People feel sad for multiple reasons. It's a part of being human. Some reasons are easy to understand, like losing a loved one or facing a major setback in life. But there are also reasons that a lot of people don’t understand, like my sister crying her heart out for some bad boy she found a few weeks ago. I knew she and him wouldn't last long. It was obvious to everyone except her. But it didn't matter to me and my dad. We tried to make her happy, to lift her spirits. But instead, we ended up making her feel even sadder. It's hard to know how to comfort someone who is lost in the chaos of their own emotions. My dad is a single dad. He and my mom had a divorce years ago. I haven't seen her ever since then. I don’t even know what happened to her. I don't even know what she looked like because my dad has thrown all the pictures of her away. It's like she disappeared from our lives completely. My dad may sound mean, but he is truly the best dad I could ask for. But despite his love and best efforts, my dad is struggling financially. Our house is small and doesn't look its best. It's far from the ideal home, but it's all we have. Our mom once promised us that one day we'd leave this ugly house for a big mansion. But that promise feels like a fading dream, shattered by the harsh reality of life. I was naive and young back then. Now that I'm older, I get to see the real world. It's not always rainbows and unicorns. One day, while walking on the street, I noticed a woman with brown long hair, a little like mine, walking in the opposite direction. Her face looked delicate and soft, just like I imagined my mom to be. Soon, flashbacks danced through my head, memories I thought were long forgotten. I couldn't believe it. Could this woman actually be my mother? I ran towards her, filled with excitement and hope. But as she turned around, she revealed herself to be a stranger. My heart sank, and I fell to the ground, crying. The pain of not knowing, of hoping for something that might never come true, became unbearable. I ran back home, leaving the bus stop and school behind. School could wait, but finding my mother couldn't. Determination filled my every fiber as I searched through the drawers in my dad's office. I looked through his work papers, leaving more of a mess than before. There had to be something, at least one photo of my mom. But my search came up empty. Exhausted and disheartened, I slid down onto the hardwood floor. I sighed, looking up at the ceiling, feeling defeated. Then, something caught my eye. A glimmer of hope amidst the darkness. Could it be what I think it is? I crawled towards one of the drawers, my heart pounding in my chest. I opened it quickly, and there it was—an old photo. I held it in my hands, studying every detail of my mother's face. It was like a puzzle piece, filling in the gaps of my memories. But before I could fully process my discovery, I heard a door slam shut. Oh no, my dad must've come home early! Panic surged through me. I couldn't let him see me here, skipping school and digging into the past. I quickly hid under my dad's office desk, making myself as small as possible. From my hiding spot, all I could see was the bottom part of the office door. I held my breath, waiting for my dad's footsteps to fade away. But instead, they stopped right outside the door. My heart raced, and fear gripped me tightly. "BOO!" My dad's voice boomed, and I let out a scream, my lungs straining for air. The surprise was too much to handle. I couldn't contain my fear or my emotions any longer. After catching my breath, I stood up, still shaken from the experience. My dad stared at me, a mix of concern and amusement in his eyes. "How—how did you find me?" I managed to ask, my voice trembling. "How small did you think you were, fitting under my desk?" He replied, a small smirk forming on his face. "And what are you still doing here?" "Well, I..." I hesitated, searching for an excuse. But the truth tumbled out of my lips before I could stop it. "I just wanted to... uh... find something. I wanted to surprise you, to show you how much I appreciate everything you do for us!" My dad's skeptical expression softened, and a glimmer of pride shone in his eyes. "Really?" he asked, sounding both surprised and touched. "Yeah!" I exclaimed, feeling a surge of courage. "Look at this place, Dad. You've worked so hard to make it the best it can be for us. I wanted to show you that I noticed, that I care."
A smile tugged at the corners of my dad's lips. "You know you're supposed to be at school right now, right?" he reminded me, his hands on his hips. But there was a warmth in his voice. I grabbed my backpack and my mother's photo, clutching it close to my chest, close to my heart. "Let's go, Dad," I said, a grin spreading across my face. And together, we walked out of that small house, leaving behind the sadness and embracing the hope of a brighter future. As I got home from school that day, I examined my mother's face closely once again. "She's very pretty," I thought, tracing the lines of her smile with my finger. I wished I could meet her, hear her laugh, and feel her love. But for now, I would hold onto this photo, this small piece of her that reminded me of the ties that bind us, even when we are apart. And with a renewed sense of purpose, I vowed to make the most of the time I had with my dad and my sister. Because even in the midst of sadness and uncertainty, there is always room for love and connection. And no matter how broken or messy our lives may seem, there is always hope for a brighter tomorrow.
