2044
Cecilia stood with her camera poised, heart pounding with anticipation as the principal stepped up to the podium. The room fell silent, then the words rang out clear and proud: "And our valedictorian for the school year 2044… Miss Chriscinda Nadine Flores!"
The auditorium erupted in cheers, but none louder or more heartfelt than Cecilia's. She shouted with boundless joy, "That's my daughter! That's my girl! Woo-hoo!" She bounced on her toes, clapping and beaming with pure pride, her voice carrying above the crowd.
As Nadine stepped onto the stage to deliver her speech, Cecilia's hands folded tightly, eyes shining with tears of happiness. She whispered, "Chris, can you see her? Our baby… she's becoming her own person every day."
In that moment, Cecilia's heart swelled with overwhelming love and pride, knowing her daughter's hard work and spirit were a living tribute to the father she never met but always carried with her.
2048
The night was still and silent that night, and Cecilia paced restlessly by the door, her eyes flicking anxiously between the clock and the darkened street. It was well past midnight, and every passing moment felt like a weight pressing down on her chest. Fatigue tugged at her limbs, and streaks of gray had begun to weave through her hair, but it was the gnawing fear for Nadine that aged her most tonight. Her fists clenched tightly, teeth grinding as she fought the rising tide of dread.
Finally, the door creaked open, and Nadine stepped inside cautiously. Cecilia's relief twisted instantly into fury. "Where have you been? Don't you know how worried I was? What's the point of having a phone if you don't answer my calls or texts?" Her voice cracked, raw with the anguish she'd held back all night. "Do you have any idea what it felt like, wondering if something terrible had happened to you?"
Nadine rolled her eyes, brushing off the concern with a casual shrug. "Mom, relax. I was just out with friends, having fun." She dropped her bag and kicked off her shoes, indifferent.
"Fun?" Cecilia's voice dropped, disbelief and hurt mingling. "Making your mother worry—that's fun? Who are these friends? And is that… alcohol I smell?" sniffing the air that wafted around her daughter.
An exasperated sigh escaped Nadine. "If you must know, it was Greg and the gang. We had some drinks, but I'm fine. Not drunk, see?" She snapped, pulling out her phone to distract herself.
"Greg? Him again?" Cecilia's frustration boiled over. "I told you to stay away from that boy!"
That was the last straw. Nadine's eyes blazed with anger. "What's your problem with Greg? He's my boyfriend, and I'm not going to avoid him, just because you told me to!" Her voice trembled with hurt and defiance.
Cecilia stared, stunned by the fire in her daughter's gaze. "What did you say?" she whispered, disbelief lacing her words.
Nadine said nothing, only glared. Cecilia's hand shot out, snatching the phone. "You'll get this back when you learn some respect."
"Ma, give it back! It's mine! Greg might call!" Nadine reached for it desperately.
"Is that all you care about? Greg? The boy who was caught shoplifting? Is that the kind of man you want?" Cecilia's voice cracked, the pain spilling through. "If your father were here…"
"BUT HE'S NOT!" Nadine's scream shattered the room. "He was never here! All I know of him is what you told me. The only time I see him is in that painting—and it's not even a real photo!" Her voice broke, tears streaming down her face. "Is he even my real father? I've searched—his name, his life, anything to prove he existed… but there's nothing. I don't know why you told me those stories, but I don't believe him. I don't believe he was ever real!"
The room fell silent. Cecilia's hands flew up, striking Nadine's cheek—a sharp, desperate sound that echoed in the stillness. Both froze, breath caught in shock.
"He may be gone," Cecilia's voice trembled, breaking under the weight of her grief, "but I will never let you disrespect him. Your father sacrificed everything to give you a future—a world for you to live in. All I have left of him are our memories and you."
Nadine clutched her cheek, eyes burning with pain and fury. Without another word, she stormed to her room, slamming and locking the door behind her.
Cecilia sank into the chair, staring at the hand that had just hurt her daughter, the first time she had ever raised a hand to her. Tears spilled freely as she whispered, "Chris, if you're still here, please… guide her back. Bring our baby home."
Mother and daughter did not speak to each other for what felt like an eternity, till one day Cecilia came home from a day of selling in the market. As soon as she heard her daughter sobbing, all kinds of alarms went off in her head. She dashed to Nadine's room and slowly opened the door, and saw her daughter on her bed crying as she ripped letters and pictures of her and Greg.
Nadine heard the door open, and when she saw her mother, she reached out to her with tear-filled eyes, "Mama!" she cried out.
Cecilia's heart broke for her child as she quickly enveloped her in a comforting embrace. "What happened, Nadine? Why are you crying? Did someone hurt you?"
"Mama…Greg and I broke up!" she said in between sobs, her embrace on her mother tightening.
Cecilia brushed her daughter's hair aside. "Why? What happened?" Her words were of concern for her daughter. No parents want to see their child's tears, and she did not want to see her daughter's heart break.
"Greg wanted me to sleep with him. I said I was not ready, and he tried to guilt me into agreeing with what he wanted. I said if he can't respect my decision, maybe we shouldn't be together." Cecilia listened to her daughter's sorrowful story. "Then this afternoon, after class, I took a detour and, I…I saw him kissing another girl!"
Cecilia knew it was not the time to say 'I told you so'; it was the moment to assure Nadine that her decision was the right one. "If he can't see how wonderful and loving you are, then it's his loss, not yours. You will find somebody…somebody like your father, who will love you unconditionally."
What Nadine said next brought Cecilia to tears. "Mama, I saw him," Nadine said, as she stared into her mother's eyes. "I saw Papa, he visited me in my dream, he danced with me, he said he's sorry that I didn't have a father-daughter dance in my debut…he told me that even if he is no longer here, He will always be with me, that he will continue to love and protect me." Nadine stared at her mother. "I'm so sorry for saying all those things about Papa…I believe you, I believe he is my father."
Ceclia hugged her child one more time, tightly. She looked up in the heavens and whispered, "Thank you…you brought our daughter back home."