Sky, Air, and Earth. This is everything that described me ever since my existence.
I always thought that living in a wealthy family made me vulnerable because my dad was the richest man in our area. One could say he was the talk of the town for whatever he said wasn’t questioned. I don’t know if it’s because he was a wise man, but I’m very sure that people respected us for our dad’s money rather than who we truly were.
Just like the other rich kids, I never had to worry about having food on my table or being chased out of class like my classmates due to failure to pay school fees. In my village studying outside the country meant richness, to my family, it meant searching for better sources of knowledge but to me, it felt like abandonment.
I remember myself leaving home, with shaky feet unable to move. A heavy heart whose beat was louder than any noise on the outside, afraid to leave home but with no choice. I was taken to Uganda in Boarding school. I was just in nursery class, wishing I was a little older.
Coming back from school for the holidays felt like a glass of cold water on a sunny day. I remember I couldn’t even sleep the night before closing day, for 7 years I spent in Uganda, going back home was the only magical moment in my life. The sky would look brighter than it ever did before. Family back home would be waiting; Dad would take me to places and give me the happiest moments of my life.
In the last year of primary school, that’s when I learned of my parents’ separation, my sky got darker and for the first time in my life, I didn’t want to go home.
After my final exam, as everyone was excited, I was worried about who would come to pick me up. The wind blew every happy moment I have ever had. Just like a little bird that flew with two supportive wings, I felt down to earth cause the air wouldn’t hold me up to the sky anymore. After all, one of my wings was broken.
My Dad moved out after several fights with mom and my siblings. Mom lost her job and the rich kids became homeless.
We didn’t go back to school in Uganda. Instead, we went to a school home in Rwanda and then moved to our grandparent’s house.
I remember myself being stuck between crashing and falling apart. Two feelings that felt almost similar except that one was heavier than the other.
Earth wasn’t friendly, school became my new home. I had to fake friends to fit in. I had to work smarter cause I felt like I was my mom’s only hope left. We had to beg for food, sometimes starve, and sleep on cold nights wishing we just went back to when we had everything and worried about nothing.
I craved that one last shot that take the World Cup home. The only moment you have to give the best because everyone is counting on you. That joy you get when you finally shoot your shot and the crowds are so loud, everyone so proud. Those super Hero moments you give to your family and the tears of joy from mama’s eyes. I know everyone deserves this moment in life, that one golden moment when you have a taste of your dreams come true when everyone else sees it as the end. But how do I have it when the field isn’t clear anymore?
My life has taught me to be brave in every moment. To expect anything at any time. But it has also taught me to work hard and make my dreams come true. We are all inspired by events, the moment that broke me the most, inspired me the best. I am not sure what career awaits me in the future but I know dreams happen and dreams come true and am ready to make them come true no matter what obstacles come my way. Yeah, sure my house is broken, we are building from scratch but we are no longer in the same position we were in five years ago. There is magic in what you believe and I believe in success, so be it my magic.
Author: unknown