One year later.
The Mo estate garden had changed. Hindi na siya parang isang sculpture park—hindi stiff, hindi curated para sa magazine shoot. Now, it felt lived in. May pink bicycle sa tabi ng pinto. May maliit na hammock. At may mga halaman na hindi lang ornamental—may siling labuyo, kamatis, basil, at even gumamela.
At sa isang sulok, may pink na cabinet. Inside it?25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8axcxUKJ2
Hundreds of sticky notes—curled, faded, and still alive.
Peachy sat by the patio, sipping ginger tea habang nakasuot ng maluwag na floral duster. Her feet were propped on Charlie's lap. He was reading beside her, head bent, fingers absentmindedly drawing circles on her ankle.
"You kept all of them?" tanong ni Charlie, tinutukoy ang cabinet.
"Of course," Peachy smiled. "They're not just notes. They're versions of me that survived."
Charlie closed the book and tilted his head toward her. "May bago ka bang sinulat today?"
"Tingin ka sa ilalim ng unan mo mamaya," she grinned.
Flashback: A week ago25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBEovmVsRZu
Linsay Mo had passed peacefully in her sleep. Peachy had been holding her hand.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNp0txez7cQ
Before closing her eyes for the last time, Linsay whispered, "Tell your daughter about me one day. That I saw her before I left."
At hindi na napigilan ni Peachy ang luhang bumagsak.
Back in the present, Charlie looked at her stomach—slightly round now, tiny enough to be hidden by her loose dress, but real enough to be felt.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQFvbsEuuM
He placed his hand there.
"She kicked again," he whispered.
"She likes you," Peachy teased.
"Smart girl," Charlie said, eyes softening. "Just like her mom."
"Hey, gullible lang ang mama niya," Peachy laughed. "Pero hindi bobo."
Charlie kissed her belly. "That gullibility saved my life."
Later that night, after she had fallen asleep, Charlie lifted his pillow and found her newest note.
"Dear Charlie,25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILY9YajdIK
I still get scared sometimes.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tCOsF2CZe
What if I'm too much? What if I'm still that girl who gives too much for too little?
But then I look at you, and I remember—25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsZHo1bPJU
I'm not giving to be needed.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTAjV5rP9D
I'm giving because I'm loved.
Thank you for choosing me, not to rescue you, but to walk with you.
– Peachy, who is finally, finally not sorry for dreaming."
Three months later, a baby girl was born.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8g4xuxXQ1
They named her Luna Linsay Mo—after the moon, and after the woman who believed Peachy was enough even before she did.
Peachy hung a new pink cork board above Luna's crib.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTr0RlrggbR
One sticky note at a time, her daughter would grow up knowing how words—soft, stubborn, and sticky—can hold a life together.
Final sticky note.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0pBEPxHDZ
Taped on the fridge.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6G2Vmf26g3
Faded. But still legible.
"Some people write diaries.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLbzcXCoVh
I wrote myself out of grief with sticky notes.
And now, every page, every step—25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBRJT9Qptq
I write in joy.
This is not a fairy tale.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZt5h6LgeXa
This is my real life.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBi1MMi5VMY
Gullible, yes.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNbpMf3w93
But brave.
– Peachy Chen-Mo25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGP6auQBO8
(formerly 'The Sticky Note Girl')
Now?25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcron2fCVw
Just... loved."
END OF STORY 🌸
25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtUU6hpWB2
