Chapter 57

I FELT the worst every after my meetings with Mr. Vera. Madalas kaming mag meet, Ialo na sa unang isang linggo dahil madali raw makuha ang mga impormasyon at pareparehong importante iyon.

I looked at a picture of my father when he was younger, and Ashley Ortega, my mother's half sister.

"So Miss Ashley is already abroad for years now..." si Mr. Vera.

Tumango ako. Alam ko iyon. She had a mental illness. Alam kong ipinasok siya sa isang mental institution to cope up with it. She got better years after I was born. Kaunti lang ang alaala ko sa kanya dahil bukod sa mukhang isang beses ko lang siyang na-meet, agad din siyang umalis ng bansa nang naka recover.

The next photograph is of Ashley Ortega and a child in her checkered powder blue jumper.

"This is La Fiona Suarez" si Mr. Vera at nagpakita pa ng ibang pictures ni Fiona na parehong itsura at suot sa batang nakahawak kamay ni Ashley Ortega.

"This photo was taken at Sunrise Children's Home and Orphanage."

I swallowed hard and looked at