CHAPTER 12

I decided not to go back home just for tonight. I sat here at the side of the bridge with a stranger beside me. She's already in a middle adulthood and she's here because she's selling balut, one of the first exotic food delicacies in the Philippines. She talked a lot and I find myself comfortable being with her. She told me that she came from a poor family and has to sell balut in order for her to feed her family. She even told me everything she do isn't easy, but her family is her inspiration for her to continue this. They are happy even though they are poor. But here I am, I have everything I need, I got everything and I can buy all the things I want, however, I am not happy with my life. Isn't it funny? This just proves that life with money won't always make you happy. It is the life with your family that counts.

A cold breeze touched my skin so I sat with my legs together. I hugged both of my knees and I felt the roughening of my skin.

"It's starting to get cold,