Written by my late mother, Imelda G. Nartea, October 3, 1993
Lorena was never so happy except on her wedding day. It was a day of fun, love and enjoyment. She did not realize that only one week after she shared bliss and happy moments with her husband, he would be called back to active duty south of the Philippines.
With tears in her eyes , Lorena said goodby to Roberto at the airport. “Take care of yourself, I will always pray for your safe return”, was all that she could say.
“Don’t cry anymore, I’ll be careful and I will write as soon as I get to Cotabato,” Roberto countered. Then it was time for him to go and board his plane.
Lorena went home with a heavy heart. She couldn’t understand why their happy days together could be over so soon. She tried looking over the house which Roberto’s parents gave them as a wedding gift. Everything was in order – she couldn’t ask for more. She really married well.
Weeks passed. Roberto’s first letter caught her tending to her garden plants and flowers. She wiped her hands and ran to the gate to receive the letter from the mailman.
Reading his letter, Lorena couldn’t help but long for her husband. She learned that they would be going on operations in the mountains of Cotabato. Her heart started to beat faster. She felt the same ache she first felt when Roberto took his leave for this new assignment. She went to the window and sat forlornly – wishing her husband home, wanting him not to be a member of the PNP anymore. Absentmindedly, she prayed, “Dear God, please let my loved one come home – keep him safe for me.
That night in her sleep, Lorena dreamt of war and she saw her husband shot. She screamed and she woke up.
The following day, news broke in the radio that many PNP and AFP soldiers were wounded in some Cotabato encounters. Lorena felt the same ache again. She could not take it any longer. She tried calling her parents and her parents-in-law. They haven’t heard from Roberto either. When the day was almost over and no word came from his headquarters, Lorena could no longer take the agony of waiting. She finally decided to go to church at 5:00 p.m.
She prayed like she has never prayed in her entire life. She implored the Lord to keep her husband safe and to let him return to her. After over an hour in church, Lorena walked home.
All of a sudden, tears flowed from her eyes. She could not help but remember the happy times she had when Roberto was still courting her – the roses and love songs and chocolates, and ice cream. She arrived home tired and feeling empty. She barely touched the food which her househelp prepared for her that night.
She went to bed still worried and afraid. But this time she has found new strength in the Lord; she hopes her husband was safe and he’ll soon return.
Days passed and still no word came from Roberto’s headquarters – he had been one of those missing from the Cotabato encounters. But Lorena felt deep in her heart that her husband was safe and soon she will be surprised of his return.
A month after the fateful day, the telephone in Lorena’s house started ringing and she rushed from her bedroom to the living room.
“Hello,” she said hesitantly, she felt her heart pounding.
“Lorena! This is Roberto,” came the sound from the telephone receiver.
“Oh, where are you? Are you okay?” she said, her tears racing through her cheeks.
“I’m at the airport and I’m on my way home. I’ll tell you everything when I get there. I love you, sweetheart, don’t cry anymore.” Then Lorena barely hear his goodbye as she replaced the receiver.
Lorena felt like she was being married again. She uttered a prayer of thanks and she tried to make herself beautiful for the arrival of her month-lost husband.
mspatsperous 