Chapter 2: Struggles Back Home
Nancy's journey to Saudi Arabia seemed like a world away from her life in the Philippines, where she had faced struggles and hardships that had pushed her to make the difficult decision to leave her family behind.
As the plane soared through the sky, Nancy closed her eyes, her mind drifting back to the early days of her relationship with Alfredo and the challenges they had faced together.
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It was a warm and muggy day in their small Filipino town, where everyone knew everyone else's business. Nancy, in her early twenties, sat on the porch of their modest home with her six-year-old daughter, Besilda, playing with a worn-out doll.
Besilda, a bundle of energy, giggled as she made her doll "talk." "Mama, when will we have a new doll? This one's too old."
Nancy smiled, her heart heavy with the weight of their financial struggles. "Soon, my love. Mama is working hard to get us a new doll."
Besilda's innocent eyes sparkled with hope. "I can't wait!"
Alfredo, Nancy's live-in partner, emerged from the house, a worried expression on his face. "Nancy, I've been to every job opening in town, but no one is hiring."
Nancy looked at Alfredo, a mix of frustration and concern in her eyes. "We can't go on like this, Alfredo. We have Besilda to take care of. We need money."
Besilda, sensing the tension, went quiet, her doll forgotten. Nancy and Alfredo had been living together for years, their relationship a mix of love, hardship, and hope. They had hoped for a better life together, but circumstances had conspired against them.
As the days turned into weeks, their struggles deepened. Alfredo's fruitless job searches left him feeling defeated, and Nancy's income from a small convenience store barely covered their daily expenses.
One evening, as they sat down for a meager dinner of rice and vegetables, Nancy broke the silence. "Alfredo, we can't keep living like this. Besilda deserves a better life."
Alfredo nodded, the weight of their situation evident on his face. "I know, Nancy. I just don't know what to do anymore."
Besilda, who had been listening to her parents, piped up with her innocent wisdom. "Mama, Papa, can't we ask the stars for help?"
Nancy smiled at her daughter's sweet suggestion. "You know, my love, sometimes it's nice to have a little faith in something."
Alfredo agreed. "Maybe we could use a little help from the stars right now."
From that night on, before they went to bed, Nancy, Alfredo, and Besilda would stand under the clear night sky and make wishes upon the stars, each of them silently hoping for a brighter future.
But as weeks turned into months, the struggles continued. Nancy worked longer hours at the convenience store, and Alfredo's once optimistic demeanor had faded. One day, he approached Nancy with a heavy heart.
"Nancy, I can't bear to see Besilda like this. She deserves more than what we can provide. I want you to go to Saudi Arabia and find work. It's the best chance for us to have a better life."
Nancy was torn. The thought of leaving Besilda and her family behind was agonizing, but she knew that Alfredo was right. Their daughter deserved a future full of opportunities. Tears welled up in her eyes as she made her decision.
"Okay, Alfredo. I'll go to Saudi Arabia. But you have to promise me that you'll take care of Besilda and that you won't give up."
Alfredo embraced her tightly, his voice choked with emotion. "I promise, Nancy. We'll make this sacrifice for Besilda's future."
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On the plane to Saudi Arabia, Nancy's thoughts were filled with memories of the struggles she and Alfredo had faced back home. The weight of her decision and the hope for a better life for her family were the driving forces that pushed her forward. Besilda's innocent belief in the power of the stars continued to inspire her as she embarked on this new chapter of her life, hoping that the stars would guide her to a brighter future for them all.
Nancy and Alfredo shared a deep love for history that had been a part of their relationship since they first met. Despite the challenges they faced in their daily lives, history was their escape, a shared passion that brought them together in the early days of their relationship.
It was on one of their first dates, years before Nancy's departure for Saudi Arabia, that they discovered their mutual fascination with history. They had been strolling through a local park, hand in hand, when they came across a small monument. Intrigued, Nancy asked Alfredo about its significance.
Alfredo, always the storyteller, launched into a detailed account of the monument's historical background. Nancy listened with rapt attention, hanging on his every word. She was captivated by his passion and knowledge, and it was clear that this shared interest was something special.
From that day on, Nancy and Alfredo began exploring their local town's historical sites and museums together. They would spend hours in libraries, reading books on local and world history, discussing the intricacies of different time periods, and pondering the lessons history could teach.
In their small, humble home, they proudly displayed a collection of history books, each one a testament to their shared love for the subject. They had a particular fondness for stories of resilience, of ordinary people who had made extraordinary contributions throughout history.
Nancy and Alfredo's fascination with history became a source of inspiration and strength for them, a reminder that even in the face of adversity, individuals and societies could overcome challenges and shape a better future. It was this shared passion that had made their relationship deeper, their bond stronger, and their dreams more meaningful.
As Nancy embarked on her journey to Saudi Arabia, she carried with her the lessons of history and the shared dreams she and Alfredo had nurtured over the years. It was this love for history that had laid the foundation for her unyielding determination to create a better life for their family, hoping that the stories of the past would guide her towards a brighter future.