Chapter 19

It was a 2 weeks before Christmas. Her grandfather Juliano had been bedridden the last couple of days. Robin came straight home everyday from school and after work. She had finals at school and could not miss any days. The doctors came by to see him. Robin was starting to worry. Sister Anne came by to watch her grandfather today so she can attend take her last final. She will be on school break for a month after today.

She finished her last test and was about to hand it in. She heard the teacher call her name and she looked up. Standing besides her teacher was Amon. She looked at them confused. She hurried over to the front of the class and handed her test to the teacher. She saw Amon's eyes and knew something has happened. Amon grabbed her hand and proceeded to rush her out of the classroom. They got out of the classroom and he turned to her.

"Robin, I'm sorry to bring you bad news. Father Juliano passed away just 20 minutes ago." He told her

Robin's mind went blank. She swayed a little. No way she thought. Amon grabbed her and pulled her into his chest. He was comforting her and whispering sorry in her hair. She started to cry. Amon gently picked her up bridal style and carried her out to his car.

"We must go and see him before the coroner takes him away" he gently told her.

They got to her house. The church members crowded around the tiny house. When they saw Robin, they all looked at her with saddened eyes. They let her pass through. She knelt down beside his bed and held her grandfather's hand. She can still feel the warmth. She started to pray. She was feeling guilty for not being there for him. She placed his hand to her cheeks and kissed it. She tried not cry but slowly but surely, she did. She wanted him to stay with her forever. It was not fair. She had just finally started having a real relationship with her grandfather and God had taken him away. She cried over his body. Amon had gently pulled her off the body when the coroners arrived to take her Grandfather. Robin cried even more. Amon tried to comfort but at this point Robin was inconsolable. Amon himself was in mourning, but he had enough time to prepare for the loss. Robin did not; she was oblivious to her Grandpa's mortality.

Amon told the church members that Robin needed her rest and that he will watch over her. They all left. Robin sat on the couch in a stupor. She finally stopped crying. She stared blankly on the floor. Amon looked at her, she looked younger that her 18 years. Robin wore her heart on her sleeve and it was apparent that she was devastated. Amon felt helpless, nothing he can say will take the pain away.

"Robin, I will make arrangement for your grandfather's burial. Come now, you can't stay here, you will stay with me."

Robin nodded absently. She could not think, she felt numb. The only person that ever loved her was gone. The only person that would never hurt her and loved her no matter what she did. She automatically just followed him. As soon as they got in his penthouse, she went straight into her old room. It was how she had left it. She climbed in her bed and closed her eyes. She fell asleep instantly. Amon peeked in Robin's room and saw her sleeping figure.

Robin woke up and saw the room was dark already. She squinted at the clock and saw that it was midnight. She remembered her afternoon and tears started to swell up in her eyes. She sat up and started sobbing again. What will she do now? She was alone again. She was starting to live a full rich life and now she has no one to care for her... again. Everyone she ever loved had left her.

Her door had slightly opened and Amon came in. He sat down on her bed and took her in his arms. He kissed the top of her head.

"Robin, Father Juliano loved you very much." He whispered in her hair

She stopped crying and just let Amon comfort her.

She looked up at him. "He was dying, wasn't he? Did you know?" she asked him

Amon felt guilty. He never told her. "Yes, he told me the day I met you. He didn't want to spoil the limited time you two had, so he never told you" Amon confessed

'You should of told me" "How could you not tell me?" "If I only knew, I wouldn't have been so careless with time" she told him

"Robin he wanted you to have a life, it was his wish"

"I'm all alone again, with no one to love me." She said aloud

"That's not true Robin, you have me"

"No, Amon, I had you. It is better I am all alone, like in the convent... with no one to love. You told me once that you did not allow yourself to love anyone because it hurts. At the time you told me- I didn't understand but now I do" Robin laid back down in bed.

"Robin, I was wrong, don't close the world around you because you lost someone. I took that chance with you. I would rather get hurt 100 millions times over than to never experience the love I felt for you"

Robin stared at Amon. She was so hurt and confused. She just wanted to be alone.

"Amon, I need to be alone. I can't think about you and me"

Amon gave in "Ok, stay here until we bury your grandfather and then you can decide what you want to do"

The next couple of days were difficult for Robin. There was an endless line of visitors for her grandfather.The wake was a full 3 days. Everyone came from everywhere. The day of the burial was especially hard. She stood there, without a single tear any more. She had shed them all the past week.