Chapter 77

“TAKE a deep breath first, Aliyah. Don’t worry, they are your family, of course they won’t harm you.”

Bakas na bakas sa mukha ko ang matinding kaba at pagdadalawang isip sa gagawin ko ngayon.

Naging mabilis lang ang pagdaan ng mga araw. At ngayon nga ay dumating na ang araw na hindi ko akalain na nangyayari na pala nitong mga nakaraang taon pa.

It’s my mother’s third year death anniversary now.

Halos parehas lang pala ang taon kung kailan ko pinanganak si Riley at kung kailan nawala ang mama ko.

I am kissing the top of my son’s head while taking a long and deep breathe.

Hindi pa din ako makapaniwala.

I was move a bit when Riley suddenly looked at me while having a strong confusion in his eyes.

“Are you okay mommy? Why are you breathing so heavily? Is there something wrong po ba?”

Pinilit kong hindi mapaluha at masaktan sa paraan ng pagkakatanong ng inosente kong anak. I know it’s not his fault. No one is at fault for what happened.

But I can’t explain the strong guilt I am hav