listen...and you will hear

the daughter needs some space to spread her wings and taste her new-found freedom, to live and laugh in the moment, to love and to be herself. some days she will need her mother, others she will try to take a step out by herself. the woman stands in the shadow, waiting with open arms to catch her in case she falls.

the son needs a little guidance coupled with a lot of love, pranking, learning, laughing as every other carefree boy. the woman listens, laughs and teaches, whilst trying to maintain a stable balance between a firm and a hard hand. she wants him to grow up to be a good person.

the husband needs space to be himself, to be the nonchalant and carefree person that he was. the woman learns when to leave him with the peace that he so craves, and to handle everything else so that he gets that peace. he closes his eyes, his ears, his world.

the grandmother sits all day, waiting for someone to talk to, someone to listen to her. she cooks and cooks, and when she isn't, she's thinking of what to cook, to give her close ones a mouthful of love. the woman sits with her, when time allows, and cooks with her, being with her even if nothing much is said.

the grandfather works all day, indulging in what he knows best. the only thing that the woman can do is listen when he talks, and share a glass or two when he drinks so that he will not have to drink alone.

the nieces and nephews sometimes need someone to talk to, someone to oooh and ahhhhh over the things that they did during the day. someone to tell them that they are special and wonderful. the woman opens her door to those special moments.

the little dog saunters in and lay on the floor, wanting to be scratched on the tummy and waiting. the woman picks his up and strokes him whilst he lie contented, closing his eyes, on her lap.

the people in the office wants this done. the people on the other end of the phone wants that done. the text messages in the handphone wants her attention. the voices that float up claims her name. everybody wants something. what about what the woman wants?

she wants someone to really listen, to care about what happens in her day, to wonder about how she feels, to take notice of her as a person. she's not looking for relationship. she just wants friendship. a girl, a boy. an extra terrestial being, what does it really matter.

she wants to matter. but she learns long ago that it only happens in fairy tales and movies.