the folded earth

He knew I was worried, and the night before he left,he told me in a voice hardly more than a murmur about the route: he said,

And you’ll have lost this waist. You'll

be thin and starved.

By the time you’re home you’ll have a beard again, like every other time.

I was so scared for his life. That maybe, I won't ever get to see him again. I'll miss his gray hair, the bump on his nose;

I'll surely miss him. Wehave differences that challenged our love, but I love him with all my heart.

KATE PERLIN M. PIEDAD

One night, Michael told me that he will go trekking in Roopkund, near the Himalayas. I was so worried, but I knew how great his love for the mountains is. His need for the mountains was as powerful as his need for me.

Oh, Michael! Please be safe. I'll wait for you, no matter what happens.

Michael and I are happily married despite our cultural differences

I was too scared for Michael. What if something bad happens to him? The lake contains the bones and skulls of people who died there. What if he'll end up like them? I wanted to stop him, but I knew it was his dream. Climbing mountains is his passion.

The trek is not really difficult,it only sounded as if it was.

After three days, my landlord told me that they found Michael's body. He had a broken ankle and his face

was unrecognizable, burned black by the cold. He almost made it to the lake.

How unfortunate, my love. I'll look forward to the day that our paths

would cross again.

I love you, Maya.

Forever and always.