Punzi's Corner Blog

Dearest Nico,

Let me be the first to greet you a very Happy Second Birthday. I have watched and taken care of you since day zero. I have watched you grow, so far, into a very curious, healthy and intelligent boy. You have come so far and for that, I am so proud of you.

More than the small and intimate party you will have, the gifts you will receive today (one of which you already got and rode...), the cheers and greetings coming to you and due you today, I wish you a healthy and normal life considering the peculiar situation we are in.

You may not understand this today, but someday you may come across this blog and this particular entry I have written to you. Much as I want to explain our situation, how you may be curious later on, how you may ask where is your mother and why you don't have one by your side, I cannot because I, too, am still in the process of asking the same question.

I really do hope I can fill the gap that your mother has left, for both you and Bea. At least in Bea's case, she experienced a mother who loves her and cares for her for about four years. You see, we left your mother when you were a mere four months old but she was never a mother to you from the start anyway. And considering that I took care of you from the very start, with your mother's negligible to non-existent support, you really don't have a concept of a mother.

How I wish I can be a mother to you at the same time. I will try. But there are things only mothers can do. And for that, I apologize for this is not your fault.

More than the material gift I will provide you now and those I will provide your subsequent birthdays, I give you the gift of a promise.

And this promise I give to Bea as well.

I promise I will never put my own happiness ahead of yours.

As far as I am concerned, I lost my gamble on love and marriage and I choose to walk away when I still have love to give. And I choose to just give it all to both of you now.

I will never make any decision, on the slim change that the gamble presents itself again, based only on my happiness. As a matter of fact, it will still only be your happiness I will seek before my own in making such a gamble.

I will devote all my energies to raise you and your sister the best way I know how. And with the help of your family, your grandfather and grandmother, your aunt and uncle and your cousins, and of course Almighty God, I do hope I succeed. For both of your sakes.

Happy Birthday Nico! Bea and I love you very much.

Love,

Daddy