45 Epilogue

The cool breeze slightly melted the scorching heat of the sun. Trees nearby broke the serenity of the green-filled place. A comforting warmth enveloped Corvina's whole being as she touched her big sister's shoulder.

"Sikat ka na girl, tinali mo pa alindog ko," natatawang biro ni Cynthia. "Kahit gwapong pasahero namin napapansin ka. Ano kaya kung ibalita ko sa kanila na kapatid kita? Beke nemen magkaroon ako ng wealthy partner."

Cedric patted his twin sister's back. "'Wag mong pansinin 'tong kapatid mo, I'm happy dahil mayaman na bunso namin. Pwede mo na ako bilhan ng Rolex."

Napatawa ng malakas si Corvina at ang mama niya. "Tumigil na nga kayo diyan, walang gagalaw sa pera ng kapatid niyo. Ako lang may karapatan."

Napuno ng biruan at tawanan ang mag-iina. Tahimik lang na nanonood si Corvina sa kanyang pamilya. Kitang-kita ang saya sa mga mata ng mga ito, ngunit agad 'ding napawi dahil napalitan ng lungkot at napuno ng mga luha ang kanilang mga pisngi. Dahilan para mabahala siya.

"Don't worry, your stories will be heard forever," nanginginig na ang mga labi ni Cynthia.

Kumunot ang noo niya. "Alam kong magaganda ang stories ko pero uy ma, ate Cynthia at kuya Cedric, anong drama 'yan?", tanong ni Corvina.

"Bakit ka ba kasi bumalik ng bahay?", galit na tanong ni Cedric.

"Eh kailangan ako ni mama, alangan naman iwan ko siya doon diba?", umirap si Corvina sa kapatid.

"Kunhg tinawagan mo kami o kaya mga kapitbahay edi sana nakatulong din kami," reklamo ni Cynthia.

"Duh! Kukunin niyo naman spotlight sa akin pag nagkataon," katwiran niya. "Teka nga, pagsasampalin ko kayo diyan eh. Ba't ba iniiwasan niyo ako? Hello! Andito ako. Tapos kaninang umaga pa tayo nakatayo dito, hindi ba kayo napapagod? Lunch na kaya, pero in fairness 'di pa ako gutom—"

"Inunahan mo pa ako."

Natigilan siya sa sinabi ng kanyang ina.

"Ano pinagsasasabi mo diyan ma? Eh talaga namang nauuna ako lagi sa katalinuhan at kagandahan kaysa sa inyong lahat," tumawa siya ng malakas ngunit agad din nainis dahil wala man lang sumabay sa kanyang pagtawa.

"Ano ba kasi ang tinitingnan niyo?", sa ini niya ay pumunta siya sa harap ng mga ito.

Bigla siyang natigilan at pakiramdam niya ay may bumagsak na malaking bato sa kanyang balikat dahilan para mapaupo siya sa sahig.

"'Yan, tumambay ka pa sa bahay. Lagi kasi pinapairal katamaran eh," naiiyak na sermon ng kanyang ina.

Nang titigan niyang muli ang pangalan niyang nakapinta sa lapida ay parang alon ng dagat kung dumagsa ang mga memorya sa kanyang isipan.

"I'm dead, and my father killed me," tanging nasambit ni Corvina.

She remembered waking up next to her cold and lifeless body as darkness enveloped her surroundings. She couldn't feel anything, as if a metallic robot she began walking towards the light. Upon reaching it, both hands with holes in it are spread out in a welcoming manner.

Tears flooded her cheeks, and quickly, she ran as fast as she can to the Holy being standing in front of her. Corvina felt Jesus' heartwarming hug. She didn't even want to let go, sadly, she was teleported to the time and place where her mom is patiently waiting for her to come home.

At first, Corvina did not understand the reason why she has this urge to scream at her mom, though she's in front of her mother's eyes, the woman seemed to lack the ability to see her presence.

There's this weird feeling happening inside her. Constantly her mind would change to forgetting her dark ending and be confused of why is the people around her unable to see her; to the moment of knowing where her situation could become worse that in the end it would lead her to wanting to forget the tragic past she has.

Confusion, rage, loneliness, and wanting to be seen consumed her horribly. Slowly, the brightest of colors started to fade and darkness started indulging her soul. Corvina began feeling scared. The thought of being trapped in the dark forever willed her to hold on, be strong, never lose hope, and trusted her faith in Him.

Soon, she started praying to God, hoping for Him to notice her. Relief washed over her when she received a message.

"Even in death, your fate is yet to be fulfilled."

Corvina already knew the answer to it. She can't be in peace until her remains are kept hidden from her family.

For years, she hoped and waited for her mom to go to their attic even if it has zero percent possibility because she knew that her mom has never gone to the attic before. Her mom believed that it's better to give old things to other relatives than to put old furnitures where it would be difficult for them to retrieve an item in such a high place.

Corvina's soul could only wander around their house, hear news from her mom. And when the day she dread the worst came when her mom lost the case to her father, leading her father to sold the house to a couple who seemed familiar to her.

The hope she's been waiting for has been given to her when Troy's wife found her diary and when both of them looked up at the wooden ceiling, they saw the conspicuous hole damaged by her rotting body. She thought, that was the perfect moment to strongly move her body while the couple were still staring at the hole.

Soon, her father was found guilty of second degree murder and was sentenced of Life Imprisonment. Troy Montenegro sold back their house to Corvina's family and months later, her story became known worldwide with the help of her sister Cynthia emailing her diary to a Publishing Company.

Looking at her family now, the pain of the past, the hardships of being in the dark, the sufferings of being unseen has been casted out in her soul. With the last minute of her time, she hugged her family.

"I'm in peace."