It was too late.
Anyone who sailed out in open water, who dared to brave the winds and waves, knew that timing was
crucial. An opportune moment could disappear in an instant.
"Don't cry, please. We still have a chance. We'll remarry as soon as you recover. I've been waiting for
you for so many years. I still love you. You're still my wife. You're the love of my life. I don't want any
other woman. I only want you,"
Carlos anxiously confessed. He only hoped that his words would help Tasha feel better. More than a
decade, he had been waiting for her. He could wait a little more.
He was willing to sacrifice anything for Tasha's healing.
"Please don't say that. It's sad to hear that. Ever since you signed those divorce papers, I see your face
in my head. I couldn't forget you even if I try. I've already come into terms that we're not meant to be,
that you don't deeply love me. And now you're telling me that you love me? How did we end up like
this?"
Tara choked as she tried to hold back her sobs. She questioned herself if the failure of their marriage
was her fault. But even if she knew the answers to her questions, there's still nothing she could do
about it.
"Promise me that you'll forget all this when I'm gone. Forget this person that I have become. I'll be at
peace knowing that you'll live long and well with Sara."
Tears threatened to fall down on Tasha's cheeks again. The weather was still cold. Fog formed around
her mouth as she spoke.
Carlos stared at her, moved by her words and tears. "What are you saying? That's silly. You're going to
live. We promised each other that we'll both live long. You're going to be healed."
He tried to comfort her and himself. He wanted to believe in his own words, for he was also unsure. He
knew that her illness was out of his hands. But he also knew that if her treatment would not work, that if
she'd end up dying, his heart would also join her in the grave.
For many years, he lived like a walking dead. Every day he regretted signing those divorce papers.
They could have stayed married. But he divorced her thinking it would be good for her, that he was
setting her free.
But what did freedom really mean anyway? Was separation really the beginning of their freedom? Or
was it a continuation of their misery?
Carlos was miserable and confused for years. But when Tasha came back, he realized that he had
already lost too much time. Carlos tried to start something with someone else. It took him a lot of
courage to put himself out there again. But it all didn't work. He didn't want another woman. So his
courage was useless.
"Do you know how I've been since you left?" he asked. "When I see couples walking down the street or
in restaurants, or just sitting together, I think of us. I regretted the way I treated you. I should've done
better. I know you don't have any reason to believe me. But I still want to tell you that I miss you."
Tears were starting to form in Carlos' eyes. Maybe no one would understand his loss, but he was
hoping Tasha would understand. Those who experienced real loss would understand him, especially
now in their situation, where he could lose her a second time. But only this time, it could be permanent.
"I'm sorry. It's all my fault." Tasha cried hard. She now allowed her sorrow to show. She was in agony
as she held her chest. Her emotional pain now felt like it's physical. She's now starting to feel the regret
and years of loss.
Carlos tried to comfort her, tried to stroke her hand. He felt so helpless seeing her like this.
"Don't cry, Tasha. I know you have suffered a lot these years. But it's all over now. I'm here. I'll take
care of you. Don't worry about Sara. She is a sensible child. She will understand and forgive you."
Carlos comforted her, tried to stop her from blaming herself.
"I know. That's why I feel all these regrets," she said. Tasha could not stop crying. Even if she regretted
things, she still could not change the results.
"Everything will be fine. We have a chance to try again in the future. For now, just focus on getting
better. The doctor said that as long as you feel good, and not be upset, then there's a good chance that
you'll fully recover. The disease is not a death sentence. A lot of people survive from this. So you have
to also believe it for yourself."
Carlos coughed as he turned his face and held back tears. He felt like crying. But he wanted to be
strong for her first. He needed to be strong for both of them, now that Tasha was relying on him.
At the moment he turned his face, he saw Sara and Jacob standing outside the door. Sara was wiping
tears while Jacob held on to his stoic expression.
The two of them were there all along. They witnessed the exchange between Carlos and Tasha.
With Tasha looking on, Carlos stood and opened the door to let them in.
"Why are you standing at the door? Come in, you guys." As he said this, Carlos' tone was kind. He also
wiped a tear from the corner of his eyes.
"Hi, dad. How is my mom feeling? Is she hungry? We brought food." She took the lunch box from
Jacob and handed it to her father.
"Your mother might be hungry. But she can only eat light food. Spicy food isn't allowed. If she can't eat
this one that you brought, I'll make another one for her later at home." Carlos crossed the room as he
spoke.
Jacob held on Sara's hand tighter as they neared Tasha's bed. He was comforting Sara. Tried to let her
know that he would always be there for her.
Sara looked at him and smiled. She understood his silent gesture.
"Have a look at what Sara brought you. Are you hungry? Let's have dinner." Carlos spoke as if
speaking to a child. He shook the lunch box in his hand.
Tasha smiled seeing all of them. She felt warm inside, although her momentary happiness looked
fragile. But as long as she was still alive, this happiness would always be with her.
Wasn't it everyone's wish to die in happiness? Tasha felt lucky enough. Now she understood that
happiness is not just about a man who shows his love all the time. But it's also about a man who holds
her in his heart, no matter what.
"I'm not really hungry, but I want to try the food that Sara brought. I'm sure its delicious." Tasha
complimented her daughter.
Sara knew that even in her present state, her mother was still trying to repair their relationship. She felt
sorry for her as she saw the tears in her mother's eyes. Just then, Sara reached out her hand to
Tasha's face.
Her parents were stunned, but Jacob knew what she was about to do. Tasha held her breath. It was the
first time for her to be so intimate with her daughter since the last time they saw each other. She was a
little nervous.
Sara wiped the tears from the corner of Tasha's eyes. She could still see the regret in her mother's
eyes. Sara knew she could forgive her mother. She wanted to.
"Don't cry, mom. I'm so glad you're back. Please, don't leave us again." Sara took a deep breath. It
seemed that it was hard for her to say that.
It took courage for her to forgive her mother, especially when it felt like her mother betrayed and
abandoned her. But since her father could forgive her mother, she felt that she too could also forgive
her.
For Sara, her father's forgiveness directly affected her. It seemed she could now overcome anything
that would come her way. Her father inspired her. And now her mother was back. There's no point to
hold on to grudges.
"I'm sorry, Sara. It's my fault. I won't leave you again." Tasha's tears were returning.
But Sara held her mother in her arms. She didn't say anything but gently stroked Tasha's shoulder.
"Does it hurt, mom? You suffered a lot." Tears streamed down Sara's face as she spoke. The grudges
that had lasted for so many years seemed to have disappeared at this moment.
"No, it doesn't hurt. Be a good wife to your husband, okay? Don't do what I did." Tasha wiped the tears
off Sara's face. Carlos had already told her that Sara's marriage was currently not in good terms.
62fb1bb41dcb31934bd49bda