Chapter 78

Aurora's POV
“Mom, I’m here,” I answered, touching her hand gently.
She smiled at me and said in a calm voice, “Honey, I want you and your children to know how much I love you…” Again, my heart trembled at her words. “You have to keep your household together until I die.”
“I will always be with you, Mom. Don’t worry,” I said, trying to reassure her. But when I saw the tears in the corners of her eyes, I knew in my heart that this was going to be a difficult conversation.
But she continued, “Aurora, you have to survive without me. Your strength lies within yourself and within this family.” The words were so clear, they pierced my heart. Accepting the fact that my mother might not always be by my side was painful, but they also gave me a new perspective on the importance of being prepared.
My father then appeared beside her, ready to take her to the hospital for more intensive care. However, my mother gently refused. “No, Dad. I want to be here, at home, surrounded by all the people I love.”
My mother proceeded to kiss each of her grandchildren tenderly, one by one—Roland, Ronald, and Roline—and Cherry held them tightly as if to convey a thousand messages of love and hope. “Always be good children, okay? You are the stars of this family,” I said softly, her eyes sparkling with pride and affection.
Then, as she looked at me with such emotion, I felt a weight of responsibility surge through me. I had to protect everything we had, to honor all that she had done for this family. And I was determined to pass on the values and love she had taught us.
Time seemed to slow down, and those moments became precious memories that will forever be etched in my memory. Though my heart was breaking, I fought back tears and stayed strong for my mother and for the children.
“Mom, we will always be together,” I said, embracing my mother tightly, feeling the warmth of my love. “We will go through this together as a family.”
That night, we all gathered and prayed together, trying to strengthen each other. This loving moment made me realize how precious every second we had together was. With conviction in my heart, I promised to fight for the happiness and health of our family, celebrating every beautiful memory while walking the path that might be full of challenges ahead.
After that precious moment with my mother that night, I let her sleep peacefully. Before leaving, I kissed her face softly and whispered, “Mom, I love you. I will try to be a good mother like you.” In my heart, I hoped she could feel that deep love.
However, the next morning, when the light of dawn had just begun to illuminate the house, my father’s scream broke the silence. “Aurora! Your mother… Your mother is dead!”
Disbelief struck my heart when I heard those words. It was as if the world was spinning, and everything seemed to disappear in an instant. Without thinking, I ran to the room where my mother was sleeping, and when I checked her condition, I saw that she was no longer breathing. All the hopes I had held were shattered in an instant.
“Oh no… Oh my God, Mom!” I screamed, tears streaming down my eyes. All the beautiful memories with her swirled in my mind, and the pain was so deep. Knowing that I had lost the most important person in my life made me feel devastated.
I felt a warm embrace around me as the children approached. They didn’t fully understand, but they could feel my sadness. “Mommy, why?” Roline asked in a confused tone, seeing the tears that kept flowing.
I tried to calm myself down for them, but at the same time, it felt like the burden was too heavy. “Your grandmother… is gone, honey. We… we have to remember all the beautiful memories with her,” I answered in a trembling voice.
That day was filled with indescribable sadness. We gathered as a family, supporting each other to face this bitter reality. In the gaps of grief, I remembered all the lessons and love my mother had instilled in me and the children.
Being separated from my mother was the hardest thing I had ever gone through, and I knew that the pain would probably haunt me, but I also knew that she would want me to take good care of this family. I am determined to carry on the teachings and values she gave us—to love, to care for one another, and to persevere through adversity.
With love and hope, even as sadness fills my life, I try to stay strong for my mother and for my children. This is a time to celebrate her life and help my children understand that even though she is gone, her love and memory will always live on in our hearts.
My mother’s funeral procession went quickly, filled with sadness and memories. In the midst of the cloudy weather, I felt as if all the beauty of this life had faded and only left deep sorrow. When the coffin was lowered into the grave, all my feelings were squeezed—unbelieving that the person I loved was gone forever.
In this state of grief, my thoughts kept drifting back to the beautiful memories with my mother, the moments where she gave affection, guidance, and valuable lessons that will forever be engraved in my heart. Why did God take her away so soon? Why did it all have to end like this? My voice seemed to whisper a complaint for justice that felt lost.
Some regret filled my mind—realizing that there were still many things I wanted to shower her with, wanting to show her how much I appreciated her. However, in the midst of all this sadness, there was a feeling of gratitude that arose again. “God loves my mother more,” I thought, trying to understand God’s decision. With a broken heart, I remembered all the beautiful moments, the lessons contained in every piece of advice, and her sincere love that always made me feel safe.