The journey back to Manila from the province of Bicol stretched over nine grueling hours—a relentless road winding through endless darkness, carrying my weary body deeper into exhaustion. Every bump on the highway seemed to press the fatigue further into my bones. By the time I arrived, I was a vessel emptied of strength, but there was no respite waiting for me. Instead, a storm loomed on the horizon, its gathering winds and rain a vivid reflection of the turmoil within my soul—a tempest echoing my fractured thoughts in a chaotic world. Continue reading →