If the world was mute and everybody was sightless, and if the ground felt like choppy waves from shallow shores, all of these combined is exactly how Irene would describe this whole experience.

There's nothing more frightening than darkness trying to overcome the light you so badly sought after. Irene felt like something was stolen, as if the world deprived her of its riches.

If justice was blind, then so be it her family.

Irene didn't hug the young girl back. In fact, she stumbled away from her and began sinking on their couch, eyes blurry from everything but the dull wall.

Imelda, Imee, Bonget, and the rest shot her multiple dim gazes, surely questioning her motives. And as she sat there, silent and all, her own family began to dig between the depths of her silence for an answer.

But Imee couldn't blame her. After twelve long years of nothing but yearning and feeling lost, then for only a minute, life has thrown you something bewildering; who wouldn't be appalled?

". . .mom? Are you okay? Do you want me to get you some water?" Luis reached his hand halfway before hesitantly taking it back after receiving a small nudge from his father.

"Hoy, ading. . .are you feeling alright? Kanina ka pa d'yan tulala." Imee softly spoke, exchanging glances with Catrina when Irene didn't say anything.

The whole family felt how the air surrounding Irene shifted. She still hasn't moved from the couch, not even a bit. The young girl gazed at her, before gazing back at Greggy as if to question did she do things the right way.

"Uhm. . .I," Irene paused, making everybody turn to her as she stood. ". . .I think I'll go ahead upstairs." She gave a solemn smile before turning away and headed towards her room.

"Teka, anak. . ." Imelda pleaded, trying to follow her, to which she slightly struggled, seeing how fast Irene walked.

"Wait, Ma. . .I'll talk to her." Greggy brought a reassuring hand to Imelda's shoulder. Not before Bongbong slightly pushed him away, and Imee stepped in.

"No, wait, sandali. Sure ka ba sa gagawin mo, Gregorio?" Imee raised a brow. It's been a while since the two reconciled. . .although you can barely call it that since nothing happened that made the family's bond conform.

"Manang. . ." Now Imelda wasn't the only one Bonget was trying to hold in place; her sister was locking gazes with Greggy and knowing Imee. . .she won't stand if things weren't corrected.

"No, Bonget." Imee shrugged off his brother's arm before facing no one in particular, fingers tugging at her hair in frustration. "See. . .I knew this would happen eh, at tsaka sino ba 'yan?!" She pointed to the young girl; stern was her tone, making the girl scurry towards where Alfonso and Luis were standing.

"It's our daughter. . ." Tahimik na sagot ni Greggy habang nakayuko.

Imee was so frustratingly confused at whatever was happening that she chose to keep quiet and simply walk away.

The rest watched her with shying eyes, while Bonget simply sent Greggy a 'go' signal. Everyone was too distracted to notice him go up to where Irene was currently occupied.

. . .

The mother sat at the edge of her bed. Staring blankly at the dim-wallpapered walls of her own room. Every inch and every corner seemed to scream with such sadness that she felt trapped, breathless, and lost. Irene chewed the tip of her finger, out of anxiety, did she started that habit.

She could feel the tiny silver pendant dangling from inside her shirt; cold did she feel whenever it touched her skin. Perhaps she wasn't ready after all. Almost every wake had she thought of her expressions, what she'd say, how she'd act when the moment came that she'd see her daughter. . .but here she was, alone in her room, thinking if all of this was a dream.

A small knock interrupted her thoughts, before someone came in. They didn't wait for her to say something as their footsteps padded along the floorboards, closer and closer they became until they stopped in front of her.

From the shoes alone, she could tell who it was. That pair of leathered derbies had been ingrained in her mind for far too long that even without looking, she knows exactly what brand of socks he pairs it with. 

"What are you doing here?" Without looking up, she turned away from where he stood. Irene could feel his eyes on her, but she was immensely too tired to have this conversation. "Please. . .pabayaan mo na muna ako. Besides, that's what you're good at, hindi ba'?" She barbed, particularly making the last words hit home.

"For once, can we at least talk properly?" Greggy countered, tone candid before clutching her shoulders and making her face him. "—I don't want to fight. . .not tonight. Kahit ngayon lang 'Rene."

"Easy for you to say," Irene threw a dirty look, lips slightly trembling. "When? When. . .h-how. . .w-w-what?" She spoke through sniffles as her eyes began to well up with tears. "I d-don't understand. . ."

Greggy came close and caressed her hand. "It's all good now. We found her 'Rene. We found our daughter."

"No, Greggy. You. . ." Slipping her hand off his, she looked at him with brooding eyes. "You found her, samantala ako? I didn't know anything. . .Do you know how long I've looked for her? How long I tried? Tapos ang sasabihin mo na and'yan lang pala siya sayo? I feel terrible, Gregorio!"

Greggy couldn't say anything. He was confused; for so long did he try to understand this woman, but she was merely unpredictable. He thought this would bring great joy, a possible chance to be complete again. 

"Don't say 'it's all good now' when you know it's not." 

Silence. That's all there was to it. 

Irene needs someone to solve the pieces within her mind; she needs someone to understand what she couldn't. She needs her sister. . .her Manang.

"Please. . .not now, Greggy. Hindi ko pa kaya ngayon. . ." The palm of her hand grasped her mouth, stopping her from ever making a sound as she sobbed. She couldn't even see straight; the thought of her daughter waiting downstairs scared her even more. 

The man sighed as he paved way to her request. And with hesitancy, he left her all alone once more, and desolation creeped up from her toes up to the tip of her head.

The soft click of her bedroom door was all it took for Irene to break down and cry. All those years of built up weary, spewed from her eyes and crumpled the very veins of her heart.

She hasn't cried like this ever since that faithful evening. The woman kept all her misery within her chest; she struggled to suppress her weeping, too afraid to emmitt a sound. . .yet the trembles of her voice betrayed her.

Agony alone was unbearable, how much more a mother's. Here she was, on the floor, choking on her own spit, shoulders aching, and legs moving on pure static. If there was a word stronger than unbearable, it would be this.

Life did awful things to her, and would continue to do so. Irene couldn't be numb even if she has to, empathy was her core value and it overpowered the reins of her entire being.

She wept as if the sun won't shine for tomorrow, she wailed for unhealed scars, her cries were too loud for her to hear another set of footsteps approach.

A simple tap by her shoulder, she turned. The scent of gentle perfume over filled her nostrils; she didn't need eyes to know who this was, for Irene knew exactly.

Only one person smelled like fresh powder and daisies. This one in particular knew exactly what she needs to hear.

Irene hugged Imee. Her arms wrapped around her, before burying her face deeper in the crook of her sister's neck. She felt Imee's palms rub her back tenderly, and whispered sweet nothings into her ear.

"Tahan na. . ." Imee led Irene to sit on her bed, urging her to take the bottle of water she brought. "It's gonna be alright, I'm here." Her hands caressed Irene's hair before wiping Irene's tear-stained cheeks.

"I'm such a mess, ate." Irene sulked, "I-I. . .nnnh, I don't even know w-w-why I'm crying." Her voice shook, and it was terrible. Imee had never seen her sister cry like this ever since. She had never heard Irene waver.

"It's fine. It's okay, ading. . .there's nothing wrong with that."

"I'm not w-weak," She gasped soppily. "I've h-h-had, had it worse."

Imee clutched her sister's shoulder, almost letting her tears run dry but she had to be the strong one here.

"I know that. . .alright? I know that. Crying doesn't make you weak. . ."

Her breaths were tumultuous and uneven, mouth agape, and eyes never running dry. Hot tears kept streaming down her face whilst Imee busied herself on wiping it clean.

"Don't worry. . .ilabas mo lang, take your time. No one's judging you. . ."

And so she did.

Imee cradled Irene in her arms until she grew limp. They were like that 'till the very moment her cries became mere sniffles and whimpers. Drained did she feel and no amount of water could treat the strain her voice felt.

One thing's for sure, Irene cherished Imee's company. All she needed was someone to tell her that it was alright.