The girl who cut the barbed wires
"Lahat kayo parang may barbed wires na naka-ikot sa inyo, hindi ko kayo malapitan!" This was the statement of my high school classmate back when we are having our retreat.
She is a quiet one, prefers to be alone and doesn't like to be with others-- but that was just the way I see her. We've been classmate since 3rd year high school but I never noticed her until we where in 4th year. Why? I got myself a lot of genuine friends, I'm happy, and I'm satisfied with the amount of people around me. It is selfish I know, but I think that most people would actually do the same- to only notice their close circle of friends and the others are just merely a friend to acknowledge some time. She's been the center of insults and most of my guy friends teases her, saying stuffs that anyone would feel very annoyed. But then there she is, smiling and shrugging it off like it was just a normal statement to hear everyday.
I don't remember how I first talked to her nor the place where we spend a little time, but I surely do remember the things she opened up about herself. I was shocked, yet I show no hint of it to keep my cool, that her parents got separated, she and her siblings where 'distributed' to their relatives and that she is currently living with her relative who treats her like she is a stranger and humiliates her in front of people. But the most devastating is, she never felt the essence of having a father for she only receives financial support from him.
Knowing this, does not change the fact that I never tried to completely save her from those hurtful jokes and that I never became the friend she needed the most during those times she can no longer hold on, instead I was one of those who were 'sidekicks' to those who made the jokes. It was thanks to the retreat, that I finally changed my view of her and accepted her the way she is.
With her statement, I felt so guilty, I realize how lucky I am to have my friends who are always willing to help me and that I have my family in tact. It made me cry at the same time, it made me admire her. All those time, she was hurt, but never stop her journey in life. She showed strength, though no one appreciates it, been so sincere, though everyone take her efforts for granted and lastly, she value her life and been matured accepting the challenges in life and treated her problem as a step stone to improve who she is today, unlike those stupid people who commits suicide just to escape reality.
In the face of the world, she maybe a nobody but a single person. But to me, she has a greater value than that, no words can express how valuable she is, and how much I appreciate her. Thanks to her that I was able to enlighten myself about how lucky I am, that I must not take things for granted and I must not be superficial-- to not only look on a person's physical attributes but to accept them for who they are in heart.
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