23/01/2024
Manuel is his name. God with us. A hopeful promise in a dark world. He took us to this house, his home. A small mud house with not even a single window. The padlock at the wooden door emphasises my sombre mood. Manuel looks at me with watery eyes. They tell me he doesn't want to be here. They show me the desperation he feels in his heart.
Fighting my tears, I ask the people we were with where his people are. Mother died a few years ago. Father committed su***de last year. Sister disappeared, they don't know where. I now understood Manuel's depressing look when going back to this place. What was once his home, has now become a sad place. A place he doesn't want to be reminded about.
Once back to school, Manuel goes back to his class. Back to his safe haven, his friends, a place where he can forget a bit about what happened. He is in good hands, and God sent him a guardian angel to watch over him.
My tears still came later. Some situations can be so heartbreaking, so unfair, so touching. Whatever happened in the life of this young boy, we can not change it. But what we can change is where he is heading. A better future. A life that will give him lots of smiles and happiness. Peace in his heart always. Knowing that he is loved and that he matters.
God with us.
❤️
