“She was a shy friend, but when she sees sadness in your eyes, she will do everything to give you hope. She gave me hope, more than enough, actually. She’ll always be thanked for that.”
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Maria was exhausted. When she came home it was almost midnight. Good thing she didn’t have to work the next day. She sat down, her desk in front of her with a stack of paper and a pencil. The room was dark. The only thing that gave light was the candle on her desk. She thought about it. How similar she was to it. Like the candle, she gave hope to others and drew the sunshine in their eyes with her crescent moon smile. She made those around her happy. But what if one day the candle burned out? Who would give the light it needs, the hope it longs for? It was struggling to fight strong winds that tried to blow away its light.
She turned to the stack of paper. It was thick, like the list of mistakes she made. She tore and posted each part on the wall. She then tried to burn it using the candle, like what she tried to do with her mistakes, burn it and forget it. The pieces of paper on the wall, some burnt, made a peculiar design, almost like a mosaic. Who knew imperfections would still look beautiful? She watched the ashes fall down, like her. She had nothing left. No hope left. A thought makes her pause. She sees her family and friends, those who made her happy. Those who gave her a reason to continue living even though it hurt. Even though it was painful for her. In another thought, she sees them again, this time they were different. Ironic how the same people who gave her light were also the ones who took it from her. She didn’t know what to do. Who would she run to now? Now that everyone is leaving her. Maybe she was overreacting again. Maybe she was the reason why they left in the first place. She decided to shrug off those thoughts.
“Sleep it off.” She mutters to herself. Tears fell on her shirt. She was broken. But there is no one who could fix her. No one who could help her. Despite this she wanted to continue. One more time. Do it for them. Do it for yourself. She falls asleep to the sound of the rain falling on her window frame.
She wakes up the next morning and stares at her plain white ceilings, seeing the bright sunlight go through her curtains, thinking if she still has that hope for a change. But it all felt the same for that moment. She was still broken inside. As she turned to her bed side table, she sees the book again. A thought arise that maybe she just needs to start a new day, a new beginning. She opened the book from when she last read it. The next chapter seemed promising. It was titled “Hope”. She continues to read through the chapter. Turns each page to the next. She read through a character named Hope. She guessed that maybe the chapter was inspired by her. Hope was a girl, a friend. A good friend. Everyone trusts her. The author seemed to be very close with the girl. Hope helped the author to not give up on any trial that life has given him. It was for a reason that everyone is strong. Everyone has that percent of hope in them for every challenge or obstacle. This gave Maria a hint of positivity. A chance of that happiness she has been longing for.
Suddenly, a tear slowly sheds from her brown eyes. Was this the same tear from last night? Or was it a tear of joy? It seemed like she relates very well to what she was reading. Positivity finally came to her. She was overwhelmed by how similar the situations were. She thought that maybe after those sad nights, tables would turn someday, somehow. She told herself that she doesn’t need anyone to make her feel better. A bit of change that starts from herself could result to a much better situation. That chapter taught her that maybe not all the time she needs someone to hang on to. It made her realize that after all the pain she had been through, she still had that will to make others happy and it did make her feel good. It made her feel positive to think that she has a good heart. And knowing that only few has that, she felt special. She finally felt motivated. Motivated to start a new happy beginning.
She opened her window curtains wide and seeing that bright light shine through the window panes. Birds were chirping loud as if something was being celebrated. She turned to that candle she was referring to as herself and she remembered thinking such negative thoughts.
“Scratch that.” She ignored it. It was very unlikely but it was good for her to start a new.
But questions still rose, will this hope last? Or will it just be temporary?
She decided to go out for a morning jog while listening to her favorite playlist. She accidentally bumped a girl. The girl seemed nice. Maria apologized and asked if the girl was okay. She asked for the girl’s name. Her name was Hope. Maria felt uneasy for a second because of such a coincidental happening that the girl has the same name with the one she just read. But she didn’t mind. They talked for a while. Hope noticed that Maria wasn’t that happy. She asked if she was okay.
“I’m fine.” Maria answers covering the truth.
“Are you sure?” Hope asked. Maria told Hope that maybe she wasn’t feeling that well. And that was just trying to be positive for even just this morning. Hope tried to make Maria feel better. It seemed to work. Days passed by and they became very close friends. Maria was very happy for now she has someone. Someone to trust and be with. This gave her that real hope. The girl taught Maria how to change not for anyone but for herself.
She couldn’t believe it. She thought that there would be no way to escape this dreadful feeling. But she did. She was reassured, relieved, and contented. Unlike before, she looks happier. She changed. It was for the betterment. Maybe these friends weren’t as bad as people thought they were. They helped her when no one else would. They were there for her. And she’s not planning to make them leave her for because of failures.
YOU ARE READING
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General Fiction"Written here are all my stories of escape. How I escaped reality, how I escaped my own sanity."
