Looking around this strange new foreign land, I saw a world that’s unknown. Hoping and praying, a better life would be sown.
I don’t have legal documents, only my passport. That’s why I fear the word deport.
Resisting my heart’s aching and racing, insisting this is a leap worth taking, I brush off my tears that keeps on coming.
For father who needs heart bypass, for mother whose mem’ry can’t seem to last, for sister now four-month old pregnant, for little brother who’s always repugnant, for them I am taking this gamble with mind and heart in ramble.
For them.
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Word count: 100
©2016 Rosemawrites@A Reading Writer. All Rights Reserved.
Photo credit: Sunday Photo Fiction
A salute to the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) who loved their families more than they love themselves.
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In response to Sunday Photo Fiction for February 07, 2016.
Sunday Photo Fiction is a weekly writing challenge hosted by Alastair Forbes where a photo is used as a prompt for a piece of fiction using around 200 words. The piece doesn’t have to center around exactly what the photo is, it can be just used as a basis for a story.
There’s quite a story in a mere 100 words.
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I was just thinking the same thing! So much emotion packed in here, love, courage and homesickness.
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Oh thank you, Mel! For the first time, I guess, I have written a-word story! It was tough that’s why I am more than glad to read your feedback. 🙂
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You’re welcome 🙂 You did a great job.
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It is really flattering when I read this words coming from a writer I look up to. 🙂 Thank you, Mel, really. ❤
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You’re welcome 🙂 I’ve always wanted to help other writers, even if it’s just reading their work and encouraging them 🙂 That was always part of my dream.
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Oh you are realizing your dream now. 🙂 You don’t know how much your words mean to me. 🙂
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😀 😀 yay!
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❤ ❤ ❤
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Yes. Finally, I have written a 100-word story. 😀
Thank you, Belinda!
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Excellent, Rosema! It’s exactly what I’m thinking when I saw the photo prompt. You’ve created a heartwarming real story for this one. And it reminds me of OTWOL too. Smiles! 🙂 🙂
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Diba!! 😀 There is something about this photo that feels like an OFW-captured image! Yes to OTWOL! 😀 😀 😀 Thank you, Maria!
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Oo! Salute to them who sacrificed being away from home for their families and loved ones. I hope they read this, they’ll be happy for sure. ❤ 🙂 🙂
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That is so true!!! 😀
And it seems we have the same idea about this photo! I can’t wait to read your take on this. (You haven’t posted it yet, right? :D)
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…because we both share the Filipina heart. 🙂 🙂
Nope, I haven’t posted it yet. I don’t think I can post anything today (busy bee). I decided to just be a reader and commenter today. Looking forward to your posts. 🙂 🙂
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Yes! 😀 We do!
Oh.. work eh? That will make me more excited to read your take! ❤
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Haha. Don’t raise you hopes too high though. I’ll try not to disappoint you. 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Hey Maria, you will NEVER ever disappoint me. 😉 NEVER! ❤
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Awwee you’re the sweetest blogger in blogosphere. THANK YOU! ❤ 🙂 :*
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Honestly sweet, Maria! 😀 I mean it! ❤
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Excellent work! I hope good fortune meets him/her in this big city.
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Yes, I hope so too.
P.S. There are a lot of OFWs there in Dubai. 🙂 One of them is my aunt. ❤
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Ah that’s true. I remember you mentioned that sometime ago.
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Yes. When she was diagnosed with lumps on her breast…
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This is so full of emotions. It reminds me of those who left their home to come here to work, all for their sake of their families. Truly heartwarming story. Well done, Rosema! All in a hundred words! 🙂
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Oh yes, Fun! I think there are a lot of Overseas Filipino Workers there in Singapore. It took a lot of love and courage to be away from their family. 🙂
Thank you for appreciating this short tale, Fun!
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You are most welcome, my dear. 🙂
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YAY! 😀 😀 😀
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This is great, Rosema! It is very heart-touching!
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Thank you! This is inspired by an unfortunate event in Iraq where 13 Filipino overseas workers died. 😦 It’s just sad.
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That is so sad! It is tragic! The poor families of these workers. 😦
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Yes. And they are their because they hope for a better life, and they will go home (if they would because some OFWs were buried where they died) inside a wooden box with no life. It’s sad…
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What is OFW’s and why were they buried alive in a wooden box?
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Overseas Filipino Workers meaning people from the Philippines working outside the country.
They are not buried alive, some go home inside a wooden box because they died overseas. Sometimes through tragedies sometimes because of abuse.
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Oh, I see. That is so sad. Many went to Iraq because they could make so much more money over there but the war there made it very dangerous. Which is why they got paid so much.
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That is true… (sigh)
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Sincere and real, this story has a depth that hits one in the chest. Beautiful work, Rosema!
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*blushes*
You are surely making my day, Thomas! Like… really! ❤
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🙂 I am happy to be able to bring a little blush and light to your day 🙂
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Yes, you surely do! 😀 Thank you!
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🙂 welcome!!
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YAY! 😀
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🙂
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❤
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Good luck to her!!!
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Thank you!:)
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We have so many people getting in here illegally, that some people forget they are human as well (my story this week was from the other perspective, and the racism of people.
Some people will give up everything they can to try to make money to send back home to their families. So they can give them even something. They are willing to live in squalor ad eat the bare minimum to help out their own kin.
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Those words are both sad yet real. It surely is happening. And the worst part is that some were not able to achieve what they wanted, to be able to earn money to send back to their family. Some were abused, or even killed by accident or by their own bosses. It’s just sad.
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It is. Especially if they end up working for unscrupulous bosses who will pay way below the minimum wage as they know they can get away with it.
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That is true, and sadly real. Thank you for taking some of your precious time on reading my little contribution to your awesome prompt. 🙂
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