THE SEA HEAVEN

June 20, 2017

Memories are as unique as the people who made them, and the best memories are those, which carries the elements of marvel and gladness. At least, that's what Landon reminded his son, Mavis as he aimed to recall the joyful memories of Mavis' mother, Theresa, before he went to sleep. It became a nightly habit that neither Landon nor Mavis grew tired of doing.

It would start with Landon sitting on Mavis' bed with his face curling in a smile as Mavis would begged his father to recount a memory of his mother.

"What kind of memory do you want?" Landon would ask.

"The happiest one ever," Mavis would answer with a glow in his eyes.

It wasn't hard for Landon to select from his memories with Theresa. Their time together as husband and wife and as parents to Mavis was filled with joy and gladness. Moreover, he never grew tired of narrating memories of Theresa to Mavis. It was due to his desire that he doesn't want his son to forget the beautiful memories of his mother, her sacrificial love on giving birth despite being ill, her well-spent but brief time with Mavis as she cared for him when he was still a baby and her wonderful smile whenever Landon sees her.

Mavis' eyes would always light up whenever Landon starts to narrate. He would attentively listen to his father and peacefully tries to store in his memory bank whatever Landon would say. At the end of the narration, Mavis would inevitably remark, "She's really an awesome mom!" Despite the redundancy of some narrations within the unbreakable nightly routine of two years, it would still actually keep Mavis awake long after Landon had turned out the lights.

To Landon, those nights were essential for Mavis' growth. Mavis is six years old now, and he's growing into a great kid despite not having Theresa by their side. Through the memories that Landon kept on instilling in Mavis' mind and heart, Theresa kept on living as Mavis developed virtues he learned from his mother's memories particularly her generous and caring heart. It was after all how Landon wished for his son to grow up with.

Then again, it hadn't been as easy as it was since the heartrending day of May 10, 2015. There were also times when Mavis would cry in the middle of the night as his longing to see, to feel the caress, and be able to talk with his mother take over. Despite having all the possessions that he accumulated through his different business endeavors, he couldn't grant Mavis' desire.

Some of their friends have actually advised Landon to start looking not for another Theresa but a woman whom he could share his heart and be a fine mother to his Mavis. However, Landon sees Theresa as the only mother whom Mavis could look up to. He couldn't see the point in remarrying for the sake of his son. Moreover, Landon perceived remarrying as a form of betrayal to his love for Theresa and for son, Mavis.