Page 32

 It was an unusually quiet morning when Melchor awoke. His first concern was the welfare of Alicia his wife, who was cradled in his arms; his second concern was the reoccurring dream that had haunted him for the past few nights. His day would be spent providing the necessary care that his wife required.

Melchor Reyes Enriquez was seventy two years of age; he was a gentle man, strong and most capable of dealing with the many challenges that life had dealt him. He had been born in the city of Bataan, in the year 1938, just five months before the horrendous Second World War. His family life came to an abrupt and devastating end when his father Juan Cruz Enriquez, along with many other Filipinos and Americans, were taken as prisoners of war by the Imperial Japanese Army and then forced to walk the 128 km from Bataan to San Fernando, here they were then transported by overloaded box cars to Camp O'Donnell. Such a march, which was characterised by wide ranging physical abuse and murder, resulted in very high fatalities for both prisoners and civilians alike, Juan Cruz Enriquez was never heard of again.

It was in 1948, two years after the War had ended, that Melchor a child almost ten years of age arrived in Manila with his mother. Terisita Reyes Enriquez's health was failing; she had been diagnosed with suspected Tuberculosis, and the welfare of her son was all that kept her motivated. Manila was in a state of catastrophic devastation after the War; hence the only life for Melchor and his mother was that of a beggar's life, they found shelter in doorways when the weather was inclement and scrounged for food amongst the garbage to survive. While sifting through the rubbish in the street one day, Terisita noticed an unusual brochure; it was fresh and had not succumbed to the grime of the traffic. This brochure described an institution called the White Cross Orphanage; which was run by the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul, as fate would have it, this institution took in the children of TB patients as its wards.

Terisita with a heavy heart knew this brochure was a god-send, she wasted no time making the decision that she should take Melchor to this Orphanage, knowing full-well, that it would be the last time she would see her beloved son. She convinced Melchor that the Orphanage would care for him, while it was providing medical attention for herself. Terisita steeled herself when she spoke "Melchor my son, you will be safe and well cared for here, while I receive treatment for my lungs" it was as if a sharp dagger had pierced her heart when she said "I will come back for you as soon as I am well". Melchor looked into her tear filled eyes and said "I understand Nanay, I will wait until we are together again, I know you will come to me when I least expect it and when I need you the most, I love you."

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                    It was the oppressive silence that was bothering Melchor, he and Alicia had lived in their simple but modest house in the Sampaloc area of Manila for the past fifty years. Here they owned and operated a small, yet comfortable business in the Dangwa flower market district. The market itself was centred on Dos Castillas Street at the intersection with Dimasalang Road, extending to other streets like Lacson Avenue and Maria Clara Street; it was here in Maria Clara Street that Melchor and Alicia had first met.

Alicia a sweet young girl from Baguio City had been the driving force in Melchor's life; she had been born just two years after the commencement of World War ll and like most children of that era, soon became orphaned. Good fortune prevailed upon Alicia, and her juvenile years were spent under the loving protection and guiding care of her father's wealthy relatives in Baguio, it was her zest for life and adventure during her adolescent years, which beckoned her to study and become a paediatric nurse.

Melchor however, had become a firm favourite of the White Cross Orphanage, he was a well-built lad, strong yet gentle, and with an extremely patient disposition, such characteristics endeared him to all that he encountered. At the age of sixteen years, he was offered work with the Company that delivered fresh food to the Orphanage. This was the beginning of a new life for Melchor; tearfully he bade his farewells to all at the Orphanage and accepted this opportunity. His job role was physically demanding, loading and unloading stock on transportation trucks certainly kept him physically fit, and this combined with his good looks and naturally gracious charm captivated many admirers. It was in the year 1956 that fate brought Melchor and Alecia together, it was love at first sight; Alecia was in the process of calming an upset child that had almost been hit by the heavy traffic at the busy intersection of Maria Clara Street and Dimasalang Road, when Melchor, thinking the child had been hit by the truck that he travelled on, leaped to administer aid to the child, such a fortuitous event led to the development of true love that bonded Alicia and Melchor.

Such memories constantly haunted Melchor, each reoccurring dream became more vivid and almost alive, it was as if the past had become the reality of the present, memories that had been locked away in Melchor's sub-conscious were re-surfacing, thus creating a state of anxiety, people he vaguely remembered, spoke to him through a veil of translucency, this semi-delusional state of mind that Melchor incurred was abruptly ended when a loud masculine voice sounded. "Are you there?" "Tao Po!!!" "Kaibigan Melchor!!" "Please answer your door"

Melchor smiled as he watched his beloved Alicia arranging the flower delivery, her charm and her beauty bewitched all who her had dealings with her, every delivery was the same, "Where would you like the new delivery Ma'am?" nothing was ever to much trouble for the couriers.

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 Alicia always found the right compliment in gratitude for the hard working couriers, and a cool drink with a homemade snack was always ready for all. Such fond memories filled Melchor's heart. Melchor remembered their wedding, the ceremony may have been a simple affair but its impact on their lives was stupendous. For the first ten years of their marriage, Melchor continued to work long and arduous hours with the same delivery trucking company, that had offered him work while he was staying at the Orphanage. Alicia however continued her studies, eventually graduating and becoming a nurse, this chosen vocation was her forte. Nothing was ever a trouble to her as she worked tirelessly with those in her care, always maintaining her philosophy, that both a smile and a kind word was the greatest medication of all.

It was in the year 1970, almost twelve years after their marriage, when good fortune smiled upon them once again. Alicia inherited money from her deceased relatives' estate, this inheritance was not a grand amount of money, but it allowed for Alicia and Melchor to buy a small house, and develop a business in the Dangwa flower market district. They both relinquished their current forms of employment and focussed all of their energies into this new life. Such a business incurred immense competition, hence it soon became a seven day a week job, neither Alicia nor Melchor were afraid of hard work, and it was their constant striving to develop their business that became their greatest reality.

Despite the potential hardships that they had encountered in their humble beginnings of life, they appeared to be very happy, but underneath it all they hid their sadness, they, had not been blessed with children. At the beginning of each evening meal, they always thanked the Lord for all of the blessings he had bestowed upon them. "Life is not always perfect, but our union has been as near to perfect that God will allow", Melchor said one evening. These words were of great comfort to Alicia, who always managed to smile bravely, when she felt the pangs of emptiness brought about by the absence of children.

Now, some sixty years after their marriage it was Melchor who had become like a parent, as he diligently administered to his mahal Alicia's needs. Alicia had reached the twilight years of her life, and had succumbed to one of life's' most thankless endings, she had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. The first sign that something was unusual regarding Alicia's behaviour was that her impeccable memory for detail had ceased. Melchor hid from this reality and made excuses for her changes. Her ability to perform simple daily tasks ceased, and she required full time assistance with all her personal care. Melchor rose to the occasion, such assistance was not physically demanding, his heart however was shattered with the mental stress and concern he felt, as he watched his beloved wife lose all sense of human dignity, even her sight was eventually robbed and she became as if she was the living dead, unable to walk and only able to lay in a foetal position.

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Each evening, just before exhaustion finally put Melchor to sleep, he would gather up his beloved Alicia, placing her head on his chest, and with his arms supporting her body, he would then give prayers of gratitude to God, gratitude that God had allowed him to be the chosen one to care for his mahal. He cherished every second of each day, for every second was another extension of time gifted to him from God.

It was during the evening on February, 8th 2010, while Melchor was attending to his precious mahal that a wave of futility swept upon him, he felt the life force leave Alicia's body. With tear filled eyes he hugged her body and rocked consolingly, "It's okay my mahal, it's okay, do not fear for I am with you." He mumbled under his breath. "As God is my witness I will never leave your side." Gently he placed her body on the bed, and carefully administered to all details of concern. With a heavy heart he held his Mahal's hand for the last time, placing it upon his forehead; he begged that God could somehow grant her last blessing to him. His head collapsed upon her chest, his brain was swimming with mixed emotions as he felt his life flashing before his eyes. Scenes of joy, scenes of sadness and despair all swept upon him, he felt otherworldly and very frightened. A strange euphoric feeling slowly enveloped him. Just like the morning sun slowly creeps across the land to announce the new day a strange glow filled the room, familiar sounds filled his ears, reminding him of his Nanay Terisita. It was then that a distinct voice spoke to him, it was a voice from long ago, it belonged to his nanay, "Do not be afraid my son, if life is to be evaluated, then your life has passed with a perfect score" she said. "Nanay, you have remembered me, and fulfilled your promise to return to me when I need you the most." Melchor said as he stared into his mother's angelic eyes. "Yes my son, the bond between a mother and her children is eternal and is never broken," she replied, "God's plans for all are revealed at the end, your mission is over, take hold of your wife Alicia and come with me". Melchor felt energised, as if all earthly bonds had been removed from his being. With incomparable joy he then realised his beloved Mahal was smiling, as she arose to stand beside him in preparation for the new chapter that their souls were to encounter. It was Terisita that led them into God's welcoming arms.

An almighty crash resounded, as the door to Melchor and Alicia's home was broken from its hinges. It was the Barangay Captain and a neighbour that had entered the house, their worst fear was revealed when they found the bodies of Melchor and Alicia. Both bodies had a strange aura of peace surrounding them, and it was the neighbour that said "I will miss you both; I guess you are with God, your faces cannot lie, for they are truly the faces of salvation."