It was my dream to travel. My mom and dad were great explorers in their time; they just love to see the world. I, on the other hand, never had a chance to become like mom and dad. I was just 3 years old when they told me that my dad went missing during his trip to Amazon Forest. Mom died in desperation because she couldn’t live without my dad. I was brought to an orphanage. I do not have any relatives living here at Boston anymore so; they have no choice but to leave me to foster care.
I’m Jessa Marie. I don’t know my last name because I they won’t tell me. I hate it here. I have been here for 7 years. It’s like a prison here. I can’t get out and see the world; no one is allowed to go out unless you will be accompanied by some strange people that go here.
For seven years, I have been waiting for some stranger to drag me out of here. Until one day, a woman came here. She was tall, blonde and skinny. She looks a little young to be married, no one was with her. She chooses me to be her daughter and I agreed.
At last, freedom! We rode a taxi back to her home. I smelled the fresh pine trees around the road. It was a cold day and deep inside I was happy. We arrived at this beautiful mansion, it’s like a castle from the stories that I’ve read. It was so beautiful.
“Is this your home?” I asked her. “Yes!” she smiled at me. “You must have been rich” I commented on her. “No, but my dad is rich” she answered me. “Are you married? I am going to be your daughter, right?” I asked her gain. “No, I am not married. I just want to have a daughter. I can’t bear a child; things are just way too complicated to explain to you. You’re just a child. You won’t understand.” She explained to me and I was confused by the things that she said.
We entered the mansion. It was fully furnished and sparkling. I like it. There were paintings on the wall. Paintings that looks so familiar to me. There was Mt. Everest, Himalayas Mountain, India, Bali, Paris, Africa, Ireland, and Boracay Island. I think I already saw these pictures before when I was still a child. “
“Mom? Are you an explorer?” I asked her. “No Jessa, my dad is the explorer here; see those pictures on the wall? He was the one who took those pictures.” She answered me while pointing on the walls. I was amazed that I will have a new family that likes traveling and exploring the world.
I met my grandfather that day. He was lying still on his bed. He’s very ill to the looks of it. “What happened to him, Mom?” I asked her. “Dad is sick and he’s dying.” I can see tears falling down from Mom’s eyes. “Soon, I will be next” she whispered. I didn’t hear her voice but I felt fear.
Years passed. Grandpa died and then, Mom also died 5 years after grandpa’s death. My life is so unlucky. I never felt the happiness of a real family living a healthy and wondrous life. All the riches were given to me, many people told me that I was lucky but, I wasn’t. Riches are nothing; family is far more precious than riches.
When I graduated college, I decided to pursue my dream of traveling. I started traveling Europe. I explored its scenic beauty. I was happy but at the end of the day, I’m still lonely. This isn’t the kind of travel I wanted. I want to travel something far more different from this.
At a hotel in London, I opened the map of the world and placed it on the floor. I stood up and get a long stick. I will close my eyes and pick a country that I will be staying at and I will find my adventure there.
“Iney, mini, miney, moh” I opened my eyes and I looked at the island there. Iloilo, Philippines. I packed my bag and grab a ticket at the airport. After long hours of travel, I reach Manila. “Welcome to Philippines!” the stewardess announced. I was awakened suddenly but, I still smiled.
‘This will be a terrific adventure I’m going to have.’ I told myself. After getting off the plane, I went to the Atrium Hotel. I want to see Manila first. It is very crowded but I love being in a city that I’ve never been before; I was hoping to find something special here. I went to Mall of Asia and then, I hired a taxi just to roam me around the place.
I grab a plane ticket going to Iloilo that day. My flight will be in the morning. I went to Iloilo and I have experienced how beautiful it is there. It was a coincidence; I met someone who knows my real father. She told me he was alive. At first, I didn’t believe her but, she gave me a picture. It was the same picture that my mother gave to me before she died. I can’t help but cry.
“I can bring you to him” she offered. I nod. We went somewhere in Mandurriao, Iloilo. I can see so many people there; the houses were tied up to each other. The space is so limited for a vehicle to get in. Later I learned that it was a squatter’s area.
“This is where your father is living now” she said to me. “How is he?” I asked. “He is very sick. After his travel to Amazon Forest, he decided to come back here because he wanted to die in his own country. He doesn’t want you to know what was happening to him. He kept it for himself.” She explained it to me before we went inside. “What do you mean?” I asked again. “He was poisoned. I don’t know what kind it is. The doctor doesn’t even know, they said that it was from a plant. He doesn’t want you to know that he is suffering from this illness. It’s far better to know that he is already dead.” She explained again. “I can’t believe this. It was a long time ago and he is still suffering until now. My mom died because of him.” I responded. She kept quiet. “I don’t want to see him, I’m going home. How can he be so selfish to us?” I sobbed. “He’s dying, for years; he has been lying on that bed and thinking of you and your mom. The poison is killing him little by little.” She added.
I walked away without thinking. I was crying really hard. I decided to go back to Boston. I grabbed a plane ticket that day. After two days, I will be back to my hometown. I did not go out from my hotel room for two days. I was afraid. I don’t know why. I really wanted to see him but something is stopping me. He is still my dad. I close my eyes and I’ve fallen into a deep sleep.
Ring…Ring…Ring…
I turned off the alarm clock and get up. This was the day of going back to my hometown. I arrange my things and rode a cab going to the airport. When I was in the airport, someone was calling me. It was the woman that I met. “What?” I answered. “You need to be here, hurry, your dad is dead” she said.
The clock stopped for a while. I realized that what I am doing was so wrong. I should be with him in those times of his last days. I didn’t even give him a chance to see me all grown up. I ran hurriedly and get a cab going to my dad’s place.
Tears were flowing in my eyes. I can’t forgive myself for being so rude to my own father. I can’t believe that I would abandon him even he did that to us. He is still my father, my own blood. I still love him in spite of all the things that he had done. If my mother was here, she would never leave dad behind. I wish I was like my mom but, I was like him. This is a big mistake.
I reached the place. I saw some people in the house. I am not familiar with their faces. I saw the woman crying beside my father. I saw my dad. He was lying still, his skin turned purple, and he’s bald and skinny. I can’t believe that this is what happened to my dad.
I cried beside him. “I’m sorry dad. I shouldn’t have abandoned you. I was so wrong. I’m sorry dad. Please forgive me.” “I’m sure he has forgiven you.” The woman told me while hugging me.
I did not go home that day. I threw away my plane ticket. “I’m staying here.” I told the woman. “Welcome to our family!” she said. She was my aunt, the older sister of my dad. She introduced me to the rest of my family and I was so happy to have my real family back. They were so good to me.
Yes, I may have lost everything that I have at the span of my life but still, God is giving me more great things than those that I had. Today, I am so happy to be living with my new FAMILY.
