I named her Nathalia

One of my most cherished childhood photos with my brother and sister, plus our fighting pets.

“Only you know what this means.”

The manggagamot, a young Masbatena in her early 30s, gave me a sinister look and pointed to what looked like an umbilical cord, which extended from the object formed out of melting the candle. I looked at my parents, perplexed and ashamed for no clear reason. What of all my secrets could match the faith healer’s interpretation of the thing: an angel, she said, but which also resembled a praying…