I arrived home for the first time since I left. It's the month of April. I decided to have a vacation there. In my country in the Philippines. April until May serves as the vacation season. There will be no classes at every level. That's the vacation season so most people working will go home during this season.
We call it summer but it's just a sunny season. This time we can feel too much heat from the sun. Most people will go to the beach or go to spring. Maybe 15 years have passed already since the last time I glimpsed into our house.
"A lot has changed already." In my thoughts.
I saw people shouting near the sea. I'm thinking what's the celebration for today. Why there are a lot of people are gathering.
"Excuse me."
I made one woman stop running while going to the sea.
"Is there a party going over there?"
The woman laughed at me and replied.
"You didn't know?"
"Today is festive in our village. A lot of parlour games are going on. Like swimming, boat racing, drinking coconut wine and many more."
"I see," I replied.
"You are not from here?" She asked.
"I was, long ago."
The woman just raised her shoulder and invited me to come with her. I followed her but I keep my distance because I'm shy.
"Wooooohh, waaaaahhhhh!!"
People are shouting and laughing. They're having so much fun while watching the parlour games. I couldn't relate away because I despised this place. After spending an hour watching the people and the participants. Slowly, my face suddenly shows a smile. I'm enjoying it. No. I'm having fun as the others do.
"Where do you live by the way?"
A woman earlier suddenly asked me.
"Have you seen that big tamarind tree near the corner?"
She nodded.
"That's where we lived long ago."
She looked surprised after I told her about our house. I don't know who she is. Maybe my neighbour or my friend. I don't remember her name because I was 10 years old when I left.
"Don't tell me….., Is that you, Brad?"
I smiled because she knows my name.
"Yeah."
"Where have you been? Why you just come home now? It's me, Ciara"
"Remember that short girl you used to play?" On the shore with Ana, Mani and other children?"
She said while smiling to let me remember who she is. I keep on thinking and remembering all she said.
"Ah, that one."
I remember it. I look at her from the feet to the head.
"How big you've become, Ciara."
"Just kidding."
Ciara frowns her face and slaps me on my shoulder.
She brought me to my friends before when we were young. Somehow, the hate in me is slowly fading. The feeling of being made in this place because no one helped my parents that's why they died. I despised this place and even cursed the people. I was so mad back then.
I slowly accepted the fact that we are all human. We are capable of being anxious about what to do at that time. Although, I grew to hate this place. I saw beauty and it blooms inside my heart. That reason is enough to forget what I felt before.
I decided to love not to hate. I'm not hurting anyone but myself only. I will never forget that pain because that made me who I am now. But it doesn't mean I will never love this place where my happy memories were found. The time I had with my family will for sure doesn't come back. But it can be alive through this place and through my heart.
I realised that the acceptance of someone's flaws will help me to get stronger. I slowly forget the past and forgive them. That's all I must do for now because it's been a while since I feel so much happiness again in my life. Sometimes you indeed can see the beauty in a twisted world. We just refused to see it because we are not ready for it.
"Why are you smiling, Brad? You're creeping me out."
Ciara said and I replied.
"Nothing. I just feel like I'm alive again."
END...
Thank you for reading
images are mine
mrnightmare
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Hello @mrnightmare.net,
I read your story as I was going to sleep last night. I love the message: let go of hate and resentment. We cannot see or experience beauty while our hearts are filled with these negative emotions.
You use dialogue effectively. You make the characters seem 'real'. I love the pictures you use in your stories, because they are yours. They are beautiful. Thank you for this beautiful story.
Yeah, I wanted to have my own images to use sometimes.
Thank you for your words of encouragement. It was once just a story but after hearing stories from others. I kept thinking about how to make the story looks real.
Thank you again
What I like most about this story is that we get to change our point of view as the author's point of view changes. This happens quickly, but believably. We understand where the resentment comes from and we feel the release as the narrator lets go of his anger.
Very well told, easy to follow and believable.
I enjoyed the story very much.
Thanks. You have the talent to make someone believe your words. I'm honoured by your words and time for taking the time reading them.
Lovely story, @mrnightmare.net. Personal transformation is a great theme for fiction; in fact the main character must always transform in some way for the story to be successful, and in this case the change the character undergoes is monumental. He must let go of the pain of the past in order to live well in the present and beyond.
Yeah, the main character will remain in darkness if he will not forget what has already happened.
Sometimes I felt I forgot the details because I was too focused on writing it well. You and the other commenters made me realise this is what I just wrote. Thank you.
Great job, @mrnightmare.net. You did a nice job of describing things in detail, vs. simplifying descriptions into mere adjectives. We've given your story a list via Curie. Congratulations!
Thanks, actually, I never thought to be this way. But happenings just came into my thoughts. That's why it turned like this. lol
Hello @mrnightmare.net I liked your story for its strength. By that I mean a person starts out one way feeling he is justified by the strong emotion he feels from events in his past, only to find out his feelings can change through the help of others.
A person may not be able to see the good in a situation because of past prejudices; however, they can gain a new perspective through the eyes of others. Whether that person is willing to change his attitude about an issue or even forgive is then up to them. One can hold on to memories, sometimes painful, but still appreciate another aspect by looking outside himself.
A powerful lesson you show in your story about the ability to change. I also liked the photos. Everyone looks like they are truly having a good time enjoying the festival.
Thanks for sharing your story. Have a good rest of your Sunday and a good start to the coming week. Stay safe and take care.
Thanks, it's easier to use photos which is your own. hehehe
Yeah, I thought of delivering good lessons. It's not that the seems interesting but also it's meaning. Thanks
Hi @mrnightmare.net, I love the narration. You had me with you from start to finish. You described it so well that I could immerse myself in every scene. Well done.
Oh really? Maybe because I detailed it well how I felt when I was broken. Thank you for stopping by.