CHAPTER 39

"Clara! Is that you? Look at you. You're very successful now!" Daddy Ben exclaimed when he saw me at the door. They all gathered in Maya's recovery suite on the fourth floor.

Daddy Ben approached me, but Mommy Gloria gently held him back. "Dad, remember what we talked about?" she reminded him softly. Mommy Gloria and I exchanged a silent glance, communicating a shared understanding. A look of sadness crossed Daddy Ben's face.

I quickly changed the subject. "How is Maya?"

"She's getting better," Mommy Gloria replied. "The doctor will talk to us later when she wakes up. She was tested again yesterday."

Daddy Ben interrupted, "Ara, I'm sorry." I responded with a warm smile, hoping to convey my understanding.

Hector's face lit up with a radiant smile as he exclaimed, "Clara, this is my dad!" His childlike excitement made me smile widely in return. I nodded at him, warmth spreading as I saw the smile I had longed to see again.

Hector's short-term memory was unpredictable. He could recognize Daddy Ben for a few hours, four hours being the longest stretch. After that, the memory would slip away again. For me, this was better than those cases where people forget within minutes.

In these moments, I felt genuine happiness for Hector. His family was whole again, with Maya and Marco as new additions. Somehow, fate had smiled upon them. Now that they were all together, it was time for me to move forward with my plans.

"Uhm... why's it so noisy?" Maya asked sleepily, catching our attention as she woke up.

"Mama, you're awake!" Marco exclaimed.

I looked at Hector, whose face had turned serious.

"Who is she?" he asked.

Mommy Gloria answered, "She's your wife, Maya."

Daddy Ben and I exchanged glances and shook heads as we watched Hector. Daddy Ben approached Hector, put his arm around him, and kissed him on the forehead. He almost cried as he realized the extent of his son's struggles.

"What am I doing here?" Maya inquired, taking a quick look at everyone present.

Mommy Gloria approached her. "Dear, you collapsed yesterday. We rushed you here."

"How are you feeling?" Hector interrupted. He approached Maya's side, and based on my observation, his self-awareness improved. What was more surprising was when he touched her face.

Maya was almost in tears, holding his hand. "Pa, I'm okay."

"Maya, by the way, this is Hector's dad," Mommy Gloria cut in.

Maya's eyes widened, and she became even more emotional. Daddy Ben approached her, carrying Marco, and sat him beside her on the bed. Maya burst into tears, overjoyed to see Hector's family complete.

"Don't cry, hija. You might get too stressed," said Daddy Ben.

"Dad, I'm just happy to see you all together."

I decided to leave the room, feeling a pang of envy tighten in my chest as I glanced at Maya. I should have been part of Hector's family, but life had taken a different path. I quickly walked out the door and into the hallway, sure they hadn't noticed my departure. It didn't matter anymore; Mommy, Gloria, and I had already discussed my plan.

I was about to head to the elevator when I heard someone call my name, "Doc Ara." Tears began to form in my eyes.

I forced myself to regain control and smiled at him. "Doc David, hi. I just checked on your patient," I said, referring to the examination he had done on Maya yesterday.

"So, you know Mrs. De Leon," he remarked.

"It should be Mrs. Villanueva. That's her husband's surname—the one with amnesia." A fresh wave of sadness washed over me; I was supposed to be Mrs. Villanueva. I quickly said goodbye, not wanting to break down before him.

"Doc Ara, I have something to tell you," He began. But I cut him off, waved at him, and quickly closed the elevator doors before he could continue.

***

On Friday afternoon, Mommy Gloria called, asking to see and talk to me. I went to Maya's suite, knowing her doctor had advised her to stay for one more day. Mommy Gloria was the only one watching over her, while Hector was with his occupational therapist, accompanied by Daddy Ben and Marco.

When I walked in, I found Mommy Gloria sitting and staring blankly at the sleeping Maya. She turned to look at me as she sensed my arrival.

"How's Maya, Mom?" I asked softly, using the familiar tone she was used to.

"She's fine," she replied with a small smile. "She might be discharged tomorrow."

I sat down beside her. "Ara, thank you for always being there for Hector."

"I wanted to see him often," I said, my voice tinged with sadness. "One last time." The words were challenging, but I knew everything I had planned was already in motion.

Mommy Gloria handed me a small paper bag she had beside her, leaving me puzzled. When I peeked inside, I was surprised. I took out the item and said, "Mom, you kept this," as tears began to fill my eyes. It was a photo album full of pictures of Hector and me together, one I had given to Mommy Gloria when we believed he had died.

I opened the album, and the first picture greeted me: Hector and I in high school, laughing with youthful innocence. A smile spread across my face, but soon tears followed, streaming down and dripping onto the pages. I gently turned the pages, revealing loose photos tucked between them, each capturing a moment from our shared past.

"I kept it because it made me happy," Mommy Gloria said softly. "I would look at it whenever I missed Hector." I covered my mouth, weeping. This album held all of my happiest memories, and it felt so unfair because I knew I could never relive them.

"I'm giving it back to you, Ara. You can throw it away if you want. It's up to you—if that's your plan."

I closed the photo album and hugged it tightly against my chest. "Mom, thank you for the memories. Thank you for Hector. I will never forget him."

She put her arm around my shoulder and gently stroked it. "It's okay, Ara. You will always stay in our hearts. You've been so kind to us."

Just then, two female nurses entered the room and interrupted us. I quickly wiped the tears from my eyes.

"Ara, let's step outside for a bit," Mommy Gloria suggested. I nodded, and we quietly left the room.

Once outside, I hugged Mommy Gloria tightly. I cried because, at that moment, I knew I had to let Hector go from my heart for good.