her lips, I made an effort to take my tears back at me; they didn't collaborate. They were rushing on my cheeks. I noticed Amber being in mid-air in the right corner, patiently watching over me with a troubled face as she was certain that I was throbbing inside. Goggling over the hands that are clasping mine, her face was wret from the tears running through her eyes.

She was keeping me tight. Amber had drawn closer and place in just beside me to accompany. She gently put her hand over my shoulder and squeezed. She gave me the moment.

Mrs. Aliana was breathing deeply as she leaned over to face me. She slowly dried off her wet eyes and said, "I-I'm sorry...I'm sorry if I've done things that made us hurt each other. You might have seen me elsewhere and have some details about me before and I just wanted you to know that I won't ask for forgiveness or connection with you. Your Dad and I have already decided to stop our relationship for everyone's goodness. I know our sins cannot be covered or be erased, but I hope...I hope that when we meet...everything will be alright...When we can finally put smiles on our faces and laughter against tears and love against hatred. I hoped that when that time comes, we can look in the eyes."

She sobbed so hard, moving her chest. "I should have to think more before making a decision that could cause turmoil. I'm sorry for the days and nights that you're being torn in questioning the value of someone. I'm sorry for your mother too...I know it's hard to forgive me and I won't ask anything from you."

I bit in hurting and wiped my tears. Seizing a step forward, I finally found the bravery to confront her straight in the eyes. I held her hands. "I guessed...you already know what you're doing and let your eyes open for the truth. You might...loved each other in the wrong way...but I guessed it was pure. No words could describe what brought it to both parties, but I hoped...we'll be better someday. Forgiveness is not an easy thing to give and I guessed we'll just let time heal. We are not perfect. Scars have already been tainted and we just need to move forward...even if it means to carry the burden that was made along with the journey to take."

I slowly put on a real smile and felt light within me. It was comforting. Seeing the woman who had an affair with my own father isn't the best thing that I could have imagined, but somehow I did manage to listen...to understand...and maybe someday I will learn to forgive her, the woman who made me doubt with love.

I found myself embracing her. I could smell her scent. "We're both sorry..."

We stayed for a minute in that position not until I decided to break the hug. And just before I could see her face clearly once again, a ray of light glinted in front of my sight from Mrs. Aliana's eye, like a fleck of hope wailing deep inside. It was enthralling.

In a sudden gaze, it had moved and floated near to me and slowly shined brightly as it wavered, moving straight inside my necklace. A cold spectacle had concealed from my back, making me shrug to shivers. It's true!

I saw Amber's expression when she recognized the tear that came from her mother. Amber glinted and leaped for a while. She was delighted to see it with her own eyes.

I blinked twice and made sure that it was the thing that we needed, clasping the necklace. I looked at Mrs. Aliana and expressed. "Thank you, for letting me know you..."

Her behavior was bizarre and she couldn't tell what's her response and rather gave me a tap on the cheek. "Let's make this relationship work once again, can we?" She uttered and smiled.

I conceded slowly. "Yes, I'd love to know you more."

We caressed one another and decided to have coffee late at night. I offered it and chose to bring some cookies too. I went downstairs and prepared everything. I took a rest and wished that I could also spend time with my own parents. Getting back to her room with two cups, I made clear that Galvin had already fallen asleep by checking up on his room. The child was lying on his bed, soundlessly dozing while tugging on his white pillow. The clock was pulsing on the walls and it was already nine at the dusk, but my mind is completely active to having a late night talk with Mrs. Aliana. I slowly fastened Galvin's door and went to her room.

Amber had been following me, and didn't bother to say something else and just with a smile curved on her face. It wasn't vanishing at all. I presumed she was intrigued and inclined about what happened a while ago. It was her first - a successful mission. And more to that, she was able to build a connection with her Mom and now things are getting clearer along the way, deliberately.

I placed her cup on the glassed, circular chair. We stayed on her balcony and let the fresh air suppress us. It was cold but relaxing. The shadows were obscure as the pavements' lights shed. The leaves whirled as the crickets and toads meandered around the place. It was a great scenery, more like a chance to apprehend a mirage at any moment. Mrs. Madison took a sip of her coffee and cupped her fingers inside her jacket. She stretched her legs, while I rubbed both my hands to keep myself warm. Taking a sip, Amber went down the street and roamed around for a while.

She wanted to see their neighborhood and might just go hunting or talk to Ms. Everly. She was leaping and a grin was brightly cleared on her face. She surely is calm. I smiled as I anticipated her taking herself behind the fences of one of the neighbors' houses.

She scanned over the window and decided to pay a visit inside, more like trespassing. I chuckled and decided to focus on her mother and laid a question.

“How did Galvin end up inside the orphanage that you’re working in?”

I saw her holding her cup a bit stiff and sat on the red swiveled chair. She gently scratched her legs and uttered. “Galvin just turned seven when his family was caught up in a fire inside their house, which led him to lose. It's not the car accident. We took him just a few months when you left the house. The boy is currently having his sessions in order for him to get help in coping up with what happened. He’s still having a hard time, even if we could see him as a cheerful one.

“Everyone has a mask to put on, whether it’s for good or for evil. Who knows?” I remarked, almost in a whisper.

She caressed my back. “He’s still young to understand everything. We should give him some time to work things right. And…I hope you’ll learn to accept him.”

I looked at her. Amber just popped just behind her with a reddened face. I guessed she just saw something that needed not to be discussed. She stared at her mother blankly as she listened to her.

“Why did you take him here?”

“I wanted him to feel that he's not alone and that he can always run to someone for help just like us. Since the time that he came into the orphanage, the others are quite having a hard time in connecting with him and I was the only one who can handle him. The boy had drawn closer to myself and I felt that he was longing for his parents' care."

I glanced over at the grey dog that passed just on the road to stray. It was sniffing the ground and when it heard something rattling behind the garbage bins, it paced off and went to chase for it.

"Did..you ever find yourself having a child again?"

She cackled a bit and placed her cup. "No, not at all. But when I met the kid, it felt like I wanted to take him as my own son and have him as your sibling too."

She twirled my hair, "I won't force you to him...But please do try to understand him. He's energetic and bold, but he's also clever and friendly."

I heard Amber take a breather and went on the railings. Laying her arms on it, she peeked at me and told. "Can you ask her if...you can join the conference meeting in his school?"

I licked my lips and enunciated. "Have you heard about the meeting at their school?"

She acknowledged and grabbed a cookie. "Yes."

"Is it okay if I'll be the one to join? I mean, I also wanted to have some bond with Galvin...and might as well enroll myself back again, just like what we've discussed a few days before." I suggested.

The woman flashed and answered, "Are you sure about it?"

I nodded attentively and finished my drink. "Yes."

"That's great, Madi. Oh, before I forgot." She put on her stand and went to her table, checking her documents, and snatched one sheet from it. It was written. She handed it over to me so I picked it up and placed it on my lap.

"Since you're going to school, can you give her to your best friend's mother? Mrs. Dimple had requested me to give her a copy of the recipe for a chocolate moist cake."

Amber relaxed her arms and kindly lifted her eyebrow. "She could just wander over the internet. There is a lot to choose from."

"Okay. I'll hand it over to her tomorrow."

"Thank you. Just say hi for me to her, okay?"

I accepted once again. In awe, she took a yawn and rubbed her eyes. It's late. She peered over the paperwork that was being loaded on her table. Her face suddenly became worried, but she still chose to curve her lips. "Let's call it a day, shall we? I'll tell you other things by tomorrow."

I grabbed the cups and arranged them on the tray. We moved inside as the sky became darker and the wind was vigorous. I was about to move out of her room when she suddenly pulled me to her by clasping my hand. She hugged me again. Amber remained pleased and inspected us both.

"Thank you and I love you, Amber." Mrs. Aliana said and placed a kiss gently on my head. She was relieved.

I noticed Amber hovered from her spot and slowly wrapped her pale arms around her mother. She didn't care if it will just pass her through. All she wanted was to embrace her.

"I love you too, Mom." She whispered as she secured her gaze.

"I love you too, Mother." I said, relaying her message, and hugged her back.

Slowly, we pulled each other from the hold and giggled. "I should get going and have some sleep," I said. "G-Goodnight, Mom."

"Goodnight too, Amber. Have some comfort, okay?" She answered and opened the door for me.

I went outside and coursed downstairs to clean the dishes. I admitted the door unhurriedly shut and it was then I decided to glance over back at her. Her room was already pitched black and then I just heard something playing. It was coming from her radio. I yawned big as Amber got me a sudden flick on the forehead.

She chuckled and was smirking. She collapsed on the chair and carefully verified me.

"Thank you for helping me, Trenton."