It was late 2008 when the world seemed to collapse around us. Brenda was already heavily pregnant, her belly round and prominent, when Rich was suddenly rushed to the hospital. His condition had worsened rapidly. One moment he was working, the next he was lying in a hospital bed fighting for his life. Brenda was devastated. She called me in the middle of the night, her voice breaking with fear and exhaustion.
Franz… si Rich… nandito na sa ospital. Please, pumunta ka dito. Hindi ko kaya mag-isa, she pleaded.
I dropped everything and rushed to the hospital. Myra, who had become a close friend by then, also came as soon as she heard the news. The three of us sat in the waiting area for hours, the sterile smell of the hospital and the beeping of machines creating a heavy atmosphere.
Brenda held Rich’s hand tightly as she sat by his bedside. Tears streamed down her face.
Franz… Myra… gusto kong gawin ‘to. Gusto kong pakasalan siya kahit ganito lang ang kalagayan niya. Ayaw kong umalis siya nang hindi niya alam na committed ako sa kanya.
My heart ached as I watched her. I nodded silently.
Kung ‘yan ang gusto mo, susuportahan kita.
In that small hospital room, with only a few witnesses including Myra and me, Brenda and Rich had a simple symbolic wedding. Brenda cried as she said her vows, her voice trembling but full of love. Rich, weak but conscious, managed a faint smile. I stood as one of the witnesses, my chest tight with conflicting emotions. Myra held my hand the entire time, offering silent support.
Weeks later, Rich passed away. The pain was overwhelming. Brenda, in her grief and to honor his last wish, held another small ceremony beside his coffin. She symbolically married him again, whispering promises even in death. The scene was heartbreaking. I stood at her left, supporting her as her best friend, while Myra stayed by her right side, quietly wiping her own tears.
A few months later, in early 2009, Brenda gave birth to a healthy baby boy. She named him Josh . I was there at the hospital with Myra. When Brenda held Josh for the first time, she looked at me with tears in her eyes and said,
Franz… salamat sa hindi mo ako iniwan. Ikaw at si Myra lang ang kasama ko sa lahat ng ‘to. Parang ikaw na ang tatay ni Josh.
Myra and I grew even closer during this difficult time. She was patient, kind, and always there whenever we needed help. Our friendship slowly turned into something deeper. By July 15, 2010 , Myra and I got married in a simple ceremony. She became Myra Esguerra Molina . Rich’s cousin. My step-brother’s cousin. The threads of destiny were becoming more complicated than ever.
But happiness was short-lived. Myra became pregnant. During labor, severe complications arose. Both she and the baby did not survive. The pain was unbearable. I stood at her grave with Josh a few weeks later, the weight of loss crushing me once again.
→ story continues tomorrow!
As I rode the Love Bus alone that night, the paired seats felt emptier than ever. A quiet thought came to me… sometimes love comes into our lives not to stay forever, but to teach us how to love more deeply before it leaves. And in its leaving, it leaves us stronger, even if the pain remains.
Updated June 27, 2026 from original post date January 25, 2011.
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