When Lightning Strikes

LORELEI

Death is never terrifying, but I used to wonder all the time about what comes after it. Will it be an endless pitch-black void that traps our souls forever, with our consciousness just vanishing into it? Where does it go? Or do we become ghosts that haunt the earth until we outlive the very lives we left behind?

I've always been fond of fantasy and fairytale books. Hindi ko na masiyadong maalala but my mother used to tell bedtime stories of the great Asgardian Empire. She read it from a thick, hardbound, green book with the title 'Love and Thunder' engraved in gold colors.

It tells the enchanting story of Emeraude, a princess from the western land of the empire, embarking on a journey to defeat the dark forces with the help of the two princes of Asgard—Thor and Loki.

"Mommy, tell me more, tell me more!" I would always say in a small voice whenever she closed the book.

She would laugh softly and pat my head. "That's a story for another night, Lori."

Then, she'd tuck me into the blanket and sing me a lullaby until I fell asleep. However, my mom passed away due to an incurable illness, and my daddy never really explained it seriously to me back then. Sinabi niya lang that she had to heal in the hospital, assuring me that she would be healthy and walking freely in no time.

Pero hindi na siya gumaling at hindi na siya muling nag kwento sa akin. When she passed away, all her belongings were kept in a big room at the end of the manor. But ever since then, hindi ko na muling mahanap pa ang librong iyon.

I'm twenty five now and I already finished a bachelor's and master's degree in business. I took over my father's company, with the help of his executive secretary. I kept searching for copies of that book everywhere, online shops man o sa bookstores. Kahit gaano kaliit na bookstore, hindi ko pinalipas.

"Sino ba ang author nung sinasabi mong libro, ma'am?" Tanong sa akin ng babaeng nagbebenta ng mga lumang libro. Nagbabaka sakali akong may copy siya no'n.

Umiling ako, hindi ko pala alam kung sino ang author ng librong 'yon. Was I too young to remember who or sad'yang wala lang talagang pen name or pangalan ng author ang nakalagay sa cover page?

"Nako, ma'am," malungkot niyang saad habang inaarrange ang mga naka-pile up na libro. "Mahirap mahanap 'yan, madaming magkakaparehas din ang title. 'Tsaka baka limited edition din 'yun, ma'am."

I nodded in defeat at tinignan ang ibang mga libro sa store na ito. Sinubukan kong hanapin iyon sa iba pang mga bookstore pero pare-pareho lang ang kanilang mga sinabi, na baka limited edition daw. Hindi rin nakatulong na hindi ko alam kung sino ang author.

I desperately typed the words 'Love and Thunder green book' on the google tab, habang naka-upo ako sa swivel chair ng aking opisina. To my disappointment, wala talagang lumalabas. Google ba 'to? Bakit ni isang information wala?

Halos isang oras akong nag scroll at umabot na ko sa pinaka huling result nang may nag pop up na notification galing sa messenger. It was from my secretary, na inutusan kong hanapan din ako ng copy ng book na 'yon.

She sent me a photo of a large green book, adorned with golden letters that spelled 'Love and Thunder.' It looked rather antique, pero it's exactly how I remembered it. I immediately called her and she picked up after a second.

"Good work, Rosie. Saan mo nahanap ang copy na 'yan?" I excitedly said.

Rosie briefly paused before answering me. "I found it on a reddit post, ma'am. It was posted seven years ago by a book collector. Sinubukan kong i-message ang nag post, swerte at active pa siya. I asked if he's selling it, and he said he's not the owner."