"ARA'S DIARY 3"

Present Day...

Bella quickly wiped away the tears that had soaked her face. She did not know Daniel, but everything she read was enough to justify everything that had happened. She turned to the next page again. And by that time it was no longer the usual Dear Diary she had read written on the left and top part of the paper, but the words Dearest Daniel.

Yes, this is where her sister started writing to her late husband and that is what broke her heart.

*****

Dearest Daniel,

I’m here in our room, and as I write this I’m hugging your framed photo. You're really handsome, you know? And for me, you are the most handsome man in the world. That's true.

I miss you so much.

The next morning after the night that we talked, as you want it to happen I forced myself to be brave. And I promise you that I will continue to be that way, for you.

I wish you were still here, I still really don't have the courage to stay here in our room for a long time because it is full of many wonderful memories of the two of us.

And also this house that hopefully if you did not die, will be filled with many happier memories with you and our future children.

Hopefully, we had a long time. I hope if I only knew that I would love you like this, that we would reach this end, I wish I hadn't mean on you from the beginning. I wish I had been kinder to you.

Lots of what-ifs, but I know I can't do anything.

I love you, my husband. I will never forget you and you will never be gone here in my heart. You are the happiest part of my life and I know and I am sure that anyone else I meet will never be able to match you.

I just couldn’t really avoid crying. I'm sorry, I'm running out of words to say so I can explain to you how much I love you and how deep the wound left here in my heart because of your early death.

It is not easy to live without you. I feel like I'm half-dead, which is really true because just like what I told you when we last talked, I'd rather you take half of my heart because it's just for you.

I know we'll meet again, but when I miss you like this I really can't help feeling sad and asking God. But I know you are in a good place now and I know that like you said you will wait for me.

It's been a week since you were buried, I've hung up our wedding oil painting, it's a pity you didn't see it.

Daniel, my love, visit me in my dream. It's so sad here because you're gone. I want to see you, I want to be with you again. Even if you show up to me it's okay, I won't be afraid of you, what's important to me is that I can see your smiles again.

At school, I was always sad. The library is full of your memories. And it's like I see you mopping there while I'm sweeping the floor. On the roof deck, in the place where we often hang out, it's like I see you holding your guitar while singing a song for me.

It hurts so much yet I can't help but accept it all. And I know that it is only you that can cure this pain, in due time.

Thank you for the box of love letters that you gave me. I read them over and over. And no matter when I will never get tired of reading them, always.

I also will never get tired of writing you. Because this is the only way that I knew I would be able to say and express how I truly feel for you. 

Nothing will ever change. I will always be your wife, the woman that you chose to marry, and just like what I've told you, I will not marry anyone, only you. Even though I knew that meant I would have to live my life alone in the future, it didn’t matter. Because deep in my heart, it's just you and me, forevermore.

Your Wife,

Ara

*****

Dearest Daniel,

I’m leaving, I’m going to Malaysia and I’m going to try to venture there. I'm still lonely because you left me. Do you know when I’m sad there are times when I want to give up everything? But I always ended up realizing that when I do that we won't meet either because I'm sure you're in heaven.

So no matter how sad everything here, I'm trying to put up with it, because I want to see you and be with you again, I just don't know how much longer.

Your Wife,

Ara

*****

Dearest Daniel,

I met a man here in Malaysia. Don't be jealous, his name is Timothy, and you know what? It's like I can see your personality in him. Like you he's an Engineer, he offered me marriage, but I refused. I can't commit myself and my heart to others, because even if you're gone, even if I know that's what you want, I still really can't make it, it's hard. Because you are the only one my heart looks at and knows. And I know in my heart that everything I have given you, I will never be able to give to others, not even to Tim.

I love you. You are my dearest, and that is why even when I try to open my heart to others I ended up being unhappy and uncontented. Because I'm still looking for you. Even though it's been a long time, I still miss you.

I love you, my love.

Your Wife,

Ara

*****

Present Day...

BELLA wiped away her tears again after reading the last page of Ara's diary.

They did not grow up together but they are close to each other. She just didn't know that there was this kind of secret that her twin sister was hiding that would really touch her heart.

She didn't know if their parents would eventually find out about this secret of her sister but she thought if Ara had been able to keep it a secret for such a long time, maybe it would have been better for it to remained a secret forever.

A few more moments and Bella decided to fix that box. Maybe it would be better if those memories of Daniel and Ara's love could also be carried to the final destination with her sister.

Surely that is what her twin sister wanted and in fact her brother-in-law, Daniel. It's just a pity that she didn't meet him.

She was on her way back to San Ricardo when she thought of passing through a big and familiar house that even she had admired since then. She was just at the gate when she quickly felt an intense shiver. She is not afraid but instead, her heart is filled with mixed emotions because of the revelations she had read in her sister's diary.

At the gate, she rang the doorbell, and soon she heard a series of approaching footsteps. When it opened, an elderly woman exposed herself to her. She saw the shock register on her face quickly and even before she could open her mouth she preceded her.

"I'm Ysabella, just call me Bella. I'm Ara's twin sister," she introduced herself. "Are you Salyn?" she added.

"How did you know my name?" her hesitant question.

Bella smiled. "Long story. Can I come in? I just wanted to ask you something," she asked again.

"Of course, come on," she said as she entered the house.

That moment seemed to intensify how she really felt that and she couldn’t explain. She was nervous that she could not understand. Maybe because she knew inside this mansion her sister was thoroughly happy? And the fact that this is the house of Daniel and Ara? The feeling of regret for a happy family if only death hadn’t intervened is also inside her.

There are so many emotions and feelings in her heart now that are so confusing on how she feels but all of that seems to have been washed away and replaced by so much happiness when she entered that magnificent mansion.

The grand staircase, it was as if she could see her sister coming down there wearing a beautiful white dress as Daniel greeted her with a look of great joy because that was the day of their wedding day.

Bella's tears immediately rolled down her cheeks because of that.

However, all her restraints were finally loosened when she saw and take a real looked at a large and beautiful oil painting right in the middle of the living room.

"Oh, Ara," she said covering her own mouth then finally burst into tears.

A picture of true and pure love.

Great love, that is what others call it.

They may not be able to let everyone know that they are Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Trinidad, that they are husband and wife. Whether or not they were able to shout or let the whole world know that the two of them were one, that was no longer important.

What she sees now in front of her is enough to prove how deep the love that Daniel and Ara have for each other. It's a pity she didn't see such a beautiful smile in her sister when she was still alive. But she understands everything, and she respects her decision.

"You know, on many occasions, I always feel regret for the two of them? They love each other, love each other very much, but death just intervened," Salyn said sadly which caused her to turn to her.

Why not, she knew how many times Ara also mentioned the old woman in her diary and she also knew that Salyn was one of the witnesses when Daniel and Ara got married secretly.

"You were lucky and you had the opportunity to witness a very good love story," it was true inside her.

"I know that they have met now, they are together and will never be apart from each other again," said Salyn who stared in admiration at the beautiful oil painting.

*****

ON THE day of her sister's funeral, a woman named Danica, along with her mother, Marielle, came and introduced themselves to her.

She preferred to talk to the mother and daughter privately and that is when she told them about Ara's diary and others. From them, she also learned that everything remained a secret from their parents.

Jason was Ara's only friend who went to the funeral. She wanted to ask him about Jenny but she decided not to. There are things that, in fact, are different stories and it would be better if they were the ones to tell that story.

As expected, their last farewell to Ara was filled with emotion.

But somehow Bella knew in her heart that she shouldn't be too sad. Because her twin sister is definitely very happy now because she is finally with the man she truly loves in the afterlife, her great love, none other than Daniel.

She included in Ara's funeral at her final destination the box containing all the memories she had collected about a particular person. Because for her that was the right thing to do, and she believed that was what her sister wanted too.

*****

IN ANOTHER LIFETIME...

"Are you happy?" Daniel asked Ara with a smile as he held her hand tightly.

Ara nodded consecutively and then looked up at the man she loved with a smile. "Now I know why we didn't bless a child then," she laughed softly then shyly bowed her head.

"Yeah?" Daniel's amused question to her.

Then Ara looked up at her husband again and stared into his dark eyes. "Because if we had a baby he would only be sad because I would leave him too," she replied.

Daniel's face was clear as he caressed her cheek. "I told you, we will be together again, and right here we will never be apart, ever," her husband said.

Ara nodded. "I love you," she said hugging her husband tightly.

She had longed for his hug for a very long time so she wanted to make the most of it now.

"I love you more," Daniel replied who also responded witha tighter hug to her.

In Ara’s heart, she knew this was the beginning of everything, what they called eternity.

And this time, there is no need to let go and no need to be hurt because in this place all there is pure love and happiness, just like what she and Daniel have for each other.

"But Daniel," she whispered to her husband.

"Yes?" he said as he bent down and then tenderly pressed his forehead to hers.

"I hope we can continue our beautiful love story. The kind that no one needs to be hurt and left behind, what do you think?"

He shrugged his shoulders and then put his arm around her. "Let's see," was the short but meaningful reply from the man she loved the most.