The old woman stirred on her bed and immediately snapped her eyes open. Darkness was what greeted her. Although Maria was aware that she was in the hospital due to her heart condition, she still found it painful to wake up inside a white-painted room. Every night she struggled futilely, willing all the memories of her abuse away, but it had become a part of her. It was a mark, a stain that could never be erased.

Pain was all Maria ever envisioned in front of her after her innocence was taken. Every night she was bombarded with nightmares that contained vivid images of what that man did to her. Her nightly slumber filled with butterflies and wildflowers turned into a pool of crimson and never-ending screams. Her surroundings always smelt of her rapist's sweat and bodily fluids.

She thought her life would eventually return to normal, but after she found out about her pregnancy, Maria fell apart. Her mother did everything to preserve what little dignity she had left, but rumors immediately spread before they could leave the town of San Ignacio. In a final act of courage, Maria decided to stay in town and faced everyone.

At first people around town were nice and caring, but when her pregnancy was known, they began to speculate and eventually called her a tramp who deserved what happened. People pitied her, others mocked her, men stayed away from her, and friends left her side.

She never understood why it happened to her. She was not a loose girl. She always did things right and never dared to offend anyone. She listened whenever she was told to stay put and ran when commanded to do so. Why did it have to be her?

Maria swivelled her gaze around the hospital room. No one was there. The ticking sound of the clock hanging on her right made her check the time, it showed nine. Her children and the visitors must have left to get something to eat. She was about to lay back on the bed when the pile of letters on her bedside table caught her attention.

Benjie, that boy was the silent kid at the back of the class. The old woman sighed. She can't recall anything other than him being the silent boy. She never played with him or spoke to him. He was a shy kid.

Maria frowned; she couldn't even remember what happened to him. He just disappeared.

Why did he disappear again? Maria thought to herself. She closed her eyes and tried to remember.

After five minutes, the old woman gave up. Nothing, everything was blank. However, it is not only Benjie's memory that was blurry. A lot of things had become blurry after her assault.

The letter mentioned a robbery, but why can't she remember it? Was there a robbery during her youth in San Ignacio?

Maria, unable to understand why, took the letters from the bedside table and began to re-read the letters Valerie had read to her, the day before.

After a few minutes, Maria bent her head and tears unashamedly fell from her eyes. It has been a long time since she cried, not because of pain but of happiness.

She had her fair share of vicious men but never had a sinister man act in violence to protect her. Is she happy? Yes, she is, it may be wrong of her to feel so, but her whole life was nothing but pain, and if it were not for her kids, Maria would have believed she was dancing alive in the Isles of hell.

The woman took a deep breath, smiled to herself, and then went on to read one of the three unread letters.
***

Dear Maria,

I spent a whole day inside the infirmary. Well, I'm still inside the infirmary. I feel weak and my fingers can barely hold on to my pen, but I need to write this down.

Allow me to pen down the events of February 9, 1970. I know this is inappropriate, but I want you to know everything.

It was a Monday morning. For every person on earth, it was a normal day. Everyone must have woken up with their loved one ready to start a new day at work.

That morning, I ate cereal for breakfast. Took a shower, then went on to sharpen my knife. I was still filled with hesitation, but I knew I couldn't let your husband breathe any longer than he should, especially after the events of the day before.

You know what I'm talking about right? He wanted to have custody of both kids, especially Valerie. He had sinister plans for her. You felt that too, didn't you? That's why you became agitated and confused. You were angry but had no means to solve the problem.
***

Maria stopped reading when her eyes began to blur with the sudden rush of pain in her chest. Her tears fell like they were competing with each other. Of course, she remembers. Her so-called husband wanted to give Valerie to his friend as collateral for their business venture. A man named Antonio Soliven. He was her husband's long-time friend. Her husband was planning to build his own hospital and Antonio agreed to fund the building in exchange for Valerie.

The old woman sighed before forcing herself to remember the events of the day before her husband's death.

Antonio arrived at their house in the early morning of February 8, 1970. Maria was curious but her husband commanded her to go to the kitchen and prepare food for their visitor.

She felt like something was off. First, her husband came home and spent the night there. A thing which he seldom did anymore, and the eye contact both men gave each other, along with how Antonio's gaze locked on Valerie's photo, sent Maria's heart into chaos. She could tell by how both men smiled that something was about to happen.

She pretended like she didn't care and went on to prepare the food her husband asked for, and after, she heard it. Her husband promised her daughter to Antonio.

The deal was that Antonio would give the check after Valerie was settled inside his house. Maria did not know what came over her, but she walked over to the kitchen drawer and pulled out the biggest knife she could find, and after, she stabbed their kitchen counter, over, and over.

"Mom?"

The sudden arrival of Valerie inside her hospital room woke Maria from her recollection. She gazed at her daughter and asked, "What is it?"

"Are you alright? Nathaniel and I got you some food. Would you like to have it now?" her daughter asked.

Maria kept her eyes on her daughter. Oh, how close she was to having walked the same path as me, Maria thought to herself. She bobbed her head and answered, "Yes, leave it on the table."

"Would it be okay if I leave you for a while, It will only take a few minutes. Nat wanted to get sushi." Valerie hesitantly asked.

Maria gave her daughter a warm smile before she said, "Go ahead, I'll be fine."

After Valerie left the room, Maria went back to reading the rest of the letter.

***

(Letter Continuation)

I planned to capture your husband after his shift, so I waited for him in front of the hospital building.

I was certain that he would have his lunch at Dela Cortor restaurant because it was a Monday, but I didn't expect your arrival at his workplace. Why were you there Maria? You never once visited him at work, or should I say, he never allowed you to visit him.

Merry Christmas Maria, I'm sorry I wasn't able to finish the letter. I suddenly experienced a painful chest constriction while I was writing and It made me pass out. I will continue in the next letter.

Love Forever

Your Silent Knight.