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Through the passage of time, the echoes of her husband's love resonated within Sandra's heart, a comforting melody that whispered his name and filled her with a profound sense of gratitude for the memories they shared.
She can still remember how their marriage was, very simple and romantic with borrowed flowers and candles. Another couple had decorated the church for their wedding which was supposed to be held immediately after them. The couple didn't mind them using their flowers and decorated chairs.
She was from a poor family. Not really poor but the irresponsible lifestyle of her father pushed them into poverty.
Her marriage to Carl, her husband was a blessing, he was the first man she ever dated, and marrying her first love is what she had wished for.
Her wedding day made a lot of sense to her, Carl mom had tried everything possible to cancel her marriage to her son.
“Her family is not good. Can't you see that?. Any child raised by irresponsible parents can't be trusted by society”. She had overheard Carol's Mom disagreeing with him.
She had felt hopeless that evening, who would have thought that she would be stigmatized by her father's excessive drunkenness and flaming attitude?
But the ever-supporting Carl apologized for making her feel that way. His love was like a candle that brought light to her darkness. He had married her against his parent's wish.
“It's you that I love Sandra, it's you I want to marry not my parents. My life wouldn't be complete without you” said Carl like someone who is enchanted by a powerful fairy.
She had stared into his ocean-blue eyes and saw her reflection in his gaze. He was like a mirror, reflecting her worth and values as a person.
“You are my everything Carl” she responded, her voice choked with tears.
“He was my everything," she whispered, her eyes scanning the room until they landed on her son's photo. He's the spitting image of his father, both in looks and personality.
At a young age, he was very curious and considerate. He noticed when she was happy and when she was not.
She always felt warmth whenever he said something like
“Mummy you are not smiling” or invited her to come sit on his little lap.
He is her strength and companion, the reason why she held on to life when Carl left.
The young lad had grown to become her biggest source of strength and inspiration.
Whenever she feels overwhelmed, Alex's innocent smile and laughter remind her why she's doing it all. He gives her the motivation to keep pushing forward and be the best mother she can be.
“Mummy, the house is quiet," innocent Ken said when he was six. Little did he know that those words were painful for his mother to hear. "Only if Carl was here” she said.
And so when he clocked seven, he went to live with his grandparents.
“Mummy, Papa loves you, mama loves you” he would say whenever he came to visit home. Sometimes he will request she come stay with them.
And so that Christmas, she received a letter from her mother, pleading that she should come to spend Christmas and New Year with them.
There she got good news and delightedly learned that her father had quit smoking five months after Ken moved in with them.
"He didn't want Ken to see him as a demon too. So he fought his addiction with all his might and conquered it," her mother explained while lovingly caressing her husband's hands.
I'm sorry, Sandra. I haven't been a good father to you. I'm sorry I failed in my responsibility. You went through hardship and rejection because of me. I promise to live the rest of my life taking care of you, Ken, and your mother the way I..."
“It's fine Dad. All that was in the past. You don't have to owe us your life. I'm glad you finally made the right decision to save your life and that of Mom. You both are my only Family” Sandra said.
After that year, Carl's parents changed their attitude towards her. They apologized and acknowledged that she had been good to their son till his death.
She didn't mind any of these.
“Maybe that is how life was supposed to be for me. To have all the love in the absence of my husband” she said.
