Faith was this morning's coffee. It brewed in Earl's dreams as he popped one eye open to look at the time. It was just before 8AM.
He reminisced a bit.
Before Elise, he would have been entrenched within piles of pillows up to noon. These days, his bed's loving embraces were forgotten.
He had breakfast and then mulled over the previous day's event.
The memories stirred him fully awake.
Earl showered quickly and hopped to the next cab of to Katipunan, (a good 40 KM away).
He had breakfast and then mulled over the previous day's event.
The memories stirred him fully awake.
Earl showered quickly and hopped to the next cab of to Katipunan, (a good 40 KM away).
He was off to a church, to meet a princess who just said "ask me again tomorrow" to a wedding proposal.
In church, the choir was singing a wonderful tune. It evoked emotions within Earl and made him wonder - "Am I really ready for this?"
They sat and quietly listened to the sermon.
By the end of it, they rode in her car. Before she started the engines, she held up her hand with fingers outstretched. On it shone a silver ring - Earl's proposal ring.
She smiled and said "Yes."
Earl took a picture of the scene with a digital camera.
--
Two months later, after visits to wedding fairs, venues and caterers, Elise said goodbye.
She was off to Florida to visit her mother.
The whole event bore a lengthy conversation between the couple.
"I need to see her one last time before I get married." She explained to Earl.
"Okay..." Earl replied. Frowning a bit.
"It's just for a few months. My US Visa was extended so I want to use it. I also want to prepare my Mom for the wedding." Elise said.
"Hmmm." Earl smiled half-heartedly.
"Anyway, my passport and tickets are all ready." Elise continued.
Earl looked at her and sighed.
"Just come back."
On the night before her flight, he stayed over and helped pack her bags.
He carried the heavy bags over and on a weighing scale to ensure it was within luggage regulations. Her grandmother was with them presenting items to bring to the States - a blouse for Elise' mom, some Filipino canned food items, and other family trinkets. These didn't help trim down the bag's weight.
Earl fell asleep. A little after 3AM, Elise woke him up. There was one last lift of the bag on the weighing scale.
When that was done, she gave him a light kiss.
And then she flew away.
Earl went home emotionally exhausted.
In church, the choir was singing a wonderful tune. It evoked emotions within Earl and made him wonder - "Am I really ready for this?"
They sat and quietly listened to the sermon.
By the end of it, they rode in her car. Before she started the engines, she held up her hand with fingers outstretched. On it shone a silver ring - Earl's proposal ring.
She smiled and said "Yes."
Earl took a picture of the scene with a digital camera.
--
Two months later, after visits to wedding fairs, venues and caterers, Elise said goodbye.
She was off to Florida to visit her mother.
The whole event bore a lengthy conversation between the couple.
"I need to see her one last time before I get married." She explained to Earl.
"Okay..." Earl replied. Frowning a bit.
"It's just for a few months. My US Visa was extended so I want to use it. I also want to prepare my Mom for the wedding." Elise said.
"Hmmm." Earl smiled half-heartedly.
"Anyway, my passport and tickets are all ready." Elise continued.
Earl looked at her and sighed.
"Just come back."
On the night before her flight, he stayed over and helped pack her bags.
He carried the heavy bags over and on a weighing scale to ensure it was within luggage regulations. Her grandmother was with them presenting items to bring to the States - a blouse for Elise' mom, some Filipino canned food items, and other family trinkets. These didn't help trim down the bag's weight.
Earl fell asleep. A little after 3AM, Elise woke him up. There was one last lift of the bag on the weighing scale.
When that was done, she gave him a light kiss.
And then she flew away.
Earl went home emotionally exhausted.
[Next: Chapter 4 - A New World]