Tittle: The Family

Family is the first thing we have in our life. I remembered the days when I was eight years old. I had once a complete and loving family. A loving mother to take care of me all the time. A father who is protective of us and did everything to keep us safe. A younger brother who is naughty but he also made me happy and me as the eldest daughter of my parents. I was contented and happy being with them, we were inseparable for the years that have past. Whenever my family had a problem back then my parents would do everything they can to fix it. As quoted by Burmese Proverb “In time of test, family is best.” But who am I kidding with this quote, as I grew up I realized that my family is not like the others. Both of my parents are struggling on how we would be able to survive on our daily life.

At age of nine, my parents couldn’t find a better job so we were struggling to eat at least three times a day, with my brother who is still being fed with a bottled milk that time. My mother had no choice back then, so she sent me to my grandparents saying “Ate doon ka muna sakanila lolo at lola mo ha, promise kukunin ka namin pag maayos na lahat.” At that moment I was confused. The day that she sent me to my grandparents, that’s the time I realized the truth. My mom only wanted me to have a life where I can eat three times in a day or more, and so I wouldn’t struggle that much anymore. In that days when I was in my grandparents house, there is no minute that I couldn’t miss my family so much. I was really hoping that they would get me back already. That two years was so long for me, I also visited my parents at least three times in that years.

At the age of ten, my mother decided to go to abroad so that she could give us a better life. In that time also my father was not in his best, he cheated. I was also devastated at it, but still my mother chose to forgive my father. After they reconciled with each other my mother went abroad in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. That’s the time where me, along with my brother and father move back to my grandparents house. In the first of year of my mom working abroad was a bit tough. We didn’t have a choice but to endure the longing. We got used to it after sometime and we got used to it eventually. As another year passed by, I have noticed the relationship of my father and mother had changed. My father keeps on getting jealous with the co-worker’s of my mother. They started to argue more than the usual, they kept on fighting. My father has gotten himself to be addicted in playing card games. My mother was so mad about it.

Until one day when I was in my 7th grade my father decided to go back to Davao with my brother and me. My mother couldn’t protest from it, so she cried a lot. I was also sad because of it. Both of my parents are not in good terms until one day. It was December 25 year 2015 after Christmas day, I was so devastated to know that they ended their relationship my mother wouldn’t talk to my father anymore. Until that very day my father started to beat me up. I started questioning myself “Why did it end up like this?”. Before I go to school my eyes swells from crying. My father would throw something that he could get by his hands at me. When he’s not contented by it, he would kick, slap, and grab my hair in a very painful way. I experienced that for almost two months. After that my mother decided to go home and pick us up, that’s when they decided to separate way.

I never really hold grudges to my father till now, I already forgave him from what he did to me. Now I am hoping that time could heal our hearts, and maybe someday we could fix our family. Learn to forgive cause everything happens for a reason. I am proud to say that this made me strong and made me from what I am today.