Strength like armor.
Saying your name brings tears to my eyes because I miss you so much. I never really got the chance to say thank you for everything—the sacrifices, the love, the strength you showed, even when things were falling apart. You always tried your best to give us everything, even when it wasn’t easy, and though your love was tough at times, I now understand how deeply it ran. I cherish the moments when I caught glimpses of your soft side, and I know Kuya Nikki saw it too. You were always so supportive of us, not with big gestures, but with small, strong acts that carried so much love. We felt that love, even when it was hard to express. I love you, Lolo, and I’m sorry that I had to move out to start my own life, leaving you behind. It breaks my heart that I left you alone, but I’m still so grateful that I was by your side in the hospital, even if just for a while, to help take care of you when you needed it most. I witnessed a man who was once so strong, raising four daughters, slowly become ...