The Fabric of Us

The next day, I woke up earlier than usual. Got ready and went out. I really made sure that they would have a good impression of me. And since this was my first job under an employer, I promised myself that I will do my best everyday.

My first day at work went smoothly. I was able to do the job well and was even praised for being diligent with my work, so I was allowed by Mrs. Tes to leave early to sell goods at the market.

Though tired from working, I went home right away to prepare what I have to sell that day.

When I got home, I found dad panting heavily while holding his chest. I immediately went to him and helped him sit down. I got some water and gave it.

"Dad, please take it easy with work. I'll do the hard work for us. You MUST REST, dad! I don't want to be an orphan," I reprimanded him out of concern.

"Don't worry about that, Nora. This is just due to my old age. I can still manage, so just leave me be," he replied while trying to catch his breath.

Instead of resting, I then prepared what I would bring to the market. Before heading out, I made sure that Dad is okay.

When I got to the market, customers started flocking around one after another. Since there has been shortage of fish recently, more customers are eager to buy. Though exhausted, I returned home feeling fulfilled

When I arrived home, I found Dad sitting at the sofa, lost in deep thought.

"Wow! You're finally learning how to rest!" I kissed him on his cheek.

While at the dining table, I couldn't stop talking about my day. I told dad everything I did during the day. "I'm excited to go to work tomorrow," I eagerly told Dad.

"You're young; don't tire yourself too much or you might get sick," Dad advised.

That night ended with a feeling of relief in my heart.

In the following days, the cycle continued. Going to work, doing house chores, and selling Dad's catch by afternoon. It bacame part of day for a month now, and I was able to save little by little.

One day, I was unable to go to work because of a sudden heavy downpour accompanied by strong winds and lightning. Neither Dad nor I had heard any warnings about the typhoon: it caught us off guard. Without a TV or radio, we had no way to know it was coming, and so we weren't prepared at all.

I kept praying as the wind howled so strongly it almost tore off our roof. The rain was relentless, and the sea nearby was starting to rise. People around the neighborhood were evacuating, and so were we. I was scared—what if the floodwaters swept everything away?

"Dad, let's move your things to higher ground. The flood could take them all!" I urged as I quickly gathered my own stuff.

Dad looked worried. "I probably won't be able to go fishing for a few days now," he said probmatically, probably worrying about the expenses for the upcoming days.

We hurried our preparations so we could evacuate immediately. When we arrived at the evacuation center, there were already many people. It was crowded more than I expected and it would definitely be difficult to move around.

Night came, just as I had anticipated, finding a place to rest became a struggle as the crowd grew larger by the minute. The water level kept rising, and it was only going to get worse in the next hours. With each passing moment, the fear and anxiety in my chest grew stronger, filled with worry for everyone's uncertain future.

"Please, Lord, help us get through this storm," I silently prayer before dozing to sleep.

That night, the typhoon showed no signs of slowing. 

The next day, the storm did not get any calmer. It's chilling inside the evacuation center despite the crowd it's accomodating. 

"I hope the house could withstand the storm," I rubbed my palms together, hoping it would bring some warmth to my body.

"I hope so, Nora. This storm is really strong. If only we had prepared the house before it hit, there's no doubt it could have withstood the storm," Dad said anxiously, rubbing his own hands as well.

Fear filled the entire evacuation center. Everyone was alert, aware of the looming danger brought by the typhoon. From different corners, one could hear the cries of others as the fierce wind howled, almost tearing off the center's roofs.

Two days—feels like forever—passed before the sun finally came out.

We returned home, but what greeted us was a scene that broke my heart. The roof was completely gone, and only the posts remained; some of our belongings were also swept away by the flood. 

I collapsed out of devastation, tears streaming down my face. Dad wrapped his arms around me, steady and strong.

"Dad, we don't have a home anymore. All our memories with Mom...they are gone. The storm took everything from us," I sobbed as I clung to him.

It was heartbreaking to think that everything was gone in an instant. Another part of my self was taken away. It felt like losing Mom all over again. The memories of her in that house were all that remained. I cried deeply as I stared at the unrecognizable wreckage before us.

"Hush, rest now, my child. It's hard, but we have to keep moving forward," Dad whispered, comforting me.

What used to be only the problem of school expenses was now worsened by new challenges. Where would we get the money to rebuild the house? I am sure that what little savings I have was only enough for our daily needs—barely covering. On top of that, Dad wouldn't be able to go fishing for several days. It felt like the road ahead stretched endlessly.

For the meantime, we decided to stay at a friend's house nearby. We spent the night there and tried to find and gather strength for the challenges that lay ahead tomorrow.