Noelia woke up in the m feeling drained, he realized that he was thinking about Maria and Enrique st night. Just whehought he was moving on, his memory resurfaced and the grief came rushing back. Hoping to clear his mind, Noelia decided to wash his fabsp;

  He turned on the faucet and spshed water on his face. He saw a refle of them, he turned around only to see no one.

  “I think I’m seeing things…” Noelia thought.

  It didn’t help washing away the pain and the thoughts tio bother Noelia.

  “Ugh… maybe coffee could clear my mind,” Noelia muttered to himself. “Those caffeines might replenish my energy.”

  Noelia drank coffee but only his energy was replehe thought of Maria and Enrique still surfaced in his mind. Julio and Sofia came down ready for school, Noelia remembered that he had to drive them to saybe that could help.

  Noelia was driving smoothly down the road when he suddenly saw a woman who looked like Maria and began to think about her. In a split sed, Noelia noticed a car and immediately swerved the steering wheel, narrowly avoiding a collision. Noelia was relieved that no o hurt.

  The driver got out of the vehicle ao berate Noelia for his clumsiness. Noelia apologized then drove away. He rexed his shoulders but his body felt tense.

  “Is something wrong, padre?” Sofia asked.

  “I’m sorry, kids. I’m just feeling tired,” Noelia replied. “I didn’t mean to crash the car.”

  After dropping them at school, he returo the bakery with a heavy heart. Not only from the grief and past memories but the embarrassment he caused to himself. He failed to not take it personally which ultimately decreased his work performance.

  Orders piling up and the weight made his focus wavered. Noelia grew tired of messing up the orders. He burnt a batch of bread and angrily threw it to the trash bin with frustration. Rosa noticed his behavior ao him.

  “Mijo,you never burnt bread before,” said Rosa. “You’ve worked here a lot.”

  “I’m just tired, ma,” Noelia mumbled, going upstairs to his bedroom.

  Noelia sat at the edge of his bed looking at a photograph of him and Maria as well as a picture of Enrique. He picked up the frames, trag the edges of their smiles. His heart ached and a tear dropped that spshes onto the pictures.

  “Where could you guys have goo…” said Noelia which he then lied down on his bed then fell asleep afterwards.

  Noelia woke up to the sound of knog and Rosa’s voice. He walked to unlock the door then ope with a lifeless face which scared Rosa.

  “What is it, ma?” Noelia asked tiredly.

  “Mijo, what were you doing this whole time?!” Rosa returned. “It’s already night and the bakery is closed.”

  “I told you I was tired,” said Noelia, walking out from the room.

  Noelia grabbed a cup of water and sat on a chair in the baly until midnight. His eyes were fixed towards the bright stars in the dark sky. The stars aligned reminded him again of his wife and son. His body felt rexed but his heart ached. He could only feel the cold night breezing through him.

  Rosa appeared from behind and said, “You’re still thinking about them, right?”. Noelia stayed quiet while sipping his cup.

  “You have to let it go,” She tinued. “It’s bee years! They’re no longer with us!”

  “How could you say that!? They’re family, ma!” Noelia replied.

  Rosa sighed as she sat beside him, holding Noelia’s hand. Her touch was warm but firm. She then said, “I know they’re family but holding onto it only hurts you more. Letting it go doesn’t mean you don’t love them.”

  He looked down towards the floor with one of his hands rubbing his temples, fingers pressing into his skin. Noelia began to tear up, gradually bursting out more. He then said,

  “If I let go then… what’s left of them…?”

  “You. You are what is left of them along with Julio and Sofia,” Rosa stated. “I know how you felt, Noelia. I’ve been through it with the loss of your father.”

  Rosa touched Noelia’s teary cheeks and said, “Let it go, you do this, mijo.”

  Noelia held his mother’s arms a all the grief and sorrow that was stored in his heart. His p tears symbolized all the emotions being released. Rosa could only hug her g son while f him with warmth ahy.

  “I’m sorry…” Noelia mumbled. “Maria… Enrique…”

  One night, Noelia was once again alone on the baly. The nightly stars were still shining, he saw a falling star.

  “One day… I hope we be reunited as a family,” said Noelia.

  Noelia finally acceptiy could live out his new life as the light for his children. He didn’t know about their whereabouts but he promised that wherever they are, he would dedicate himself to protect his family as a way to honor them.