Esmeralda

She was a gem, as her name implied. She had a face of a fairy made bright by a smile that twinkled like stars. Her skin was as white and smooth as the finest milk. Her hair was dark and luxurious as that of the jet-black midnight sky. She was beautiful, the kind that made boys turn her way. On top of that, she manifested a heart of an angel. She was kind, exceptionally kind. She had sweet thoughts, caring hands and a contagious cheerfulness that would not let you go until you are totally infected. She was just a teen, and forever a teen, but she stood out from the usual. She was a rare personality. She was unforgettable.

Nine years had passed since the day she breathed out her soul. For most of us, it was an untimely goodbye. Instant, 'though not unexpected. It was too early and almost too unfair. It was as if she was robbed of a future, of a life, that she deserves. It was as if she was just about to rise and soar, then she was pulled down to die. For people who loved her, it was too painful, too unjust to be acceptable. Her flight broke too many believing hearts, including mine.

What the human eyes could see is only the here and now. If God would let us look beyond, we would surely understand why she was taken away from us that way. When she left, we unwillingly bade our good-byes as we cried our hearts out. Today, most of us had forgotten how she once was to us. All of us had moved on. Life goes on, we say.

But it's sometimes good to remember, to reminisce and to recall. Sometimes it's healthy to be reminded. Once upon a time, a young, beautiful girl touched our lives and made a difference. She was a gem, as her name implied.

For

Esmeralda Bermejo Bacolot

December 26, 1984-July 10, 2002