And so Reed couldn’t help but wish for Hera to leave soon so he could go back to wander around the mansion without needing to watch his back so much.At this moment, Hera, who had gone back to sleep, had a smile on her face.She was dreaming of a memory she had with her comrades when she was still in the army.Not at all times did she suffer back when she was on active duty.There was a time when she and her comrades, both men and women, would compete against each other on the number of push ups they could do, on how fast they could run, or on who could shoot the target more accurately.Hera wasn’t as good as some of them when she first started.Though she had an athletic body, she had never held a gun or any weapon before she entered the army.Though there were challenges every step of the way, she still met people whom she connected with, was inspired by, and learned to entrust her life with.She met people who supported her career choices and encouraged her to keep going.Although
When Hera first started in her new job as a Parachute Rigger, the other soldiers were uncomfortable at the thought of placing their lives in her hands.They would always have another person recheck her work to make sure that everything was in place.Gradually, at the supervisor’s constant approval of her work, the other soldiers finally trusted her.Hera paid attention to detail even though she had some experience in this area.Back in College, she once worked at a mountain resort which offers paragliding. She started out as an assistant then and soon she became one of the instructors.She has instructed customers, and has maintained equipment.This job as a Parachute Rigger was quite easy for her because of her previous experience. Still, she didn’t let her words speak for her. She only made sure that she did the job well.Her deft hands and confidence assured others. The Supervisor recommended her for other areas as well since this task was too easy for her. Inwardly, that Superviso
“Why? Is this the end?”Tears streamed down her face as blood trickled from every part of her body.The hot sun seared through her skin.Blood boiled under the scorching heat and her sweat quickly evaporated.She was losing blood and water continuously.Her blurry gaze looked around her, at the emptiness of the desert.“Anyone! Please! Help me!” She screamed under her breath.Her dried up throat began to burn.She was slowly dying.Hera Leandra Bardin, at the age of 24 years old, was now lying abandoned in the middle of the desert.Her military fatigue was long drenched with her own blood and a few traces of her assaulters’ blood from when they beat her black and blue.Two hours earlier, she was taken to a warehouse where the people she had once called comrades have used their thick fists, swift blades and even hot iron to inflict torture on her.She thought she could endure it.She determined that she would overcome it.But when she heard one of them suggest that they feast on her vi
Silence.His forehead creased. “Your mother is already gone. What would she say if she could see you like this? Soaking wet.”Hera Leandra's eyes blurred once more.‘Yes, she might scold me that I’m going to get sick after this. But it’s better if she scolds me a thousand times more than to not hear her voice anymore.’She felt her nose clogged as she continued to cry, stifling the noise.It was without effort since the sky seemed to cry with her.She still could not believe that she had to say her farewells without her mother hearing her.When she didn’t cry during the service, they thought she had already accepted her mother’s death.It was the opposite of how she truly felt.Years ago, Helayna had suffered an illness they were unable to find a cure of.To others, it had been a long time coming. They were expecting for her death sooner or later.But the young girl, Hera Leandra remained hopeful. Up until the day after her mother ceased breathing.They said that usually, close friend
A month later, Hera Leandra Bardin Lewis awoke at the sound of people’s footsteps and loud conversations.She opened her eyes in her dark room.She turned her head to look at her digital clock.It was already ten o’clock in the morning.Her dark curtains were drawn shut so the sunlight didn’t reach her even slightly.Her windows were shut tight so she didn’t even hear the birds chirp outside or the sound of the garbage truck picking up garbage as it was a Monday.She would have wanted to sleep for the whole day but she was awakened by the noise outside of her room.‘Who’s here? Dad hasn’t been home since two weeks ago.’It was their summer vacation so Hera could laze around her room when she’s not doing anything else.Recently, there weren’t many things for her to do since her mother passed away.The times she used to visit Helayna in the hospital were now replaced with her staying shut in her bedroom, barely even getting up to eat food.Two weeks ago, Leonard had told her that he was
All those times when they needed him. He wasn’t there.And to think, he may have been enjoying his time with that woman’s family instead of taking care of her and her then-dying mother.It was as if she tasted bile in her mouth and her heart being squeezed at this moment.She had believed that her father had to try his best and work hard so he could continue to pay for her mother’s medical bills and to send her to school too.She had been so understanding of their circumstances, that even with her own little salary from her part-time jobs, she would even contribute to help her father. So his burden would ease a little and he would have time to visit her mother more often.She and her father are all what her mother had.Hera thought that it would make Helayna happy to see them together.But here he was, already with a new woman and her children are already calling him ‘Dad’.‘Since when? Are those kids so accepting that they would call him Dad so quickly? It has only been a month since
She blinked up at him.“It’s time to get up.” He told her.She lowered her eyes and got up from her bed.She then looked at her father directly, waiting for him to be honest with her.“Look, Hera. Since your mother had become sick, I know that you have been feeling alone. With her being in the hospital and me needing to work and sometimes needing to leave for business trips–it has been hard on everyone. And now, when your mother has finally rested in peace, I know that you felt even more lonely. But remember that I’m here. You’re not alone.” Leonard said.Hera listened but somehow his words seemed to escape to her other ear.“You and I are still grieving after losing Helayna. I know that you miss her so much. And believe me, so do I. But this can’t go on. Your mother had been suffering all these years, in fact, we should be relieved that she’s finally able to rest and be free from pain. We have to keep going and just hold her in our hearts. She wouldn’t want to see you locking yoursel
Leonard began to explain his situation, saying that he met his wife when he was still young and got married to her. This part was true. He was 23 years old when he married Helayna Selene Bardin who was 22 years old at that time.They met in College, fell in love and followed the next logical step to them at that time, to get married.Both of them didn’t have any close family members so they were eager to start a family of their own.So they supported each other in their careers to save for their future children.Leonard graduated Business Administration while Helayna graduated Nursing a year later which is their fourth year in marriage.Life was sweet for Leonard. He had a wife who understood him, supported him and cared for his needs.Helayna settled into the role of a wife while still pursuing her career.Both of them were making enough money. They were able to buy a house together though not so luxurious. It was enough–rather, they could already provide for a child.But Helayna ha