Undying Testimony

   "Here you go, Serena."

   She gasped out loud, hands cupping her mouth. "What…Oh my God, this is beautiful!" She took the basket, which was filled with 1,000 paper cranes made exquisitely by me. My smile was widening to see the radiant smile on her face.

   "So, you like it?" I asked like an idiot, when I knew full well that she clearly liked it.

   The brunette giggled bashfully. "Oh you silly boy. I love it!" Without warning, she pounced on me with one of her hug attacks. I cringed as I was about to fall on my bum, but my feet stood firmly on the ground. My face was beginning to feel hot, and my eyes were round as saucer plates.

   I could feel her smiling even when I couldn't see her. Chuckling boyishly, I wrapped my arms around her waist and swayed our bodies left and right. "Those paper cranes resembles trust, loyalty, and foremost of all, our undying love to each other."

   Serena was smiling until she swore it almost reached her ears. "I love you, Damien. Thank you so much…"

---

   I sat quietly, eyes staring blankly into space. Words and promises were all I could remember. The winds were like echoes, screaming empty wails into my ears.

---

   "I'm going to Paris."

   My eyes blinked dumbly at her words. The woman in front of me looked down, never meeting my green irises. "…What?" I asked numbly, as if she was speaking in another language.

   A heavy sigh was all I could see and hear. "I said I'm going to Paris." Her hands cupped against one another. Her long black hair cascaded down to her neck, hiding her expression.

   My mind was trying to decipher her words. I breathed out a dumbfounded chuckle. "Oh, okay," I finally said. "So guess I'll be seeing you-"

   "You won't be seeing me."

   Okay. I was getting even more confused and also scared. My foot scooted an inch closer, leaning towards her. "What do you-?"

   "It means I'm never coming back." Serena finally looked up. I didn't know what was worse. Her eyes were red and puffy, yet her mouth was curled into a scowl. "So stop…Stop looking for me."

   It was all too confusing. It was baffling me each minute. Her words slurred out like poison to my ears. "But I…" My mouth mumbled, but words were unable to be verbalized. "How…Why…?"

   "It's because we have no future, okay! You're just a nobody in a some random company and I cannot imagine marrying a guy without a future!"

   At that time; at that certain, brief moment, I swore I could hear my heart break into two.

   Without waiting for a response, Serena turned her back on me and started to walk away. Desperate and clearly bewildered, I ran for her and reached for her hands. "Serena…Wait…"

   "Go away!" The lovely woman that was the love of my life swatted my hands away. I saw a glimpse of her biting her lower lip, which meant she was about to tear up. Before I could even react, she ran faster, ignoring her names being called out multiple times.

   That was the last time I saw her.

---

   I covered my face with both my hands. A long, woeful groan escaped my mouth. Why… That was the only word that occupied my mind. It screamed in my head, banging my temple each and every day. The wind was getting harsher, yet I had no intention of leaving just yet. My skin prickled due to the lack of jacket but my ignorance was at its finest.

   Because all I could focus was the one true angel that left my life.

   Why…

---

   Finally, I did it.

   I actually did it.

   I proved to everyone that I can make it to the top.

   People used to belittle me. Some even ridiculed me by saying that I cannot achieve my dreams. Well, they can kiss their ass now and eat their words.

   Because thanks to dedication, sweat, and some tears, I have finally became the boss of my very own company. Years had passed by and ever since that dreadful day, I decided to take it as a lesson and prove to them all – especially her – that I can create a future of my own. Now, I am my own man. I have power. I am loved and respected by many. Women craved for me. Men wanted to be me.

   Yes. Everything was perfect.

   And it was starting to get better.

   It was raining heavily as I was on my way home. As I drove by, I was surprised. There I saw an elderly couple walking on the pavement. The two shared an umbrella, and it was obvious that it didn't give enough help as the pair was drenched and soaked.

   But I wasn't surprised about their little misfortune. No. I was surprised because I recognized them.

   It was Serena's parents.

   A smirk curved at the edge of my lips. "This is it," I said to myself, "Time to prove to them how awesome I am now." Honestly, I would have hoped to see Serena too. I wanted her to see how much of a success I have been. I wanted her to eat her words and – if possible – see her begging for me to take her back.

   Oh yes. That would be a joy to see.

   But still, maybe meeting her parents would be good too. So with a sneaky idea, I crept behind them with my Jaguar XKR Coupe. I wanted them to see my fancy car so that they could tell Serena all about the new me.

   But the more I quietly followed them, the more it confused me. A few minutes later, I finally realized where the couple was heading: towards a cemetery. The elderly pair entered inside the graveyard. I stopped my car and quickly got outside to continue following them. My heart began to beat unevenly. My mind began to think unquestionable thoughts.

   What are they doing here? What is going on? Who are they visiting?

   All of these were left unanswered as I dashed inside the cemetery.

   Finally, I caught up to them.

   And what I saw next made my world stop.

   The old couple was standing in front of a tombstone. It was Serena's.

---

   The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to cry. But tears were dried up like raisins. My will to do anything was gone like an abyss. All I could do was sit there, thinking about the horrible past…

---

   "What…" My mouth gaped like a fish, trying to say out the words. "What happened…?"

   Upon hearing a sudden voice, the couple turned around. Their eyes were wide, clearly shocked to see me. "Damien…" The old man broke the silence, looking at me who was standing like a statue.

   I looked at the man that was Serena's father. I was breathing heavily, my green eyes locking with his brown orbs. "What is this…?" My head turned to see the tombstone. My eyes weren't lying; that was Serena's grave. It had a picture of her flashing a sweet smile. And to make it more obvious, I saw the 1,000 paper cranes I gave her covering around her tombstone. A huge umbrella was placed under it, making sure that the paper cranes stayed dry and perfect.

   The elderly couple pursed their lips. They looked down, letting me gawk at the horror that was placed before my very eyes. "Serena…She had cancer…" The mother spoke softly, almost weeping. The rain was still pouring, but my ears could catch her words perfectly. "She only had a few weeks to live. She told us that you might make it big soon, so she didn't want to be the obstacle in your dreams…" She cupped her mouth, holding back a sob as she explained.

   I couldn't believe what I was listening. My Italian suit was drenched to the bone. My brown hair was wet and soggy until it touched my forehead. But I didn't care. My mind, my body, everything was focused on one thing.

   The old man gently held her wife's shoulders. He calmed her down, mouth wording a few shushing sounds. He looked at me, whose eyes were also red and teary. "Serena told us to put these paper cranes around her tombstone. She said that if fate brings you to her again, you can take some of these back." The two elderly sighed ruefully, both refusing to look at me in the eye.

   This was happening. This was really happening.

   My knees felt weak. Finally, I slumped on my knees, mouth still agape. My eyes were glued to the grave. Serena's cheerful smile was piercing into my soul. The paper cranes were slowly drilling my once broken heart. The day of our break up twirled in my mind. I remembered her stern voice. I remembered her tearful gaze. I remembered her irritated scowl.

   All that she did that day, was so I could achieve my dreams.

   The woman that I loved dearly and madly was gone. Forever.

---

   My hands slid up to my head, fingers clutching bits of my hair. My eyes stared dully at her tombstone. It was a windy morning, and I had sat in front of her grave for a good hour. Even after a month had passed, half of me still couldn't accept the traumatizing reality. My breathing was slow and heavy. My green eyes seemed soulless and empty.

   I wanted to cry. I wanted to scream into the heavens. But what can I do? I had lost all energy to do anything. The only capable reaction I could give was breathing, and even that seemed hard.

   Because the woman that I loved dearly and madly was gone. And no matter how hard I wished; how badly I cried, she could never come back to me.

   I was worst than alone. I was now broken.

END.

Extra notes that my Sir told us to define.

1. Just because someone does not love you the way you want him or her to, does not mean they do not love you with all they have.
= Many people have ways to express their love. Some say it with actions. Some prefer to just literally say it. But not everyone expresses their love the way you want them to. Some are shy. Some aren't good with handling the situation. Even so, what lies in the heart is what matters. In fact, maybe that person loves you more than you could ever imagine. So never doubt that person blindly.

2. Once you have loved, you will always love. For what's in your mind may escape but what's in your heart will remain forever.
= Once you love someone, even when you're over with them, a little part of you will always have some feeling towards one another. For example, sometimes that person doesn't know why he's dating a certain girl or as to why he's even loyal to her. But even though the mind has some doubts, if he looks deep inside his heart enough, he will then always remember why he loves her.