What's the Worst That Could Happen? - Awareness Story

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟔

   

     Now her dad was the hard part. After her and Millie did what they had to do, she returned home, looking for her dad. It was noon, so he was already back from work.

"Hey, dad?" she spoke quietly, knocking on the wooden doorway leading to her parents' bedroom.

Abe raised his gaze from the book he was reading and sat on the edge of the bed, looking at Esme with a raised eyebrow. "Yes?"

Esme looked at him as she swallowed hard, feeling nervous. She was unsure about this, but felt like she needed to do it, it felt like the right thing to do.

"Um. Do you remember when I was younger, how we used to walk around the plaza...?"

Her dad nodded.

"Yes, of course I do. You always liked scaring away the birds. I remember one time you even bumped against someone and pulled them down to the ground with you."

They both chuckled. Good start.

"Well. Do you want to go again?"

His eyes widened.

"Right now?"

"Right now." Esme confirmed.

"..I'm- Not sure, darling, I've got work and you've got homework to do. Maybe another day."

She sighed.

"Please. I have a reason to be asking this."

Her dad blinked. It took a while to convince him, as they sat down and argued quite a bit about this, before Esme convinced him, saying it was for old times' sake. They both took a moment to get dressed, before heading out. Once they arrived, neither of them really said much for a while as they walked. The silence wasn't really awkward but also not comfortable. Esme stopped walking a few meters away from where she was actually taking her dad, and he got even more confused than he was already.

"Why'd you stop?" he asked, walking back to her.

"Because I want you to do something, and we have to talk about it first."

     Abe waited expectantly for a moment while Esme collected her thoughts and everything she wanted to say.

"Look, dad. I can't go too much in detail, but there's something you've been doing that's been bothering me. Something that makes you seem... Selfish, to me."

"Selfish?" He seemed almost offended.

"Yes. It's just that every single time we pass by that alley, or even pass in front of it, you won't bat an eye to the people there pleading for help. For only a few dollars. And you won't give anything to them."

"Because they could be scammers, Esme. Wake up. Scammers, or they could be using it to buy drugs."

"No, not all of them. Not most of them." she frowned, "They're vulnerable in there. Some of them are sick, some of them have kids. I'm not saying to go around giving 100 dollars to everyone, just a small amount to help them temporarily." she sighed, "It's not that bad."

But he shook his head.

"No. I'm sorry."

"You're being ridiculous. I've already given them some of my own money, and mom agreed to start giving out food to them when we can and donating. Now all I need is for you to understand and for once, do as I ask you. It's for the greater good. Please." she pressed, locking her eyes on his, begging him. Her dad was adamant, but his daughter's stand just now had... Shocked him. In a good way. It was sweet to see how much she cared, and she wasn't entirely wrong.

"...Alright. Just this one time." he huffed, trying to hide the smile forming on his lips when Esme's face lit up.

And those were not the only things Esme did. She found the people she encountered in her dreams, the climate activists. She talked with them, got to know them, and they added her to the group. Esme started using her passion for photography to raise awareness for climate change by taking photos and sharing them online, along with the group, promoting them too. She started raising awareness for poverty, wrote articles online about how we need to start working together to achieve a better future, a healthier future, and she got people to join her group. She went to (and even started a few) anti-war protests, made multiple donations, and stood up for whoever needed it when she could. It felt good. After the scare she got, and after realising how bad things really are, she wanted to help, to contribute in making a difference, changing the way we live and save our planet. She made the first step. Will you?