a couple with a 3 yr old daughter boarded the jeep and sat on opposite sides behind the driver. they caught my attention because first, i thought the husband was the woman's dad because he looked old enough to be her father. second, after a few seconds inside the jeepney they were just staring at each other and then the woman motioned for the husband to pay the fare. i got curious when he handed the money to the driver and the driver asked him what was their destination, i couldn't understand the husband's reply because his voice was barely audible. and then he made some gestures with his hands, that's when i understood that he was deaf. i looked at the wife who was holding their kid, she seemed apprehensive because the husband didn't shell out their exact jeepney fare, thus having to answer the driver's question regarding their destination. the husband motioned that it wasn't a big deal because he seemed like he could manage to utter a few words to be normally understood. by the look on the wife's face and the forceful way she was gesturing with her hands (banging her fist on her palm to assert her point maybe), i think she was not pleased. by this time i guess they were already arguing, and i was fascinated with how they could be "voicing" out their reasons without being "loud" and both of them wanting to be "heard" by the other.
a lot of thoughts flooded my mind when i looked away from them because i was starting to look like i was watching a spectator (which i really was). questions like how did they fall in love? and who between them is really the deaf mute one, i mean diba, i think there are different levels of being deaf and mute, one is not really knowing how to talk and just using sign language, the other is learning how to do basic talking and still communicating through sign language, etc. i also wondered if their kid inherited her parents' disability or if she was normal how did she learn her first words? and how did her parents teach her to say those words if they themselves couldn't talk properly? and how do they live each day of their lives as a family if both the mother and father's hinders them from living normally?
before they got off the jeep i stole one last look at them, this time i noticed the woman timidly smiling, maybe their argument has been resolved, i realized the answer to my questions could be summarized in three words: FAITH, HOPE, and most of all LOVE.
FAITH in each other is what binds them together as a couple, and trust that they could do anything for the sake of their kid. and also, FAITH that God will always provide for them. HOPE, that amidst their disability life still holds good things for them. and LOVE,
the love that they have for each other is all that they need to keep moving on.
i know this sounds cheesy but that's what i was thinking while riding home, i feel blessed that i was able to witness something like that. it was beautiful and it gave me something to learn. that night i offered a prayer for that family, i thanked the Universe for making them an instrument for me to learn something, and also i prayed that yes, life indeed would be good to them, in spite of...
i also thank this beautiful family for making me remember how it is to really write from the heart again.
jas from manila
I REALLY LIKE THIS STORY TOO
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