Maayos na ang lagay ni Aling Elena nang dumating siya sa ospital. Totoo ang sinabi ng kanyang nakababatang kapatid, nakalipat na nga ito sa semi-private ward mula sa operating room. Mang Arman, his kindhearted stepfather was there together with Renz, her seventeen year old half-brother.
She politely grasped the calloused hand of her stepfather and slowly brought it to her forehead. Ang magaspang na kamay, maugat na mga braso at malalalim na gitla sa mukha ay palatandaan ng angkin nitong kasipagan sa pagtatrabaho. But she could still trace the manly beauty on him that was brutally stolen away by poverty and old age.
He smiled at her and she smiled back. Parang tunay na magulang ang turing niya rito kung paanong itinuring din siya nito na parang tunay na anak. It
