It’s been long 20 years since I left my home. It’s been a long time since I decided to venture in the other side of the globe and hoping to find a greener pasture. I’ve always been trying to escape from the kind of society that once belittled and demoralized me. I’ve spent these mending years trying to forget the past that had been cruel to me. Notwithstanding all of these sorrows, there is always something that leads me back home and someone who always inspires me to fulfill our dreams and to prove something to those who scorned us.
I was on my deep sleep when I was suddenly awakened by a voice reminding where we are in now. I opened my eyes with curiosity. Then I just remembered that I’m on a flight way back home. I gazed down on the window and a feeling of excitement inspirited my drowsy mind. I immediately get my media player and played the song “Home”. All of a sudden, the plane already reached the runway. I took a deep breath and tried to recover from jet lag.
Soon, the plane already reached the airport. Eager to smell the scent of my native land, I immediately fixed myself ready to get down from the plane. As I step down from the stairs, mixed emotions enveloped me- excitement because I’m back and that I will be able to see my important ‘whoevers’ and fear for I will be remembering my bitter past.
I took a ride in a taxi going to our house somewhere in Makati. I preferred not to inform my parents because I wanted to surprise them. I told the driver to just stroll me around the city and to my surprise, everything had changed. Gone were the streets where I used to play, run and mingle with different people of different walks of life. Gone were the places where I found my refuge.
As I wandered around, I saw these kids happily running one after the other. They were street children for sure. I also noticed this group of children having their empty cans and pleading the passersby to give them alms. Suddenly, I remembered my friend, my best friend. He was Ron and I missed him.
I grew up in a place where unfortunate people reside. I, at young age learned how to survive in a place of uncertainty. I lived anywhere, anywhere I can feel alright. I managed to live having only one dirty dress and shorts and a pair of rugged slippers. I depended on the alms of the compassionate passersby who don’t care how dirty I was. Yes, I was a street child then.
It was then consoling to know that there were other people trapped in similar condition. One of them was Ron. I met him when I was 6 years old. We both grew without any supervision from parents. We didn’t even know where we came from. We just know we’re there the very moment we came out this world.
The noisy city had also witnessed us ran for our lives. We were frightened from the opportunist gangsters who violently get our money from the all- day- long begging for alms. We could hardly find a place to hide away from them. I was totally terrified that even to these days; it still haunted and awakened me from sleep.
I can also clearly recall when we were running away from social workers who always tried to take us to the orphanage. We didn’t like there. It was in the street we can do anything we wanted. It’s our home and no one could take it away from us.
One cold drizzly Sunday night of December, I and Ron were preparing to go to the church to sell sampaguita garlands and rugs. As we were heading our way, I came to notice a group of men with black jackets who were following us. At the outset, I already knew they were syndicate who use street children for money. It was just unfortunate that there were only few people were in the road and sidewalks since the weather were bad.
We ran as fast as we could. And all of a sudden, a flying car came out of nowhere. I told Ron to be careful but then I was late. He was hit by the car and the driver ran away from us. I immediately rushed on and tried to carry him but I failed. His condition broke my heart into pieces. He was bathing with his own blood. While lying, he held my hands and told me to go. “Go and save your life. Do not worry about me. I will be fine. Sooner, I’ll be in God’s kingdom where no one will hurt me. Face the world and be strong. Pursue your dreams, our dreams. Take my slippers. These will lead you to where your dreams are and will take you back to where you came from.” Ron told me as his life was taken away from him.
I looked behind my back and the men were approaching. I immediately grabbed Ron’s slippers and ran without looking back.
The next thing I knew was that I was in a well- ventilated room with green paint on the wall. I was lying on a soft bed and beside me was a couple. They brought me to the hospital after bumping into their car. When I was awakened, they explained it to me and asked where my parents were. I said nothing.
After releasing me from the hospital, they brought me to their house and told me not to leave because they were adopting me since they have no child. Because of the man tragic experiences, I accepted their offer. I also asked them to help me find m friend’s dead body for him to have a proper burial. Then, we looked for him but we failed.
Because of the many ‘whoevers’ who were against to my adoptive parents decision of adopting me, we migrated to the USA. We stayed in a village somewhere in Wisconsin. There, I was sent to an exclusive school from where I learned to unleash my potentials in many fields. During those times, I discovered my talent in writing. So, I took Journalism as my course in college. I graduated with recognitions.
Now that I’m home again, a stronger Jim is ready to face the real world. I became braver. I told the taxi driver to drive me to the bridge where I and Ron used to hang around. And yes, everything had changed, but the memories still lives on.
I began to reminisce the past with my best friend. With those experiences, I was assured that I will be able to carry on. My horror had gone. I also had forgiven those who belittled and maltreated us, those eyes that were so judgmental and the like.
I still have so much to talk about my best friend but I preferred to keep it on my heart. Wherever Ron maybe, I thank him for somehow inspiring me to pursue my dreams and aspirations and for his slippers which lead me back home.
Emcee's Mindset 