UNA ROSA

Chapter 42-The Letter

I tapped the steering wheel with the brown envelope.

My name was written in a neat script with letters that were rounded and legible.

Just seeing the familiar handwriting gave my heart a slight twitch.

Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit hirap na hirap akong buksan ang envelope.

Galing iyon kay Lola Francesca at hindi sa kung sino lang.

Pero ang isang bahagi ng isip ko ay nag-aalala kung ano ang nilalaman nito.

Whatever is on there should not shock me anymore.

Lola disclosed her affair and admitted that she was with a woman.

That part was over.

Why am I so afraid to do this?

"Fuck it." I took a deep breath and ripped the side of the envelope.

Despite the chaos in my head, I began to read.

My eyes instantly checked the date.

The letter was written eight years ago.

A year before Lola had the asthma attack that ultimately took her life.

It was literally her breathing that caused her demise.

I took big gulps of air then started reading.

"My dear Isabella,

If you're reading this, it only means one thing—I am no longer here.

I was really hoping that God will give me more time so I can do one last thing before I leave this world but it was not destined to happen.

I allowed fear to take over until it was too late to do anything.

Forgive me for imposing on you but I hope that through my story, you will have a better life.

I was twenty-one when I married your grandfather.

Perhaps you'll think I was young but it was normal at the time.

We don't have a lot of options.

We don't have control over our bodies and our freedom.

When my mother passed away after she gave birth to me, everything was decided by my father.

The only thing he could not control was my disobedience.

Despite not having amorous feelings for Pedro, I was forced to marry him.

Papa said that aside from he wanted someone to take care of me in case something happens to him, my marriage to Pedro was good for business.

We both came from families with money.

Looking back I wished I never entered into the agreement.

Because a few months after we got married, I met someone.

This person was unexpected.

This person also turned out to be a woman.

I could understand if once you get to this part you'll feel anger towards me.

Not because I had an affair with a woman but because of the fact that I cheated on your grandfather.

I was never forthright about what happened because I have to guard that secret with my life.

That was the only way to protect everyone.

Besides,who would I tell anyway?

Definitely not my father.