When Nathaniel took a turn towards the hospital parking lot, he immediately heard a loud protest coming from Protacio. The old warden unexpectedly looked pale and nervous.

Maximillian, who was seated beside him gave the warden a questioning look after the man and yelled, "Oh, hell no!"

Protacio was aware that Maria was currently in the hospital, but he assumed that Nathaniel would lead them directly to their home. But oh, he was so wrong.

"Is there a problem?" the marine asked, and when he saw the uncomfortable state of the warden, it worried him immensely.

Protacio wanted to keep his secret for himself. How could he possibly tell them, that an old man like himself feared entering a hospital? But it was not due to some petty things. No, it reminded him of his wife, her death, and the pain it brought him.

"I think I'll stay here for the time being," Protacio answered without offering a proper reason behind his obvious hesitation. The three of them wanted to protest. To be honest, it was the warden who seemed too eager to meet Maria, but they supposed, he had his reasons for not wanting to enter the hospital. Deciding to let the warden have his way, they motioned to exit the vehicle.

Nathaniel was the first to step out, followed by Sheldon and Maximillian.

Before the group could enter the hospital, Nathaniel turned toward the Senator and asked for his reason. Why did he come in the first place? Why did he seem to know who prisoner 247 was?

Maximillian expected the question. He knew he couldn't continue with their quest without clearing the air between them.

He took a deep breath, cleared his throat then explained everything to both men.

After the senator shared his reasons, Nathaniel had his eyes wide with disbelief. Sheldon, on the other hand, didn't show any form of surprise or curiosity. After reading 247's letters, he deduced that the man must have met people from different walks of life. 247 was a loner, but at some point, the man must have known one person or more, like the Senator, for example. But one thing which bugged his thoughts was why the Senator deemed it important to talk to his mother when it was only Lucious who made a difference in his life. What was it for?

Sheldon wanted to pry, but reckoning it would be rude, seeing how obviously the Senator tried to keep his explanation brief, he decided against it.
***

Valerie smiled at her mother when she received Nathaniel's call, informing her that they were outside of the hospital building. She immediately notified her mother about Sheldon's arrival and how he had finally come to see her.

The smile that graced her mother's lip was beyond amazing. It was so heart-warming but wreaking at the same time. Valerie was aware that her mother and Sheldon kept a secret from her, specifically, the one that concerned the events of the night her father died. For years, she did her best to keep her mouth shut and curiosity at bay. She couldn't risk opening old wounds. Although there were days and nights when she wanted to shake her brother and ask whether the incident had something to do with his hostility towards their mother, she never dared to do so. Perhaps, somewhere inside her, she knew, it did.

Valerie jolted upwards when she heard the familiar click of the hospital room's doorknob. She glanced towards the door and when it burst open, Sheldon came into view. Her brother looked older than she remembered. The age lines on his face looked deeper than the ones she had, despite being a few years older than him. His hair looked longer too. But what truly caught Valerie's attention, was the dark bags under his eyes and the solemn expression on his face. He looked, tired and beaten. There were traces of blood on his left chest with a few bandages on his arms and face.

She ran towards her brother and stopped a few inches away, before she worriedly asked, "What happened to you?"

The worry in his sister's tone was not missed by him, but Sheldon could not recount the entire events leading to his current state at that moment; he instead hugged his sister. The old body that was shivering within his embrace made him cry.

Yes, Sheldon is aware of the pain he has given his sister. Decades had passed and yet, he acted like a stranger to the two members of his family. He lived with them for many years but rarely engaged in anything that had to do with being a family member.

Nathaniel watched how his wife wiped the tears from her brother's eyes. He then swivelled his sight around the room, and there on the bed, silently staring at her two children, sat Maria.

The tired look in her eyes was a complete contrast to the smile that was painted on her face. The old woman looked like she hadn't just survived a vicious heart attack, or was never at the brink of death, to begin with. There was a serene atmosphere that surrounded her visage. The old marine smiled, no wonder 247 loved the woman so much, he thought to himself. And as Nathaniel gazed at the widening of the smile on the old woman's face, he couldn't help but whisper 247; Maria finally found peace.

Maximillian peered through the door. His frame was completely hidden behind Nathaniel. He wanted to make himself known, but after he saw that the two siblings were engaged in an emotional scene, he decided to step back.

After two minutes, both Sheldon and Valerie released each other from the long hug. Valerie then walked up to her husband, kissed him, and whispered thank you to his ears.

Nathaniel smiled and hugged his wife while saying, "You know I will never fail you."

It was when Nathaniel stepped to the side that Valerie saw a familiar-looking old man standing near the door of the hospital room. She frowned, and when the identity of the man finally reached her tired mind-she immediately gasped and yelled, "Oh my god, your Senator Maximillian Gorte!"

Maximillian immediately entered the room; He was aware of the curious glances that were constantly thrown by the passers-by when he was waiting outside. Some of them immediately recognized him and offered respectful greetings while others stopped and spoke with him.

After the Senator settled himself inside the room. Sheldon began to recount what happened in San Fernando Prison, not failing to mention the contents of the letters that he had read and the tale relayed to him by Oscar and the name Lucious Dualti.

After two hours, Maria, and everyone else inside the room asked, "Where is the necklace?"

Sheldon slowly pulled it out of his pocket. He had taken the necklace off the night they slept in the Inn and shoved it into his pants pocket to keep it safe.

Valerie took the necklace from Sheldon and gave it to her mother.

Maximillian watched silently as the old woman inspected the necklace. Please remember who he was, he prayed in silence.

After two minutes, Maria shook her head and whispered. "I don't know whom this necklace belonged to. Even if it was owned by a former classmate of mine, it has been years. I can't remember."

Sheldon stood from his chair and said, "It has the initials BT on it, can't you remember anyone by that name?"

Maria answered by shaking her head from side to side.

Sheldon felt his heart sink. He thought it would be nice if his mother knew who the man was, before asking her to read the letters.

The letters, Sheldon suddenly thought to himself. He pulled out the pieces of paper from his jacket, carefully laid them beside Maria on the bed, and murmured, "Maybe these can help you remember him."

After a few minutes, Valerie suggested sending Sheldon and Nathaniel home to get themselves cleaned while she and her mother read through the letters. The marine agreed, taking Sheldon and Maximillian with him.

But before any of them could step out of the room, Maria asked why the Senator was there, but the man answered with, "It is something that only you and I can talk about, privately."

"Let's discuss it when we return," Maximillian added before turning to Nathaniel.

The marine bowed his head and opened the door for the Senator, then took both men back to the car, where they found Protacio smiling with a stick of cigarette between his lips.
***

"Mom, are you sure you want to know what's inside these letters? He killed Dad, right?"

Valerie was shocked when a single tear suddenly fell off her mother's eye. She immediately wiped her mother's face and shook her head after saying, "I don't think this is a good idea." But her mother grabbed her arm and whispered, "I want to know everything."

Valerie began reading the letters out loud, and as she did so, her heart and head couldn't find the courage not to cry for the man and her mother. "He loved me that much?" Maria questioned before her heart monitor released a dangerous tone. Maria gasped as her body began to slump back on the hospital bed. A name came flooding amidst her tired mind, Benjamin Tobias.

The nurses and doctor had to physically drag Valerie out of the room when the woman refused to leave her mother's side. Defeated, Valerie sat on a bench and began to read one of the four remaining letters.
***

Dear Maria,

How are you love? Are you well? I'm not. I feel weak and unable to move the same way as I did before. I can't even read properly anymore. I have given up visiting the library. Even writing these letters has become difficult. But please know that I don't deem writing these letters as a burden, even if it is tedious to write them, I must do it.

These letters are my only solace. These printed words are my method to latch on to awareness and sanity.

I love you, Maria. I love you so much.

I want you to know that I tried to kidnap your husband on the eve of December 29, 1969, but I failed. Do you want to know why?

I planned to intercept his car before he could come home, but a police vehicle came between his car and mine. I had no choice but to follow him home. It was midnight, and I was certain that I could shove him inside my worn-out vehicle when he got to the front of your house. But I didn't expect to see you sitting in the yard, waiting for him to come home. You smiled brightly when he stepped out of the car. Maria, how could you still love him despite everything? How could you have endured all of it? He wanted you out! He wanted a divorce!

Why? How Maria?

What kind of heart do you possess? How tough was that thing beating inside of you? How could I kill him, when he still brought you so much joy and happiness?
***

Valerie tried desperately to read the rest of the letter, but the blood smeared on the paper made it impossible. She sighed and ran a hand over her wrinkled face.

"Lucious Dualti, just who the hell were you? she thought to herself.