One Life Can

Everyday on my former job I need to walk on a very long footbridge to get to the other side of the highway to take a bus ride going home. My shift starts at 10pm and ends at 6am and so I go home early in the morning. From day 1 I’ve noticed a young boy maybe around 12 or 13 years old sitting near the stairs of the footbridge, at first I did not mind him since it’s normal in our place that people are asking for alms in the streets. One day I noticed that he is all fresh up, clean and wearing a school uniform but still sitting on the footbridge asking for some alms. Out of curiosity I walked near him and that is the time I noticed that he is not sitting down at all but that he does not have any feet and legs. I stop and stared at him and to my surprise he smiles at me, I smiled back. I then talked to him and asked if he is going to go to the school, he answered yes but he told me he needs to sit there at the footbridge every morning before going to school to ask for people’s help (money or food) so that he will have something to eat at school and he can buy some school supplies. I asked him where are his parents and he told me that they are working as street vendors, he doesn’t want to be a burden to his parents and that he really wants to study that’s why he is doing that. He also told me that someday he will finish school so that he can help his parents.

After talking to him everyday for 2 years before I go home I give him some of my coins as my way of helping him with his dreams. After talking to him I realized how lucky I am, that I have my legs and feet and that I did not need to work for my school. After talking to him I kept in mind that eventhough life is so hard and that eventhough it feels like I’m giving up there will always be a way if you really want to reach your dreams.

I have not seen the boy for 3 years now and have not pass by the footbridge anymore since I move to another job nor even got his name but his story serves as a friendly reminder that life is beautiful despite it’s imperfection.