Dear Diary,
Today was supposed to be a day of anticipation, with Uncle Felipe's visit just around the corner. But instead, it turned into a day of unexpected twists and turns. I woke up feeling unwell, my body aching and my head pounding with fever. Mama took one look at me and immediately ordered me back to bed.
I spent the day drifting in and out of sleep, my dreams filled with blurry images of the terraces and the forest. Every muscle in my body felt heavy, as if weighed down by invisible burdens. Mama and my siblings took turns checking on me, bringing me water and cool cloths for my forehead. Their care and concern warmed my heart, even as my body shivered with fever.
In the late afternoon, just as the sun was beginning to set, there was a knock on the door. I struggled to sit up, my head spinning, as Mama went to answer it. To my surprise, it was Lito standing in the doorway, a worried expression on his face.
"I heard you were sick," he said, stepping inside. "I came to see how you're doing."
I tried to muster a smile, but it came out as more of a grimace. "I'm not feeling too great," I admitted, my voice weak.
Without hesitation, Lito came over to sit beside me on the bed. He reached out and brushed the hair away from my forehead, his touch gentle and comforting. "You're burning up," he said, his brow furrowed with concern.
"I'll be okay," I insisted, though I'm not sure if I believed it myself.
Lito stayed with me for the rest of the evening, keeping me company as the darkness fell outside. He talked to me in soothing tones, telling me stories of his own childhood adventures and sharing his hopes for the future. There was something comforting about his presence, something that made me feel safe and cared for.
As the night wore on, I found myself drifting off to sleep, lulled by Lito's voice and the rhythmic sound of his breathing. In that moment, lying there in bed with him by my side, I realized something important—I love Lito. I've loved him for as long as I can remember, but today, as he sat with me, tending to my needs without hesitation, that love grew stronger than ever before.
The day after tomorrow is the harvest festival, a day of celebration and joy. And the day after that is when Lito leaves for the capital. I've decided that I'll confess my feelings to him at the harvest festival, before it's too late. I don't want to spend another moment wondering what could have been. Life is too short for regrets.
But for now, I'll focus on getting better, on finding the strength to face whatever tomorrow brings. With Lito by my side, I know I can overcome anything.
Until tomorrow, Diary.
Lia