My mother sold me for 5,000 pesos to a single old man, I thought my life would be hell from now on. Who would have thought that as soon as I entered the bridal chamber, a truth shocked me.

My name is Marites, I am only 20 years old this year. My hometown is in a poor rural area of ​​Pampanga province. My father died early, my mother – Aling Rosa – struggled to raise three children by herself. But poverty and debt kept haunting the family. My mother was almost exhausted, her eyes were deep with worry.

One day, a woman from the village came to my house and told my mother that there was an old single man in San Fernando town who needed someone to take care of him. If I agreed, he would give my mother 5,000 pesos – a seemingly small amount, but for our family at that time, it was a fortune to pay off the debt and take care of my two younger siblings.

I was speechless. I cried and screamed, not believing that my mother would make such a decision. I felt like I was being sold. But when I saw my mother’s desperate eyes, her trembling hands hiding her tears, I no longer had the courage to blame her. I just silently nodded, carrying with me endless resentment.

The wedding took place hastily and simply. The villagers said I was lucky to have a “supporter”, but in my heart I only felt gloomy. He was several decades older than me, with gray hair and a wrinkled face. I thought my life from now on would be in hell – being the wife of a strange old man, without love, without hope.

The wedding night and the unexpected truth

On the wedding night, I entered the room trembling. But before my eyes the room was not gloomy. On the table was a vase of fresh flowers, next to it was a book marked with a small piece of paper. He sat by the bed, his eyes gentle, without any greed or calculation as I had imagined.

Seeing my fear, he smiled softly:
“Don’t be afraid. I didn’t marry you to torture or take over. I just want to give you a name, a home. I’ve lived a lonely life, now I just want someone to keep me company. You don’t have to be afraid, I’m not forcing anything.”

I was stunned. He didn’t call me “wife”, but called me “daughter”.

Then I learned the truth: his name was Mang Ernesto, he used to have a daughter, but she died in an accident many years ago. Since then, he lived a private life, only quietly doing charity work, helping the poor. When he learned about my family’s situation, he couldn’t bear to ignore it. “Buying” me was just a way to legitimize it, so that I could openly enter his house, avoiding gossip.

A rare peaceful day

Day by day, I gradually realized that he treated me with all kindness. He took care of me by taking extra vocational training, even secretly giving me money to send home to help my mother raise my siblings. He taught me to read, taught me how to live a kind life, to look at life not only through my own pain.

Three years later, thanks to his help, I finished my intermediate nursing course at a school in Manila. I could go to work, take care of myself and help my mother raise my two siblings. He still lived with me, like a kind father.

One afternoon, Mang Ernesto gave me a savings book with my name on it. He smiled:
“From now on, you can freely seek your own happiness. I just hope you see me as a father. That is enough.”

I burst into tears and hugged him. I never thought that from a desperate turning point, I would find such a sacred feeling.

Strange fate

Now, when I think back, I no longer call it “a mother selling her child”, but consider it a strange arrangement of fate. It is thanks to my mother’s sacrifice, thanks to the kindness of that gentle old man, that I have today – a peaceful day, filled with love.

There are times when we think life is full of darkness. But if we are patient enough to walk through, who knows, we might see a door open – leading to light and love

Part 2 – The Day I Got to Wear a Wedding Dress for Love

After three years of studying and working, I officially became a nurse at a large hospital in Manila. My life changed every day: busy, hard but meaningful. I was able to send money to my mother and take care of my siblings’ education.

Mang Ernesto was still by my side like a father, quietly proud when he saw me in my white blouse. He often said:
“Marites, you have gone further than you ever thought. I just need to see you smile.”

But deep down, I still thought love was too far away for me. Until one day…

The young man in the emergency room

That day, the hospital received a traffic accident. The young man was injured in the arm, his face was covered in dust but his eyes were bright. I was in charge of first aid. He still tried to smile, joking:
“This must be a strange way for me to meet an angel in white.”

I blushed and quickly brushed it off, but my heart was pounding. His name was Daniel, a civil engineer in Quezon City. After that day, Daniel often visited the hospital, not because of his injuries – but because he wanted to see me.

He was patient, gentle, and absolutely respectful of my past. When I told him my life story, he just held my hand and said:

“You are not a burden. You are a gift of fate that I was lucky to find.”

Mang Ernesto – the witness father

My love for Daniel blossomed naturally like that. When I brought him home to introduce him to Mang Ernesto, he just silently looked at Daniel for a long time, then nodded and smiled.

“I just hope that someone will love and protect you when I am no longer here. If you can do that, then I am at ease.”

I saw his eyes redden. That man who had been quiet all his life, now quietly wiped the corners of his eyes when he saw Daniel and I holding hands.

Happy Wedding Day

Two years later, Daniel proposed to me. This time, I wore a wedding dress with a fluttering heart, no longer gloomy and scared like before. The ceremony took place in a small church in Manila, witnessed by my mother, my siblings, and Mang Ernesto.

He sat in the front row, his hands trembling as he held a small bouquet of flowers. When I walked into the altar, he stood up, his eyes filled with pride.

When the priest asked:
“Who gives this woman to be married to this man?”

Mang Ernesto stepped forward, took my hand, placed it in Daniel’s, and said firmly:
“I do. She is my daughter.”

My tears fell. I hugged him tightly before walking towards Daniel.

A New Beginning

After the ceremony, Mang Ernesto whispered in my ear:
“Marites, today you are truly wearing a wedding dress for love. I have waited for this day for years. Now I am at peace.”

He smiled, the most gentle smile I have ever seen.

That day, I understood that although life had thrown me into despair, it had also given me two wonderful men: a father who was not related by blood but loved me with all his heart, and a husband who loved me with the most sincere love.

Now, looking back, I know for sure: there were twists and turns that seemed like hell, but opened the path to eternal happiness.