There was once an old lady who stood by the sea, her eyes filled with loneliness as she stared at the endless horizon. A few seconds passed, she threw a large vial to the sea hoping someone might find it and read the story enclosed in it. Years passed, yet the vial remained floating into the wide and endless ocean. Soon, the old lady died unknowing if her vial was found or not.
Luckily, two years after her death, a young man found the vial stuck in his net. Moved by his curiosity, he opened it and started reading the story written in the thick, old pages. It went like this…
“My name is Maria. I am a barrio lass — a farmer’s daughter to be exact. Though at a young age, I had high ambitions: to become rich and get out from this poverty I am stucked in. I wanted to go to school then, but my parents couldn’t afford it since we were many in the family. I only reached grade six in elementary. Yes, I am an ignorant, a naive.
But just like a normal teenager, I fell in love with a barrio lad, just like me. I tried so hard to suppress that feeling for he will never be the answer to my miserable life. But as they say, you could fight love like hell for a lifetime, but you would never, ever win.
And so, we got together. Of course, I wouldn’t deny that I was so happy being with him. I temporarily forgot all about my ambitions. I felt contented just seeing him day by day. Nothing else mattered… until my younger sibling got sick. We had no money to pay for the hospital so we resorted to a quack doctor. Neither of us knew that the illness was serious. Days passed, my younger sibling died.
That was the time my ambition came flashing back in my mind. I said to myself, “If only I was rich, he would not die. I could have sent him to a hospital. The doctors could have saved him.” So I made a tough decision - perhaps the toughest decision in my life. With my beauty, I went with a friend to work in Japan. I became deaf with my parents’ pleadings not to go. I only thought of the swarming flies of poverty, ready to devour us. My heart was crushed when I finally bid goodbye to my boyfriend. He did try to stop me, especially upon learning that I was pregnant, but to no avail. I got rid of the child and his father. I left all of them for my ambition. I never even looked back. One mistake that changed my life forever…
Indeed, I became successful. I sent money to my family. I was able to give them a nice house, fabulous dresses, delicious foods; but I admit I wasn’t able to give them love and care. I got so busy that time came I almost lost communications with them. I never dared to go homefor fear of what I might see there.
But time came my beauty failed. I had no choice but to go back home. I was no longer of any use since my age grew and grew. Young ones came sprouting replacing us in the scene.
When I finally reached home, a lot of things have changed. Yes, I had money, but not peace. People talked behind my back. Most claimed I was a whore. This deeply hurt me. The worse was when I learned my boyfriend finally got married to another woman. Of course I didn’t expect him to stay single after so many years. But upon learning the truth straight from him, the intensity shocked me. There were countless nights when I would just sit and cry for the things I’ve done. I wanted to rue then, but what good would it bring? It would only push me to the dark pit of insecurity and self-pity. One day, I tried to move on and ignore the pain.
But the miseries went on. I hate to admit it, but I realized I was empty inside. I was jealous seeing my siblings having a family they could call their own. I wanted to have my own children, who will take care of me, but I let the chance slip right in my fingers. The only person I love, and the fruit of that love, is no longer mine.
Regretful as I was, I came up with this idea of writing my story hoping someone might find it and learn some lessons in it. Family and love are priceless things. Yes, money may give happiness but it would never last. I’m not saying one doesn’t need money; but I’m saying that sometimes, you just got to know your priorities. There are certain things that money can’t buy. It’s so hard to live alone. One must listen to that tiny voice in our hearts before making tough decisions. I do hope that young people will realize this fact before they make big mistakes in life. I pray that they wouldn’t fall flat to their faces, just like the way I did. Never let realization dawn on you when it’s already too late and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
The young man, with tears running down his cheeks, strucked and moved by the emotions the story brought, threw the vial back to the sea. He knew that many people still need to know her story. He hoped that for those who have read, and will soon read it, will remember the lessons in it by heart.
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