A Thin Cord To Hold

Danger is the red light. When we are in danger, we pause, take our time, or take no action at all, which is a brave choice. A valid reason to halt and reflect.

On that day in August 26, 1986, I thought we were nearing the end of our lives. We were cleaning the entire surroundings because we were moving into our new house the next day. The events of that afternoon are still vivid in my mind...

Because there are only a few people in the town that we are moving in, the entire environment is tranquil, even if our location is beside the highway. The atmosphere is truly provincial.

My brother and father were cleaning the outside of our new house, while my mother and I were cleaning up the carpenters' debris and dust inside the house. I was in my bedroom, and my mother was in the master bedroom, when I heard a ruckus outside the house.

I could hear the men's voices commanding my father and brother to enter the house as they placed their hands on the nape of their necks and were warned not to look back as they were led inside. My mother was hysterical and crying.

I hid inside my bedroom cabinet, shaking with horror. I prayed not to hurt my parents or my brother while I was inside the cabinet. In such moments, all we need to do is cling to God, our Saviour.

The three of them were told to enter the restroom. I heard the guy told them to kneel or he'll blast their heads off. I bit my lip and sobbed quietly as I feared for our life.

I heard footsteps in the direction of my room. Fear gripped my entire being. I saw the man in the small crack of the cabinet, where I was hiding as he had entered and stood near the window, letting the air in. Fear caused my heart to stop in my throat for a second, and I feared it would be the end of my life if he realized I was hiding inside the cabinet.

While I was terrified for my life, I heard the other guy in the restroom asked my father for the car key. My father handed him the key. I watched the guy standing by the window left after hearing that his companions were leaving. I felt relieved, but I was still terrified.

As they were leaving, a man warned my parents and brother not to leave the restroom, as they planted a bomb at the main entrance.

I heard the cars start up and then they drove away. Before I emerged from my hiding place, I double-checked that they were all gone. My whole body was still trembling, and I could barely get out from the cabinet.

When I left the bedroom, I proceeded to the main door to verify if they had indeed set a bomb. Despite the fact that I was still terrified at the moment. I was certain that it was just an alibi that they planted a bomb so that my parents and brother would not leave the restroom, they couldn't see their faces or the license plate numbers of their vehicles.

I then went to the restroom and checked with my parents and brother. My mother was in tears, and my father was stunned. We never imagined that would happen to us. I felt bad for my parents and brother after learning that they (my brother and father) had been struck on their heads with a gun. My mother was unharmed. We are grateful to God for sparing us all from that horror.

I could see the terror on my parents' and brother's expressions, but we needed to calm down. We looked at what the evil guys had taken. They stole the suitcase full of mementos that my father had purchased from abroad for me, my siblings, and my daughter because my father was unable to put it inside the house since we were moving the next day.

My mother remembered her bag lying under the table, and she examined the contents of her bag, which contained money and an image of Sto. Nino. In my heart, I am certain that God saved us from the brink of death.

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This is my entry for the #SteemitPhilippines Community's Dangerous Encounter Challenge. Thank you for your unwavering support. I'd like to invite @reginecruz, @jbr123, and @jewel89 to partake in the contest.

Stay blessed,
@joshuelmari

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