"Son remember, there's always light at the end of the tunnel and don't you ever stop being good like your mum" a woman in her early 30s spoke softly into her son's ear, words that might just stick to the 15 year old boy's heart forever and as soon as those words dropped, her eyes closed and it never opened, the young boy was crying furiously he couldn't believe that his only source of living was gone, what hope was left now? Why was life So cruel? The tears kept coming until he woke up from his sleep, he was dreaming, a memory that has never left him for 2 years now, he could remember everything like it was just yesterday, how he had run off from the hospital, knowing fully that it was just him against the world, he had gone into the streets searching earnestly for where to perch, how to eat and how to survive.
He did jobs that weren't supposed to be done by someone his age, he slept in open places and got chased by people each morning he woke. He had gotten used to the aches he felt from sleeping on the floor.
But despite all the hardships he faced, the young boy held on to his mother's words - "there's always light at the end of the tunnel". He refused to let his circumstances define him and instead used them as fuel to work harder and strive for a better life.
He would wake up early each morning and go from one place to another looking for any job that would earn him some money or at least his daily bread. He became resourceful, learning how to fix broken items like radios, megaphones, chargers, and even bicycles. He also offered his services to those in need. Slowly but surely, he began to earn a little bit of money. Enough to buy him food and find him a more comfortable place to sleep at night.
One day, while he was fixing a broken bicycle a customer had brought him. An old man walked up to him looking desperately in need. The old man asked him if he could help him fix his sandal which was very damaged. The boy nodded and hurried to work. He picked up the old man's sandal and began to hammer in all the right places before using his needle and thread to suture the broken regions.
When he was done he handed the old man the sandals and the old man was impressed.
The old man smiled at the young man and asked " what's your name". The boy replied with his name and they both began a lengthy discussion which lead to the boy telling the old man his life story.
Heartbroken by the story, the old man offered to take him as his own, giving him a roof over his head and a chance to start a new life.
It wasn't an easy journey, but with his mother's words echoing in his mind, the boy kept pushing forward. He worked hard in school and eventually landed a scholarship to a prestigious university. He studied hard, and eventually graduated with honors, landing a high paying job in his field of study.
Looking back on his journey, the boy remembers his mother and her words which were more than just a simple phrase. They were a mantra that he lived by, and they gave him the strength to overcome every obstacle that came his way. He smiled to himself, grateful for the woman who had taught him to never give up, and to always look for the light at the end of the tunnel.
