4 #3 A Chat With Mother

(RIO'S POV)

After the ceremony and bid our goodbyes to James and Tyson, Jamie and I left to go the cemetery to visit our mom. We try to visit her as much as we can, and despite of our busy schedules, we still make time to visit her.

I was waiting for Jamie at the car while he was buying flowers, when I heard my beeper. It was dad. He wants us to go to the company asap. But I replied to him, telling him that we're on our way to visit mom at the cemetery. I promised her that if ever, Jamie and I would visit her after our ceremonies in school, and we would tell about how it go or did we get any awards. Mom was a curious person. But all in all, she was still proud of us. Dad replied to me, saying "SAY HI 2 HER 4 ME. TELL HER I MISS HER :)." Although dad was a busy man, he loves mom so much, and would be willing to cancel a meeting if he can just to visit her. In this case, I'm thinking that this is meeting very important to him right now. I wonder why?

After another reply from dad, telling him that we'll be at the company after we visit mom, Jamie went out of the floral shop with a bouquet of white lilies, mom's favorite. "Hey, are you okay?" he asked as he enter the car. "Dad just messaged me. He said that we need to go to the company after we visit mom."

"You know, he's been tense lately. One time, I caught him drinking in the middle of the night, while looking so spaced out." "Why won't he tell us about this? I mean we'll be there to help him no matter the cause. Why would he hide this from us?" I asked. I was wondering too not just about what Jamie said, James even told me that the people in the company had been tense, and just for this meeting? What's with this meeting anyway? "I don't know about that, Sis. But you know, we could talk to mom about it. I mean we could tell her anything."

To be honest, I don't know if mom could help. I mean, I know she's gone, but who knows. I don't even know what to think right now. I feel so stressed out. Mom, I really wish you were here. Then I suddenly drifted off to sleep, with a tear suddenly fell at the corner of my eye.

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I suddenly woke up in a bench, not knowing how I did I end up waking up here. Am I supposed to be in the car with Jamie? I stood up, looking at my surroundings, I was in a grassland, with only one tree behind me, with the sun shining behind it, also giving it a halo effect. I was in awe, the place is beautiful. After a while I suddenly realized, where is Jamie? "Jamie! Jamie! This isn't funny anymore! Where are you?!" I called out. But no one answered.

"Your brother's fine. I just want to talk to you, my dear." I know that voice, a voice that I haven't heard in a while. A voice that's giving me the comfort that I needed. I turn around, trying not to cry so much. "Mom, is that really you?"

"Why would you doubt your own mother? Didn't you miss me?" I ran and hug her tight, with tears overflowing in my eyes. "Why wouldn't I miss you mama? I think about you every single day. At home, In school, even as I close my eyes when I go to sleep, and when I wake up in the morning. I would even dream about you and our memories together. I miss you more than you know, mama." She released from the hug and caresses my face as she wipes my tears with her thumb. "Don't cry darling, you know how much I don't like it when you cry in front of me." "Mom, what is this place?" I suddenly asked. "A place where peace and happiness lies. No chaos, no suffering, no sadness." As she plays with my hair, I put her head on my shoulder, making the moment last.

"When will I see you again mom? Its been so long since we were like this. When we were at the park, we would watch the kites fly, little kids running around. You would even tell me that one day, you would get to see your grandchildren while watching them at the park. And you promise me that at that same park, I would get married there, and you and would walk me down the aisle." She just chuckled, and so did I. But after realizing what I just said, I cry quietly. "Mom, why didn't you fulfill your promise? I'm not mad at you, I'm just disappointed that you have to leave so early." She look at me with a small smile, while wiping my tears. "I'm really sorry for that my dear. I think that's just what life is. People come and go. But remember this my dear. People will come into your life to either make your life miserable, but they will be the reason to make you stronger in life, or make your life happy, because they will encourage you to keep moving in life. It just depends on how long they have to be there until they would know when to leave. Why? Because they know that they've done a good job building that person's character."

I began to hug her while closing my eyes with more tears coming out. "Then why did you leave us mom? We still need you, especially me. How will I move on even though its been a year now?" She hug me back, rubbing my back and shushing me to stop crying.

"And still you didn't forget about me, knowing that you're still encouraged to move on, and still the girl that I have raised to become a wonderful young lady. I so proud of you..." Mom was right, I can still move on, but I will never forget her and what she taught me. "I also have a message for you. Remember this my dear, pain and suffering will be coming your way, but remember to stay strong. Stay strong for me okay." I don't know what she meant by that, but I just nodded at her response.

"I love you, my dear Rio. Your father and your brother too."

"We Love You too, Mom."

As I open my eyes, we disappeared. I started to panic. "Mom! Mom! Mom, where are you?!" I called out to her, but she didn't respond. I close my eyes, suddenly, a voice called out my name.

"Rio! Rio!" I got scared, I decided to call mom again, but the voice kept interupting me, until it said something that made my eyes widen.

"Rio! Rio Wake Up!"

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"Rio Wake Up!" the voice said.

I suddenly gasped as I woke up. I was in the car, heavily breathing. "Sis, Are you okay?" I took a deep breath before looking at my left side. Jamie was looking at me, confused of what was happening. "What happened? I asked. "You kept saying 'Mom' while you were sleeping. Which by the way, we're almost there." "Oh okay" I replied, as we were on our way to visit mom.

Was it all a dream? But it felt so real though. If it is true, why did mom talk to me beforehand, and moreover, just me and not Jamie? Although he was driving at the time, but I still remember that last time, he told me he dreamt about mom, which he also said look so real. If it is, how come mom never visited dad in his dreams? Was there something that I didn't know about.

After a while as I look at the window, mom's last message confused me a lot.

"Pain and Suffering will come, but Stay Strong for me" she says. What did she meant? What was going on?

Mom, is there something that you're not telling me? That I'm going to face it alone?

If only... You were here... Mother.