Merry Christmas

          Times like Christmas are when I notice how it hurts me to be away from my family. When I remember those days in which there was no asking "Where am I going for Christmas." We all just met, and apart from any kind of recent family conflict, we all had a fun time.We saw those who were gone for a little while, and saw again those who are just always there. We laughed, cried, jumped, danced, hugged... we did it all. But we did it as a family...the huge family that we were. Oh, how I miss the times when I made up my Christmas list, and chose what I got from who. And my grandpa... he would take me to the commercial center, and say "get yourself ten toys!", but it would always end up being a lot more than just ten. Oh, the times when my grandma yelled at me not to touch her precious tree ornaments. I would sit down and admire the tree for hours. Waiting for my grandma to go upstairs so that I could touch the tree. We used to get ready for Christmas months beforehand. I would buy a whole entire outfit just for that special day...
...how I miss it all.
         Now there is no tree to admire. No list of gifts to make up. No grandpa to take me to buy whatever I wanted. No new outfits, not even family to unite. Now there are just memories of things that I've lost... of things that I could have if I had chosen to stay. How I wish I could just fly back home, even if for just this day. But there are so many barriers in between me and home. Now here I am, not knowing where to go. Not for having too many options, but for not having options at all. No, I'm not a loner. I have friends. But the thing is... they have their own family. And I have none. Sometimes I wonder if this is all worth it. Is my dream really worth this? Well, there is no turning around. It's too late now. There can be no crying over the road not taken. After all, I am happy for having these memories to treasure. I know there are people that have never had what I once did. Also, one way or another, I will be home by heart. I will be here, fighting for my dream... but my heart will always be home.
          I truly hope a Merry Christmas for everyone. My family, and all other families out there. And I hope that those away from home, like me, will find their way back or even find home within themselves. I wish above all, love to each individual on earth. Because with love comes all others: hope, sympathy, happiness, and even health. I heart full of love is a healthy heart. A healthy heart is a healthy body. So, love! Love with all that you have got, and don't be afraid to love because you might hurt. Yes, you will hurt sometimes, but the beauty of those moments full of love will immensely compensate for any hurt it might unintentionally cause. So, have a full-of-love Christmas!


Gabby Gominho N. de A.