26 April 2020 / 11.00pm
I have a beautiful garden to live in. It is planted with love. The memories and dreams I treasured and shared are like those beautiful flowers found blooming there. The comfort and care on which I depend is given with love from my family. The sunshine of laughter and the rain of tears, only make my life grow with each passing year. I be myself with no need to pretend, because of the love from my family.
I always looking forward to this day when I can spend my school holidays with my family in Mersing, Johor. Yeah! school holiday is 7 weeks!
I rushed to get my ticket. Those days, traveling back to Mersing is not as convenient as today. I have to stop in KL and get another bus ticket to Mersing. The fastest journey will takes 9-10 hours from Sitiawan to Mersing.
It doesn't matter to me at all because I know my family is waiting for me and I can't wait to see them. Sometime, the bus from KL to Mersing doesn't have air-conditioning and sometimes they messed up my seating. I experienced few times without a seat. They gave me a wooden stool chair next to the driver seat. Imagine 6 hours I sat on that wooden chair!
Finally, I reached Mersing Bus Terminal at 4am, as usual. My dad will always be there before my bus arrives. Mum will be at home waiting for me. I can't wait to see my brother and sisters.
We lived in a rundown house with leaking roof. When it rain, my sibling and I will collect the rainwater with buckets. But every day, our house fills with laughter. Mum will cook all my favourite food. My sisters will buy my favourite food - Chicken Delight! (Our Premium Fast Food)
Every morning, I will bring my brother to seaside collecting seashells and bring back to decorate our house. He always ask me when am I leaving? I am 8 years older than him. Every time I bid goodbye, he will cry and hide himself in his room.
In a split second, my holidays come to an end. Leaving Mersing was the most saddest day for us. My dad will send me to the bus terminal. He will go few rounds to bring my mum and my siblings to bid me goodbye. That moment is unbearable for us. Tears rolling down my cheek uncontrollable until the aunty seated next to me has to comfort me. We do not have cell phone back then. When the bus stopped for a short break, I will ask for a public phone to call my mum.
Usually it took me few weeks to settled down my emotions in Sitiawan. I always imagine myself standing by the cliff, watching the roughing of the sea combing to its shore. Until today, I have no idea how I overcame my emotions.
I miss them very much…
My mother, through her living example of courage, love and patient has given me a foundation for life. My dad plays a prominent role in my life. Because of him, I get to learn the toughness of life and much more the resources to share this story. My siblings who positively approached my life, have served as a constant source of encouragement when once I was walking down the path of loneliness. It's always wonderful to know that these people will always believe in me and care for me. When I wonder if I would every make anything out of myself, they encouraged me and told me that I am special and gave me the confidence. Because of their love and concern, I believe in myself.
I can proudly say that the loveliest place on earth is home and it's still a home…
The most valuable thing is the time that I spend tending this garden of love with my family. When counting my blessings, I know from the start. Family comes first in my heart.
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