I want to tell you a story of my life. I’m not so sure if I’m ready to let it all go. But I want everyone to know and also for everyone to learn my lesson.
My father left me, my mother and my brother, Andrew, when I was small. ‘Til then, I never got to see him. My mother burned all his pictures.
When I reached thirteen, I found out that he’s living in USA. Andrew said he doesn’t have a family. He is gay. That’s one important reason why my parents broke up.
I told my mother that when I reach nineteen, I’d go find him in New York. My mother didn’t agree. So did Andrew. Mother said she’ll miss me so much if I go. I didn’t tell her any of my plans anymore because I know she’ll disapprove. So I kept quiet about everything. My mother felt ill by the time I graduated college. So I was having doubts about going away.
When I finally reached nineteen, I told mother and Andrew everything. They were so surprised that I already packed my bags and was ready to leave. Mother wasn’t happy. She looked pale and more ill than ever. We never found out what her illness is because although we are rich, we never visit the doctor. Mother hates doctors. She said that they just make things worse. I postponed my plans to take care of my mother.
A year later, mother got well. Then on the same year, I received a letter from my father. It said:
Dear Patricia:
I hope you are in a good condition. I miss you. Please come visit me here in New York. I will be sending a friend there to pick you up. Only you can come. I don’t think Andrew and your mother will like the idea…I need you more than ever.
P.S.
Mr. Ray Hansen will be
the one to pick you up
in the airport next Friday
at 1:00 PM. Please, do
come.
Loving you always,
Patrick Andrew Maneja
I was so glad my father remembered me. I never told Andrew and my mother about the letter. I went to New York without saying goodbye to them.
I met Mr. Hansen in the airport. I paid for his ticket. He looked unusual. He’s such a stranger. He talks to me and other people sarcastically. He’s such a behemoth too. He had muscles so big that not even his loose clothes can hide it. He never smiled. Though he looked scary, I didn’t mind. Just as long as he’ll take me to my father.
Andrew called me and said mother was crying hard. She was pale again. He said I made it worse. I asked him what the it was. He didn’t answer. He just hang up on me. After the conversation, I put my cellphone in my pocket and I was back to my happy mood. I will finally see my father. I’ve been longing to do this. I was so excited.
At last, we finally arrived in New York. Mr. Hansen led me to a small hut. It was dark there. There was no light. Good thing Mr. Hansen brought a flashlight. When he turned the flashlight on, I saw an old guy lying on a bed. He looked as if he was on drugs. Mr. Hansen said “There’s your father Ms. Maneja.” I was so surprised. My father told me that he needed money. That’s the reason why he needed me. He was too old and too sick to make money. He spent them on drugs. He was so poor. He asked for a million dollars. I gave him a check. But before he could even touch the check, Mr. Hansen pointed a gun at me. Mr. Hansen said I must give him the check or he’d kill me. So I gave it to him. He ran off. I called the police. While calling the police, my father was so scared about the incident so he was shocked and stopped breathing. I cried and I cried. Then, after I pulled myself together, the police finally came. I told them what happened.Then a policeman told me that they were looking all over the country for my father. My father was popular there because he was the legendary druglord. He ran out of money because less people buy from him. So, he became poor then. The side effect of drugs came to him viciously. He was out of control. The man who pointed a gun at me was one of those people he borrowed money from. He had such a big debt. When I found out all these, I went back to the Philippines disappointed and angry. I couldn’t believe that my father remembered me only because he had debts! I was so frustrated.
I finally arrived at our mansion, nobody was home except for our housemaid. I asked her where my mother was.
She said “Go to Saint Luke’s Medical Center. There you’ll find her missing you.” I asked her what it meant but she didn’t reply.
I went to the hospital. There, I saw Andrew crying on my mother. I understood what our housemaid meant. I’ve been fooled by the world. If only I knew it before. If only I was contented with the people around me and the love and concern that they give to me. Because when I left, so did my mother.
