Unforgettable Moment

Those were my green and salad days, a time of innocence and play, where marbles shone like pearls and every trinket was a treasure. The world was simple, a canvas of pure joy school, home, and the familiar corners of my aunt's house were the boundaries of my kingdom. I was a prince, carefree and unburdened, unaware of the complexities that lay beyond. My father, the silent architect of my happiness, waged wars against invisible foes, his struggles hidden behind a veil of stoicism. I floated through those days, buoyed by blissful ignorance, until a stark awakening came. It was etched into my memory, a moment as indelible as an inscription on copper the day he sold his wedding watch to pay for my education. For the first time, I felt the sting of tears for another's sacrifice. It was a profound shift, a departure from the self-centred orbit of childhood. Emotions painted the moment in vivid hues, a portrait of empathy and maturity emerging from the canvas of my youth. For a poetry contest, inspired by a memory. ©15/09/2014