Chapter Twelve

"I tried hard to listen but the only thing I heard were your echoes.

I tried to see and touch but there was nothing .

The clock ticked in accordance to your heartbeat but I couldn't feel you around .

I called out your name several times but those were just illusions .

I loved you wildly and fearlessly that I wasn't ready to get used to the distance .

Babe ,I wasn't ready to give you up .

Looking at you from a distance ,the flashback hurts more than your absence .

I tried not to reach out nor cry but I couldn't help myself anymore .

My faint heart had become lonely and my happiness had become my sorrow .

I gathered all your memories and made it a déjà vu !"

"Clinton ,I wasn't ready to let you go . I missed all the times we spent together and that hurt more than your absence . I'm sorry for hurting you !"

... ...

"I allowed Liza to meet up with Clinton because I know they both have a lot to settle and talk about .

I don't want to put pressure on my daughter especially not now that she has accepted me to be her friend !"Corazon said happily .

"Oh really ?! "Jean exclaimed .

"I was surprised when she told me that ,but you don't know the joy I felt in my heart when she said she will learn to accept us as her parents .

I want my daughter to be free and I will accept whom ever she chooses as her life partner .

Actually ,Clinton is Marcial Brown's son and he happens to be your very good friend . He will fit in as a good son in -law ...!"They cheer about the news .

... ...

"A lot has just broken me down , Clinton . It wasn't easy for me but I will understand if you would want nothing to do with me .

I left and I kept you worried . Now that we are free to leave our lives ,I would understand if you go for another woman in my place !"I said with a heavy heart .

Clinton looked into her innocent eyes and a moment without her made me feel weak and useless .

"It took time to get over you babe and I'm also sorry too that it had to end like this for us!

Mum had vanished into thin air and I need some time to get over it as well!

Your absence made me realize that it was lust not love that I felt for you !

Liza ,I'm sorry but it's over between us .I hope you get a life filled with happiness . Good bye Liza !"Clinton bitterly said and left Liza alone to shed tears in the cottage .

Once Liza got home ,she was shattered into pieces .

"Liza ,what happened ?"

Why are you crying like this dear ? Tell me exactly what happened between you and Clinton.

Liza my dear ,what is wrong with you ? Please tell me something !"Corazon demanded .

At that moment ,I needed comfort and without thinking twice I hugged Corazon in tears .

"Liza ! Liza!!" [Corazon calls out her name and realizes that she has passed out upon hugging her .They take her to her room and wait for her to gain consciousness ].

... ...

"Buddy ! Why are you drinking all by yourself ?"Klara asked taking a glass for herself.

"I saw Liza !"Clinton said , pouring a shot of whiskey for Klara .

"So what happened ? Did you guys settle the issue ?"Klara asked adding some ice cubes to her whiskey .

"No we didn't , because I broke up with her !"Clinton said and laid-back in the sofa .

"What ! You must be kidding buddy !

After all the time you spent looking for her ,how could you make such a decision ?!

Don't you love her anymore ?!"Klara asked almost getting angry .

"It was for her own good Klara ! I did it for her !

Her parents are alive and she will need time to spend with them .I can't just take that joy from her .

No matter how much I love Liza ,I will have to sacrifice for her sake !

She thinks I have fallen for another lady and that is better for her own good!

Besides ,even mum is gone and I don't really want to add any relationships to my life anymore !"Clinton said nonchalantly.

"No buddy ! You made a huge mistake by letting her go !

She came looking for you just to find comfort and you threw such a news to her face which is enough to break anyone down ,huh?!

Think about it because no other woman can ever replace Liza in your life !

Damn!"Klara angrily threw the glass to the floor and left the room .

.. ..

I thought it was a dream that Clinton and I had broken up but it was real as every single word repeated itself in my mind .

"I'm happy to see that you have woken up already dear !

How are you feeling now ? "Corazon asked .

"I'm okay mummy !"

"Liza ,what did you call me ? Can you repeat it again ?!"Corazon asked raising her brows in excitement .

"Mummy is what I called you .I'm Liza and this is now my new life .I have thought about it and I have decided to accept what destiny has installed for me !

I would plead with you not to ask me any more questions about what happened between Clinton and I .He didn't hurt me, instead , his mum has vanished into thin air!"

"No dear ,she has woken up but has kept herself away from her family!"Corazon spilled the beans .

"Why is that so ?"

"I guess she needs time to think about everything .She has to restructure her life and learn how to cope with her family and new life !"Corazon explained .

"Is it possible she will recall all her memories ?"

"Yes ,she will! She won't miss out any single detail about her past experiences in her life !"Corazon said kissing her knuckles .

... ...

"Why let her go if you love her so much ?"

"Not now Klara ! I need time to think over how I'm going to leave my life without her !"Clinton said .

"Don't make that mistake of letting her go ,son !

I slept for two decades , yet I knew she was to define your destiny .

The girl who woke me up from my sleep can't do anything wrong !"This time around ,Clinton knew it wasn't Klara who was talking from behind him .

"Mum!" Clinton exclaimed and moved back to hold the edges of his sofa .

He was shocked seeing his mother standing right before him .

Without a second thought , he hugged her tightly in tears .

"Mum ! I can't believe my eyes .You are alive and that too ,fit as a fiddle ?!

H-how did this happen ? I thought you had vanished into thin air .. Oh my God !"Clinton hugged her tightly in tears .

"We are free ...!"Hazel said in tears .

"Yes I know ,because Liza told me !"Clinton said happily .

"Oh my dear boy , you've grown so big ! The last time I saw you ,you were so little in my arms .

You used to be a cry baby ..haha ! I still remember how stubborn you were even though you were still a baby !

My darling boy ..!"Hazel said in tears and grabbed warmth in her son's embrace .

.. ..

"Daddy! Why are you here all alone by yourself ?"Liza asked Ben ;her father .

"I'm just thinking about the joy you have brought in my life . Care to tell me something about you ?"Ben asked nicely .

After listening to daddy ,I told him all he needed to know about me .

The night was just blissful for a chit -chat with daddy and mummy .

We laughed over unnecessary issues and went to sleep .

I was getting used to this kind of life now .