For the past three months, every night I have been smelling a strange smell. It’s not a typical body odor. It was like the smell of mold mixed with a strong, pungent smell clinging to the blankets, to the bedsheet, and especially to the part of the bed where Miguel was sleeping.

 

I’m sorry if I get mad every time you clean the bed.

I was just scared that you might see everything right away before I was ready to tell the truth.

I plan to tell you all about it next month.

Today is our 9th wedding anniversary.

I want to go to school with you.

You are the first one I want to be a part of.

If you’re still mad after reading this, I can understand.

But I hope, in spite of everything, you know that I didn’t do it just for my dreams.

But it is also for both of our families.

I love you so much.

Miguel.”

 

 

I ended up reading that I didn’t realize I was crying.

I held the letter tightly.

I felt like a huge rock had fallen from my chest.

For three months…

I thought he was hiding something wrong.

I thought he had a different family.

I thought he was lying.

But the truth is…

He had a hidden dream.

I sat down on the floor and looked around the room.

Sa kama.

On the mattress that is now open.

With bundles of money and documents scattered on the floor.

I smiled even though I had tears in my eyes.

“You’re really crazy, Miguel,” I whispered.

 

 

 

The next morning, I barely slept.

I read the letter over and over again.

Then I sorted out all the contents of the bag.

I carefully returned the documents.

But I didn’t close the mattress anymore.

Instead, I put it all in one box.

I figured that when Michael got home, we would have to talk about everything.

Two days later, my phone rang.

Yes, Miguel.

“Anna, I’ll be home to-night,” she said.

This Is Your Tree.

“Okay. I have something to prepare for dinner.”

I had a strange feeling in my chest as I waited for him to come home.

That night, I heard the sound of a knock on the door.

Pumasok si Miguel.

Looks tired.

She smiled when she saw me.

“Miss in Miss Kita.”

He came over to give me a hug.

But before he could do that, I said:

“Miguel… We need to talk.”

Suddenly, he fell silent.

He seemed to know.

He slowly sat down on the sofa.

“Ana… “Am I going to go with your son?”

Tumango ako.

He didn’t look at me.

He was just stunned.

“I’m sorry if I lied to you.”

I approached.

The letter was placed on the table in front of him.

“Binasa ko.”

He looked up slowly.

There was fear in his eyes.

“Galit ka ba?”

This Is Your Tree.

“Hindi.”

Her eyes lit up.

“Surely ka?”

Tumango ako.

“But there’s one thing that makes me angry.”

Suddenly, he was nervous.

“Year?”

I grabbed his hand.

“Why didn’t you include me in your dream from the beginning?”

Suddenly, her eyes filled with tears.

He couldn’t speak.

I hugged him tightly.

And for the first time in many months, I felt peace return to my heart.

 

A few weeks later, we traveled to Cebu together.

As the car approached a small village, I noticed a lot of children playing on the road.

We stopped in front of a new building.

It is a small school.

At the top of the gate, it read:

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