A Love Story

My sister got married at sixteen. Through ups and downs of their forty-six year relationship they never gave up on each other. Last February 14, 2014 they had their last Valentine’s Day together. My brother-in-law was in a blue marble urn; still huggable! Her only daughter sent her a bouquet of roses just as it used to be on every Valentine’s Day. Then, last Sunday, February 16, 2014 we finally laid to rest the cremated remains of her great lover and husband. He was a jolly good fellow, those who knew him could attest to that.

He died of Cancer of the Liver: a kind of cancer that was a silent killer. You'd never know until you feel the pain. Take note, when the pain comes it is already stage 4. In my brother-in-law’s case, he felt the first pains on December 21. He went for his check-ups. He discovered he had cancer and saw that his cancer was already advanced. His daughter asked for second opinion from Doctors in Manila, and she was advised to go home with her two brothers to make time with family.

The good thing about his ailment was, he was well prepared to die. He accepted it wholeheartedly. He willingly went to Confession and received Holy Anointing. He still went to Sunday Masses and even attended the Mass for January 20, the Feast of St. Sebastian. He was admitted to the Hospital last week of January and died on February 1, 2014. So fast! He went so swiftly, we barely knew he was going. Well, that’s life. We’re here today and gone tomorrow, as the song goes.

I consider their love story worth sharing because it’s a young love, sweet love that survived the test of time. A real “until death do us part” as couples profess in marriage vows. Surely, their love will go on and on even up to the great beyond. To my sister, “Have courage dear. We’re here for you.”