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I could still smell the strong scent of whiskey coming out from my own breath. My heart begins to pound, like it was about to beat right out of my chest.

I can’t breathe as I slowly felt my heart yank.

I went down on my knees in my cave-like bathroom as I let the icy water pour over my skin.

I could feel my body shiver, but I let it anyway. I let it because I want my body to be numb. I want it to be numb.

I can’t hear anything except the sound of the voices I hear in my head.

The voices that haunt me every day.

Please. Please. Make it stop.

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When her chocolate-colored eyes shone with unshed tears, a metallic taste filled my mouth.

Her long lashes were like violin strings that played symphonies every time she blinked, and at that moment, a sorrowful melody was at play.

I stood still and watched as my greatest love silently cried for all the things that we could have been. I stood, despite wanting to fall on my knees, as my heart shattered for a promising future that will never be.

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Umiyak ang langit nang ako'y minsang naglakad at nag muni-muni sa mga masisikip na kalye ng Maynila.

Kulay bughaw ang mundo noong gabing iyon.

Nakikiayon nga sa akin ang panahon, naisip ko.

Sa aking paglilibot, tinawag ang pansin ko ng isang  nanginginig na asong nangangailangan ng silong sa malakas na pagulan.

Ng walang pagaalinlangan at pakundangan, akin siyang nilapitan, at pinaghatian ang maliit na payong kong itim upang makaiwas sa mga malalakas na patak.

Kami ay nagkatitigan ng asong may itim na balahibo't nananabik na mga mata. Dinaraanan lang kami ng mga taong para bang nalito nang kami ay nasilayan

Ngunit wala na akong pakialam, dahil sa isang maulan at malungkot na gabi sa kalye ng Maynila; sa ilalim ng maliit kong payong, nakatagpo ako ng isang kasangga.

Ito ay nagsilbing paalala sa akin na sa kabila ng lahat ay mayroong paring mabuting nagaganap sa mundo; sa kabila ng malakas na ulan, ako'y nakahanap ng kaibigan.

- tala

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Nakatitig ako sa malawak na karagatang nagmistulang tahanan mo.

Tanghaling tapat; matirik ang araw; mainit ang paligid.

Nakatitig ako mula sa puting basaysay nating dalawa dito sa isla ng Coron.

Sa dalisay na tubig dagat ay umaninag ang munti mong barko na kulay-kape.

Nakatitig ako mula sa malayo.

Aalis ka na naman.

Babalik ako, mahal. Babalikan kita. 'yan ang pangako mo.

At sa iyong paglayag, itong mga salita mo lamang ang panghahawakan ko.

- tala

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It was a chilly evening. The raindrops fell from the sky, plodding and continuously. From the fog emerged a hobbling figure walking with grace, yet at the same time with difficulty. In her bright orange sari, she was a blot of color amidst the dreary landscape.

The woman struggled to shield her child from the ice-cold droplets. She adjusted the prickly scarf over her head so that it would be mostly covering the little boy instead of her. The night air was dank and the smell of petrichor was strong.

Her gaze shifted towards the kid curled up in her arms. He looked so peaceful amid the oncoming storm. On one hand, he was holding his bottle of honeyed milk and on the other he was clutching onto a lock of her hair. Throughout his sleep, he never let it go. It was as if her black curls were his lifeline and he didn’t want to be separated from the only source of warmth and love in his life.

Only the howling wind and the woman’s quavering voice could be heard. She started to sing a lullaby.