A Dream Came True

by  Alecia Castillo

As the beautiful sky turns into red the church bell rang . Lot of people who were coming out from the old cathedral. Women are dressed with royal blue gown and men with their white long sleeve. I was panting and sweating just to reach the wedding ceremony but I was too late for I was informed that the wedding will be held at 6 pm.        

My name is Jackson Hernandez but they used to call me “Jack”. My dream is to become a famous photographer. I’ve got lot of failures in my life. I’ve tried to apply to a photo shop and companies. But still I’m in the stage of waiting for a call.      

  

Until one day my colleague friend called me and asked to take the place of the photographer of the wedding for he wouldn’t be able to catch the ceremony. And I was happy knowing for the first time I could now show my talent and ability. But unfortunately they’ve never called me again; the first photographer they hired already accepted the job. Just to prevent the trouble they informed me that the wedding will be held at 6 pm but actually it’s started at 2 o’clock in the afternoon.         

That was my colleague friend’s text when I was about to call him.           

I sighed and wiped my face which was sweating. So I wasn’t late, but I was been tricked. I want to scream and punch my friend. Anyway, I’m already here. So I get inside the cathedral and look for a place where I could get a peace.            

There were few people who were still praying. While others are going out from the cathedral. And at the right side a child who was quietly sitting on her wheelchair with an old blanket covering her head. As I look around I see how beautiful the old cathedral was. The ceiling was painted about the god. I get my camera which was hanged on my neck and take some pictures. The sacred altar, the statues, and the image of Christ who was nailed in the cross. And when I was about to capture the altar an image block on my lens. But it was too late I already click the shot button.          

It was  the child who had an old blanket. But at this moment the child was about to pick up the old blanket which was fell off to the floor. Shocked and sympathy that’s what I feel from that moment. Seeing the child  who was sick.       

The child was a boy I thought she was a girl. He covered his head with a blanket for he had something to hide. He had a kind of illness that the other children had who were featured in the news. And it was my first time to saw a poor child having a hydrocephalus. He could not close his eyes for it was stretched by his enlarging head.     

Because of his big head he was struggling to reach the blanket. He was almost out of balance.       By looking at him I quickly run out of my breath just to hold him not to fall in the floor. I picked his blanket and put it on his head.      

Unintentionally, I’ve already took some pictures of the poor boy. Wearing a faded t-shirt and short. Sitting on his wheelchair. The boy was thin and pale maybe because of his illness.        

Pushing his wheelchair and supporting him to go outside. Looking for a place where we could rest. A rectangular garden with a tree on the middle. It was a better place.          

By looking at the boy's face he was exhausted.

“You stay here. I’m going to get something.” After telling those words I run into the vendor and buy a bottled water. 

“Here…freshen’ up yourself.” as I give the water.       

He was breathing hardly. As he get the bottled water he drink it immediately.

“Thank you..” the boy said in a husky voice.

I sit beside him and ask. 

“Are you ok?”

He just nodded for a response. 

“Then why you were alone?”

“I don’t… have… someone to be with…” he sadly responded, and having a hard time to speak.

“What do you mean?”

“For the 7 years…..of my life…..I’ve never had a family….neither father nor mother…I was living….by myself.” in a husky and sad voice.

“They told me…when I was a baby….my parents broke up…..And they….they…have.. another family….my mother’s sister ….who was a maiden….she was the only one who was there…..to….to took care of…..me. But when….I…..was four she died of….. tuberculosis.”

He suddenly stops. He was like, he forgot something…or maybe he was hurt because of his head.

I thought  it was the most saddest moment  of  his life until he said.

“…I was four…I don’t have a… cho…..choice but to force myself.  I was begging for a money… and food in the street…. even in the jeep…they’ve mistakenly called me a….badjao or mangyan… I wish I was…. for they have their home and….family.” He was struggling from the pain of his illness and from the pain of his past.

I felt  the pain and bitterness of his life.

“But that was… when I don’t have this..” he smiled. He was pointing his big head. He was kidding in the middle of his illness.            

Even though how tough and miserable his life was, I can still feel a hope from his smile.

“Who are with you now…looking that you’re sick, don’t you have somebody that could take  care of you? what about your food….? A place to sleep..” I was just concern to him.

“Here!. There!...anywhere….the city is big… people here are offering food…and clothes…to …me..” he was smiling.

“What if something will happen to you?” I asked.

“Nope…no one is concern…I’m not afraid of death…my only dream……is that to find my mom and my father….” He suddenly stops and take a deep breath..Then he continues..

“just a brief glimpse…I’m now ready to die…if that will happen…I’m lucky for my dream came true…”         

I suddenly feel the cold breeze of the loneliness…I’m holding my tears. For I don’t want to cry, showing that I felt pity for him. He doesn’t deserve that feelings but he deserve to be admired…cause he is a brave child…a poor and sick child.

“But I know… that dream is hard to become true..” he added with a bitter voice. 

“Well, anyway I need… to go for now…” he smiled but in pain.

“Where are you going?” as I asked. 

“To Father John….”

Is he going to confess to the priest?

“Hey! Wait…what’s your name..kid?” I almost forgot to ask his name.

“Melchor  Agonus…..sounds ugly for me. Please call me… ‘Harry'!” he smiled when he says ‘Harry‘.

 “Why should I?.. it’s  definitely different from your real name..? “ As I gasped.

He laughs at first. 

“It was Harry Potter… I am fan of him..” he was like a girl who was flirting. 

“You know why…Harry Potter also doesn’t have a mother and a father. But he was brave enough….to face his journey. He also have a magic.. with his wand.. he could turns the thing into a magical..”

He was like dreaming into real world. 

“If I have that magic wand at least I could find my parents….”

He was still hoping.

“What about…. you sir?” he asked me.

“Ahh.. I’m Jack…I am a photographer and wanted to be a famous….but life is full of bitterness and failures.” As I explained. 

“No.. that is not reasonable to say that the world is not worth it to have a dream.”

He rolled his eyes around …

“You have a tool to spread that the world is still beautiful… the problem was you.. you should be more appreciative of the things around you…” as he added. 

He was like a matured kid advising a 24 years old man.          

After two days of posting Harry’s pictures captioned with his story on the internet, I received lot of messages from Facebook and life changing comments. Lots of netizen who were sharing his pictures with the hush tags of kmjs. I just laughed but overwhelmed. For there are lot of people who were sympathizing him.           

Till one day  he was already featured on one of the famous TV programs which was  the Jessica Soho. The program helped him to find his parents. And gave him a medical support.             

Two weeks later, one of my friend called me. I was horrified about the news. Should I say bad news for he was too young or good news for his dream came true.           

I remember all the words that he said. A boy with a small dream but never had a chance to give up. We should not find someone to appreciate the things that we’ve done just to become a famous, but we ourselves are the one who should appreciate the beauty of those things first.