THE UNKNOWN: TO BE FEARED OR DISCOVERED

VOICES OF THE UNHEARD

Peace and serenity or loud and fun. Which environment are you in?

Being alive is one of the most wonderful things one can ever experience. But how do we identify
ourselves as alive? Is it when we woke up with the sun rays hitting our faces welcoming a new
day in our lives? Is it when we see ourselves able to do all things without restrictions? Or is it
when we stay away from everyone else and bond with ourselves instead?

In the busy streets of the city, people with different statuses in life are scattered everywhere.
Untold stories are written behind their smiling, angry, and sad faces. From where I’m standing, a
middle-aged woman, silently sitting on a bench caught my attention. She was smiling all by
herself while looking up into the sky. Her eyes reflect happiness. The very first time I saw her, i
knew there is something in her I needed to know. And so I did, I approached her.

“Hi”, I greeted her. Talking off her look at the sky, she turned towards me. “Hello there, she
responded. Do you need anything? I nod my head repeatedly. Yes. Actually, I was just standing
right there when I noticed you were just smiling here. You really smile so brightly and I feel a
‘lil envious here.

Leaning on the bench, she smiles towards me and closes her eyes. By the time she opens them,
she started telling me things I never knew I needed to hear. “Do you know that the way we
present ourselves to people around us and how they interpret it serves as the basis on how our
relationships with them will go in the long run? You know, I was smiling here because I was
happy. And I’m guessing you came here because that’s what you thought I was feeling right?
Well, unfortunately, some will think I am crazy because I was smiling all by myself. Look at me,
I don’t look like I’m homeless, right? I looked at her again and that is when I realized that she is
barefooted. But I stay still and listened to her as she continues to tell her story.

I am an orphan. Adopted by two gay men who loved me unconditionally until they both died
because of an accident. I felt like my comfort zone vanished in just a snap. Because of their
relationship, I knew that the world is cruel to those who do not meet the so-called standards of
society. But that does not stop me from coming out of my shell and exploring what is what they
called life. Because for me life is being with my parents and waking up with them every day and
singing and dancing all day. I always mistook kindness as love. For such a weird person like me,
I think I am unworthy of any kind of love that exists. I’m afraid that they will take advantage of
me every time I try to be nice to any one of them. But my parents taught me that I cannot live
alone here and so I needed a companion. I don’t need too many of them and what I only need is a
real one. I was able to meet a lot of people, but none of them deserves to know and to be with
me.

And so here I am, living my own life. This is what makes me feel alive, not being controlled, not
being judged, and certainly not be blamed for being me. Young people like you need to know
that being alive is what makes your heart at ease. Does not matter if you do it by yourself or with
someone you love. And remember that not everyone deserves to have you in their life.
Independency is power

Choices exist.

After that, she quietly leaves and then bids her goodbye to me.