Back when I was just a toddler, while growing up with my grandpa and grandma, I was a bit off as a child. Most of the time I would spend my afternoons playing alone in our front yard, disregarding the danger of being hit at the side of the road. I would often hear my grand ma yelling " Leo - sweetie, don't go off the lawn, you might hurt yourself." not that i did not care, but i would always disregard the warnings of my grand mother. Often, I would throw the ball across the road and I would run as fast as I could to get it. In my subconscious mind a voice would warn me about a danger I knew nothing about. The voice would tell me when to get the ball and when I was not to. There were instances where I would see my grandma running toward me and all of a sudden embracing me so hard that I could not breath. Unaware of the event, I would often wonder what was wrong with my grandma.
As I grew up from toddler to kindergarten, my hobby of embarking dangerous circumstances became evident apparently. My grandma and grandpa naturally grew more worried about my safety. I remembered, playing the kitchen stove and accidentally setting fire in our kitchen, fortunately, the damage was remote. One time when I was watching the television with grandpa and when the movie seemed stressful to my infant mind, I would always hide in my grandpa's heavy arm. At that moment, I noticed my grandpa was asleep. And my restless mind told me to switch off the television. And slowly I walked toward it, and not having any idea how to turn it off, I immediately went to the easy way, unplugging it. When I was about to unplug it, a voice came to my ear and whispered and said "you need to pee". Then suddenly, I was in the middle of an argument with my brain, to pee or not to pee. I did not understand what the voice was wanting to tell me but it saved my life. I stayed near the socket for quite some time deciding and perhaps thinking. Then a louder voice came. And said, "hey, hey, what are doing there buddy? " And came a hug from my grandpa who was flabbergasted by the scene he woke up with.
Well, there were other times where I would wonder where the voice came from. And who was the owner of it. I kept asking myself until one night, when I was in a slumber deep, I was suddenly awaken by a shadow hovering my bed. I was so scared, and I screamed. To my surprise, no amount of voice was coming out. I was sweating and almost crying. The shadow was about 3-feet away from me and I was damn scared. Then, abruptly, a light coming from my hand came out, overriding the shadow. Then only the light from my hand was visible. And out of nowhere a man came out of the light and smiled and told me " You will be alright. The light will always guide and protect you. I will always be here for you. Always." Then, the light went off. I would never forget that event. I was 10 years old back then.
Yesterday, I received the saddest news of my life. I was sitting in my office doing my routine: signing contracts, analyzing the latest trends in gadgets and technology software, so on and so fort. Then, I was taken aback by the loud ring tone of my cellular phone. I picked it up and said my usual hello. On the other end, a not-so familiar voice asked if he could talk to Mr Leonardo Amacible. I said "speaking". For a moment I was shocked about the news he uttered. I almost lost my senses upon hearing it. My grandpa who lost his wife some months ago was in the hospital brought by some concerned good Samaritans who saw him collapsed near his house.
After some thirty minutes or so, I was already at the bedside of my grandpa. I never would have imagined this kind of situation. I always thought that it happened only in sitcoms. "This is real life" I said to myself and immediately discarded away whatever bad thoughts playing in my mind. I held my grandpa's hand. And stayed there wondering, remembering all the good things we had had. After quite some time he opened his eyes and a beam of light on my face evidently showed. "Thank God Grandpa, are you okay?" I said as I gave my greetings to him and hugged him. "I am fine. Not to worry a thing" he said. Then he coughed. Then he coughed again, and again, and it became unbearable to see. I called the doctor immediately to check on my grandpa. Then, the room became a circus full of people dressed in white. They panic, and I saw the panic in me as well. "Oh God please don't let him die, I beg you."
I went to the Chapel inside the hospital and prayed. I stayed there for about one and a half hours. And suddenly, I heard a voice. At first I thought, someone was with me praying and I turned around expecting somebody. To my surprise I saw no one. Then I went on praying. Then I heard again that voice, this time I could clearly hear it calling my name. I waited. Then when I turned around I saw a light glowing and forming into a human being. Then, a familiar voice came out and said "Leo, it is time. Your grandpa and grandma are in good hands. It is time for you to let go. You are strong enough to deal with every sad moment. You just have to be tough enough to deal with anything. Always remember, I will always watch over you. Just like when you were a little kid." Then I remembered everything. It was so clear. I had seen this person. The person whom I thought never existed was right in front of my eyes. I could not believe it. But in my sensible naive mind I said. " Thank you for everything" Then the light disappeared. So did my imaginary friend. The person who became my playmate during my toddler years. The person who saved me many times when I was in dangerous circumstances. The person who held me in his arms when I was desperate and lonely. The person whom I talked so often when I was so alone, especially after my parents died in a car accident. He did exist. And in all those years I was so blessed to have him. My grandpa would be in good hands. I went out of the chapel and knew exactly what to do. Now, everything would be alright.
