Dear Joe,

Just call me Angel. I’m a 23 year-old nurse working in a reputable hospital in Quezon City. My story began two years ago when I met James who was then assisting my professor for our thesis defense. He was one year my senior, a school heartthrob, and a varsity player in basketball who managed to be at the top of his class. He was everything most women would ask for - the typical tall, dark and handsome kind. He started courting me a few weeks after we met until we became intimate and one thing led to another. We lived together in a dormitory near our school and it didn’t take long before I got pregnant. James talked to my parents regarding my situation and we got married before I gave birth to a very beautiful baby girl whom we named Patricia Ghaile. After I had given birth, James decided to pursue his career in their province in Cagayan Valley where their family had a small hospital. Our lives went on just fine despite the distance that separated us. Unfortunately, things went bad with their business and they were forced to sell it. I went to the province to assist James but our relationship had been affected by their misfortune and he decided to leave for Saudi Arabia. I had to help him with the finances so I also worked in a hospital. It was terribly difficult being away from each other and eventually, his calls and letters became fewer. I tried a thousand times to keep in touch with him but to no avail.

Some of my friends told me that he might be seeing another girl and that this is the usual case when one works abroad. I could not believe that this was happening to me but as they say, life must go on. I tried to survive without James and this was the time I met Aaron who was one of the new intern doctors in the unit where I was working. Aaron was sweet and compassionate. We went on a date and I told him about James. He was my knight in shining armor who saved me from my dilemma. We easily became a couple and I felt like a princess in his arms. But my fairy tale was too good to be a story of forever. Aaron didn’t tell me that he had a fiancée working in Canada who was coming back to Manila to marry him. I was shocked and devastated when Aaron told me about their plans. It was more painful this time because the wounds in my heart were just starting to heal and here comes another blow. Have I sinned enough to be in this kind of predicament or is this my destiny? I was still seeking the answers when I found out that I was carrying Aaron’s child. It’s been four months since I confirmed that I was pregnant and just a week ago I received an unexpected call from James. He was crying as he confessed to me of his illicit affair. He was being bothered by his conscience and he wanted to go back and reconcile with me. I just uttered “yes, come back” without thinking what lies ahead. He will be arriving on the third week of December and I am about to give birth to Aaron’s child on the last week of January next year. I am very confused Joe. Should I tell Aaron about my situation? How about James? I don’t know whom to turn to. I hope you can help me with my problem. Thank you Joe and more power to you.

Sincerely, Sweet Angel