Chapter Four

(Raya's POV)

Ba offers to treat us to a celebratory dinner out, but Becky politely declines, telling us that the stress of the trial, even with the positive outcome, is too much for her to handle a dinner out...even one celebrating our victory. Her victory.

Once we do get back home, Becky excuses herself to go to a part of the library where she wasn't attacked by Eret.

I still can't believe she was attacked by someone she thought to be a good person. That would be like...no, I've no use comparing anything or anyone to what my wife has gone through over the past few years.

With her parents.

With Eret.

With everything.

When she was first attacked in the 21st century, I wanted to do everything in my power to make sure the person was caught, and rightfully punished. But, Becky's former parents...they'd rather fight me than the person who actually hurt their former daughter. Or who they thought was their former daughter.

Tong and Mei are proving to be much better parents than Becky's "former parents" could ever even hope to be.

As I watch my wife head off to the library, hoping and praying to whoever was listening that no one would attack her again, I can't help but worry.

There's nothing I wouldn't do for her, and I know she'd say the same about me.

Well, except put her out of her misery. She deserves to have a full life here, with her family that actually loves and cares about her.

A few hours have passed since she went to the library, and I can't help but worry even more...usually, she'd send me notes via her lady's maid to let me know she's doing okay, or to tell me sweet nothings.

Her lady's maid is, as she should be, very good at keeping secrets and minding her own business. All she does is walk from the library to wherever my lady's maid is, to hand her the note to give to me.

But there have been no notes today.

So, I take it upon myself to be nosy and see what my wife is up to.

When I walk in to the library, the librarian points me in the direction of where my wife is.

I find her shredding bits of paper, and I can make out a few of the words: "sorry", "fault", and "mother".

I know I shouldn't assume anything or jump to any conclusions, but I wonder if she's writing a letter to Suravi.

"Hey, pretty girl."

She sniffles before wiping her eyes and turning to face me.

"Oh, hey, Raya."

"You okay?"

"...No."

I sit down next to her in the oversized chair, where she wraps the shawl around her made from scraps from her blanket. She wanted Suravi to have some comfort in the afterlife, so Becky, selflessly, buried most of her blanket with our daughter.

This was a huge step in Becky's growth, having had her blanket for so many years.

I'm so proud of her for doing that, for growing as a person, though I don't fault her for having her blanket for so long, then have her give it to our late daughter.

"Anything I can do, dep la?"

"No...thank you, though, Raya."

"Baby, can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"Why did you give your blanket to Suravi?"

"Because I didn't need it anymore...because our daughter needed it more, Raya."

"I'm so proud of you, my love. You gave up something you've had your entire life, to someone you didn't even truly meet."

"I know..."

My wife sniffles again. I put a hand on her shoulder.

"Hey. You've got this shawl, which Mei made for you. That's a big step in the right direction, honey."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Do you want to tell me what you were writing?"

"It...it was a letter to Suravi."

"It was?" I ask.

"Yeah. She deserves to be visited every now and then. Your mother, too."

"Thank you, pretty girl. It means a lot to me that you remember to include my mother. Even though I myself don't really remember her all that well."

"I'm sorry you don't remember her that well, my raindrop."

"It's not your fault, pretty girl. But, thank you, anyway."

"You're welcome."

I lean on my wife, reminiscing over the last few years we've had together...what I wouldn't give to change some of those moments for the better.

~.~

We approach the gravesite with our small family, me on one side of Becky, Tong on the other, and Ba on the other side of me.

Becky kneels down in front of my mother's grave, wanting to give attention to me and my grieving family first.

I love her even more for that, and I kneel beside her.

"Ma. Ba and I know that you're looking after Suravi, wherever you both happen to be."

I gently nudge my wife.

"I know you and I never met, Anaia, but thank you and Benja both for allowing me to marry your daughter. She's my Kumandra. And I know I am hers. I will try to be the best daughter-in-law the both of you could ever ask for. And I will protect and honor Raya..."

Becky looks at me tearfully.

"Until my last dying breath."

I smile at her and bring my wife towards me so she can lean on me.

Soon, my wife kneels down in front of our daughter's grave.

"Suravi...it's your Mama and Mommy, and the rest of your family. We love you so much, and we always will. No matter what."

"Little Suravi, though we never knew you truly, we will always be your moms, and we will always be with you, even if you can't see us or feel our presence among you."

"Suravi, it's your Grandpa Benja: although we never knew you in the outside world, we will never forget you. You are a part of us, and we are a part of you."

"Thank you, Ba." Becky says to her father-in-law.

"You're welcome, sundrop."

Once everyone has said what they wanted to say to Suravi, we leave the gravesite, and head back home.