The Day I Died

I could not forget the day I left my old hometown of Saint Louis (San Luis, Baguio City). Every eye was staring at me like I stole their vital organs. My brother and mother were throwing curses in the wind like spells to vanish me from their sight forever. Even the dogs were looking at me with those sharp eyes like wanting to slit the source of my breath. I tried to be calm and compose, but deep inside of me, there was a raging thunder, awaiting for its time to be unleashed. I could not understand why someone could be hated so much, just because of what he believed to be his truthful and righteous stand. There was too much bigotry. But I could not do much anymore. My opinion was already circulating in social media and read by the giants in different industries that had been running my country. Certainly, none among them wanted to lose their grip of their position or stature, just because of the opinion of an ordinary person like me. The moves to shut me down were already initiated. Even teens who knew nothing about the history of my country were used for my discredit.That was also the time that I came to realize that water is thicker than blood if glitter was soaked in it. That was the day that I died symbolically. I could not blame my paternal grandparents for innocently sharing me their belief before they passed away. They were not the kind who would hate people just because of disparity in social beliefs. In fact, I owed them half of my life. They were the ones who raised me when my parents separated and left when I was barely five. Since then, there was not even a single sighting of me in that place. I promised myself that as long as I breath, I will not be setting foot on that place again. But the shadow of bigotry can extend too far beyond its main sphere. And its power is immense. It can make righteous people blind and the wise to be narrow-minded. I was hated every where I'd go, bullied, harassed, gang stalked and slandered almost everyday. My heart started to be aloof to people and I lost my faith in humanity. Never did I know that what happened to me was a blessing in disguise. For, despite of all the storms, I came to discover my extraordinary abilities and secrets about me that would take me to a journey that even in my wildest dream, I did not think to be possible. The flame of wisdom was already lit. My adventure had just begun....... September 25, 2022, 3:37 PM Chapter 1 Poetry Contest (6th place) Sponsored by: Matt Caliri