Leanna-Chapter 219: [Epilogue 3]

[Zoe’s POV]

[Epilogue 3]

It was a year and a half since I was diagnosed with infertility, and even though we’ve searched the globe for a solution with no success, Lawrence didn’t give up.

We’ve decided to return to his home country, saying it was healthy for me to be surrounded by people who love me and staying close to nature would help me rejuvenate.

At first, I was hesitant since I didn’t know how my in-laws would react, they hadn’t exactly warmed up to me yet, and then they would know I couldn’t give birth. Again, I did my occasional breakdown. Anxiety and depression ate me, and Lawrence was panicking and at his wit’s end as well.

However, staying with my in-laws proved to be the best decision we ever made.

Lawrence already told them about my condition, and they were nothing but supportive and warm. I already gave up on myself, yet my in-laws, specifically Lawrence’s mother, hadn’t the slightest intention of giving up. She was like a version of Lawrence. Her tenacity and persistence was a whole new level.

She had been feeding me with fruits and vegetables that boost my ovulation while Lawrence’s father brought me to his gallery to paint to relieve my stress and kept me occupied. But most of the time, to their farm and ranch, were I enjoyed tending to the animals, picking fruits in the orchard, and harvesting vegetables in the farm.

Every day was full of love and warmth that I had no time to feel depressed at all. Of course, Lawrence always stayed by my side all the time. Although he occasionally flew to New York and other parts of the globe for business.

At first, I was hesitant to be apart from him. But my in-laws, my family, and friends showered me with so much support and love that I didn’t have any room for loneliness anymore.

Even still, Lawrence made sure to be back. At most, he was gone for a week.

Grandpa Luke also was nothing but loving and caring. The moment he knew my predicament, he stopped at nothing to get the best doctors to check up on me. He, too, didn’t give up and always visited me without fail each month. Besides that, my best friends, Leanna, and Estela all showered me with affection.

"Zoe dear, here, eat this papaya. Fresh from the orchard." My mother in law handed me my usual fruit bowls full of fertility-boosting nutrients.

"Thanks, mom." I smiled and chowed down all the goodies.

I was skin and bones in the past, but after staying here for two months, I got my weight back and still gaining. I also forgot the last time I was depressed and anxious.

"Dear, I have something to tell you."

I stopped chewing and meet my mother’s excited face.

"Yes?"

"Do you want to go to Mt. Iraya?"

My brows twitched, yet I remained smiling. I didn’t know why my mother in law wanted to go hiking on a mountain. But before I could ask, she continued.

"Don’t get me wrong. You won’t be on a hiking trip. Mt. Iraya is famous in our province because of the miracle that surrounds it."

". . ."

I raised an eyebrow. My mother in law laughed and squeezed my hand at my skeptical face.

"Mt. Iraya already performed many miracles. That’s why it’s so popular in our province. There’s a huge tree at the top of the mountain that not even five people could circle it with their hands. Under the tree is a tombstone carved with the name Iraya. You have to touch the stone and wish what your heart yearned the most for the miracle to happen."

". . ."

". . ."

I laughed a bit with an ’unbelievable’ painted all over my face.

"Why don’t you and Lawrence go together? After all, if science won’t work, it’s time to ask for divine help."

I stared at my mother-in-law’s smiling face before I slowly nodded.

In the past, I wouldn’t even bat an eyelid on these so-called miracles. Miracles didn’t work for my mother. It also didn’t help me in the past. All the success, all the fame, I earned it through hard work. Everything I am now was because of myself. Miracles and other intangible things were for the weak. It was not real. It’s only an illusion people clung for strength.

That’s what I was thinking in the past.

But now . . .

I didn’t care how many folklores or miracles I had to believe so I could get pregnant.

While science hard cold facts left me empty and broken, these miracles filled me with hope –– another strength to face another day.

----

Wow! My mother in law wasn’t joking when she said the place was crowded.

Even at the foot of Mt. Iraya, I could already see the long line of people going up the mountain at a steady pace.

Going to the pick of the mountain and back was approximately seven hours. But the good thing was, the path was not steep, and there were ready-made trails and stop areas to relax and rest.

"Ready?"

Lawrence held my hand as he stared at me. The adoration and love in his eyes didn’t diminish one bit. It only intensified with time, which made me feel guilty that I wanted to cry.

I avoided his eyes and lowered my head.

"Yes," I answered in a weak voice.

"Alright, let’s go. It’s going to be a long walk from here. Tell me if you wanted to rest."

I nodded, and we got in line. Although the sun was shining high above the sky, the wind, however, was refreshing and pleasant.

"You also going to wish at Mt. Iraya?"

We glanced at the senior woman who was walking alongside us. I think she’s already in her sixties, but she could still hike this mountain?

I couldn’t believe how healthy these people are!

"That’s right," I answered all smiles.

Living in here for a few months, I picked up some words enough to have at least a basic conversation with the locals.

"Ehehehe. You know about the story that surrounds this place?"

The old woman continued with one eye shut while the other was on me. The smell of her tobacco, which were dried leaves and some kind of pasted fruit, oddly made me feel relaxed.

Lawrence and I glanced at each other before I shook my head.

"Ehehehe. Some said Iraya is an angel sent from the heavens to heal people. Some say she was an enchanted who grants miracles." The old woman shook her head, barking a sneer.

"But I tell you, all of those are stories. Far from the truth."

My heart sunk.

That little hope I have left was crushed together with my future.

I grabbed Lawrence’s hand because I felt that I’d pass out at any moment. Lawrence rubbed my back when I started to hyperventilate. I was having a panic attack and was beginning to have a breakdown!

"So the miracles aren’t real?" Lawrence spat at the old woman, didn’t care if he was discourteous. He was apparently angry at the old lady for her unwarranted remarks.

The old woman laughed and shrugged, not minding Lawrence’s attitude.

"Oh, the miracles are true, alright. But all those stories about Mt. Iraya were hogos bogos! Far from the truth, I tell ya’!"

My sanity went back in a jolt, and I looked at the old lady.

"Come on." Lawrence didn’t hide the annoyance in his voice. He shot the old woman a glare before pulling my hand, wanting me to walk faster to leave the woman behind.

But I refused to budge and continued to stare at the woman, wanting to know more.

I didn’t know why.

"Zoe." Lawrence urged, yet I ignored him and walked at a steady pace with the old lady.

"Iraya is a human. Just a good imperfect human like you and me," the old lady said.

That also got Lawrence’s attention as he no longer pulled my arm and walked small steps beside me.

"How did you know?" I couldn’t help but ask in pure curiosity.

The old woman opened his other eye as she smugly smiled.

"My family had been the caretaker of this mountain. My grandfather, my father’s father. Ever since young, my Popi always told us the story of Iraya every night. Long ago, when humans in this country still lived harmoniously with nature, war erupted. Iraya was a normal girl in one of the thousand villages in the country who fled towards the mountain for refuge together with four other girls and a boy. One day, Iraya met a man, and some say they fell in love. An impossible love."

The old woman laughed as she puffed a cloud of smoke from her mouth.

"An impossible love?" I questioned and urged the old woman to continue.

"The man was a soldier from the enemy’s side. The invader of our lands and the murderer of our people."

The air got stuck in my throat like it was frozen solid.

"But that didn’t stop Iraya to care for the man. And the man, in turn, cared for her that he even turned his back from his own country and his people so he could save her when soldiers check the mountains for any survivors."

Even if I didn’t know that girl, I couldn’t help but feel pity for her. "What happened to them?" I asked.

"Dead," the old woman replied without a care.

The words she said kept ringing in my head that I forgot we were hiking the mountains.

"Iraya died saving that soldier. The soldier buried her and erected a tombstone and carved her name. Hence, at the pick of the Mt. at the bottom of the Iraya tree, you could see her tombstone."

"What happened to the guy?" I asked.

"Dead. No longer after Iraya died, the enemy soldiers pursued until they found their traitor on the ground, kneeling in front of the tombstone. After that . . ."

The old woman trailed off, shaking her head before she puffed another cloud of smoke.

"Such a tragic love ending."

"How do you know all of this?" Lawrence questioned. This time with a courteous voice. Still, he didn’t hide his skeptical expression.

"Hohohoho. Remember that one boy with them in the mountains?"

We nodded.

"That was my grandfather. He’s the only one left alive because Iraya saved him."

We walked in silence, digesting the story in our heads.

"What happened to the man?" Lawrence inquired.

"My grandfather found the man dead covered in blood, leaning on the tombstone with a smile on his face while soldiers’ corpses loitered around him. He buried the man next to Iraya. But since Popi didn’t know the soldier’s name, he didn’t erect a tombstone for him. After that, my grandfather lived in the mountains and often visited the graves. Then after a month, Popi was surprised to see a small stem sprouting near the tombstone. It was like the tree grew overnight. And after that, my grandfather vowed to take care of Mt. Iraya and the tree as a sign of devotion for the woman who saved his life."

". . ."

". . ."

"Hohoho. This is my stop youngsters. That small hut over there is my home." The old woman pointed at the shabby looking hut. Made me wonder how in the world could someone live in a place with no electricity nor internet and was secluded in the deepest parts of the mountain, away from the outside world.

Then again, it was peaceful, and I could imagine how simple a life it was that I felt envious of the old woman.

"You still have to trike some more before you reach the top of the mountain where the tombstone and the tree rest." The old woman turned and walked towards the shabby hut as her hand waved goodbye. "I wish you’ll get pregnant, young lady."

". . ."

". . ."

Did I tell her anything about my wish? I couldn’t remember.

Maybe I have without even knowing it?

"Come on." Lawrence pushed my back, urging me to move forward.

I glanced at the raggedy hut before my feet resumed walking.