Growing up, Aly lived in a Christian family, believing that her parents were faithful to one another.
Aly's parents married each other on March 7, 1992. Since then, they have been inseparable.
Thinking they were loyal to each other, that perspective of hers completely shattered on December 2021, almost a Christmas day.
She remembered it like yesterday, when her father called his family to go to the 18th floor of the condominium.
You see, the rest of the family lives on the 7th floor, while Aly's father lives on the 18th floor as their living arrangement.
Aly's father called almost the whole family. Almost because one of them has been left behind since Aly's little brother was a kid.
After gathering the family inside her father's living room, the three siblings sat on the sofa while her parents were seated on the chair near the dining table. Aly's parents were sitting across from one another.
Aly and her siblings were confused about what was going on, so they waited for their father to speak.
"I have a confession to make," Aly's father said in a dire tone, and then he began to confess in front of his children.
He admitted that he was guilty because he cheated on their mom, and he has an illegitimate child in the family.
Aly's mother broke down in tears.
"I knew it. I knew you cheated on me."
"After I found out who she was, I looked at your illegitimate child on Facebook, and I know she is yours."
"I want a divorce." The mother of Aly's voice trembled while her tears continued to shed, looking away from her husband.
After hearing the word 'divorce,' Aly's heart was broken.
What Aly wanted was a peaceful and loving family, living a simple life together, and she thought her parents were close and never broke apart. She knew it was not all about her, but her parents.
She was clueless and naive about the situation of her family, and she felt helpless.
She was worried that if her mother divorced her father, their living arrangements would change, and she hoped that her mother wouldn't divorce her father.
Aly's two siblings were in silence: Aly's younger sister was crying silently while her eyes focused on their parents, and Aly's big brother looked at them in contemplation.
Meanwhile, Aly's father had a guilty expression while he shed his tears silently.
After her father confession and her mother letting out what she felt, one by one, they left the living room.
Aly's father stopped Aly from going out.
His eyes were red, and then he asked her, "Are you angry at me?"
Aly shook her head while her eyes were wet.
"No. I'm not angry at you. I'm worried about your soul because you broke one of God's commandments."
"All I ask is for you to repent before God and know what you did wrong," Aly said genuinely.
"I love you, Aly," Aly's father said while he looked at her sadly.
"I love you too, dad," Aly replied, and then the two of them hugged each other. Aly left the living room to go to the 7th floor with the rest of the family.
On that day, Aly's family was not the same.
Aly's mother did not blame the illegitimate child's birth, but her trust in her husband is not the same ever again.
As the years flew by, Aly's mother did not divorce her husband, and their relationship isn't as close as before, but their relationship as a married couple is slowly healing.
How did Aly know about their slow healing? After Aly's father's confession, her mother removed her wedding ring and got rid of her family picture, and she didn't talk to him for months.
Currently, she is wearing her wedding ring, and the family picture is back in its proper place.
Aly prays that her parents' relationship is mended and that their love for one another continues. They may be on talking terms, but Aly tries to stay positive that they may be close once more.
In any relationship, they have ups and downs, especially in marriage, but they will face their problems and overcome them together.
Aly knows this, and she prays that her parents overcomes their problems and their bond grows stronger.
