A Better Day
She was sunshine personified. Every single day, her eyes beamed brighter than the sun’s rays and her smiles radiated warmth and grace. But beneath her sun-draped skin and rosy cheeks, she craved for the night to come. She ached for the last remnants of the day to roll in with the dusk so she could plunged into her bed faster that anyone could— for her soul was tired. Tired from trying too hard. Trying to paint a smile in this blood speckled world. Trying to hold on to what is left of humanity yet they continued to slip away. Trying to rip off those labels that distorted mankind’s vision. Trying to break the walls that divided the people of the earth. Her soul was tired from all these needless “versuses”. Black versus white. Rich versus poor. Islam versus Christianity. America versus Europe versus Asia versus Middle East. Them versus us. You versus me. In the comfort of her bed, she curled herself the way crocuses tucked themselves at night and prayed for a better day.
© 2016 Maria. All Rights Reserved.
Photography by Anna O.
Today’s Filipino word prompt is “takipsilim” which refers to “twilight or dusk”.
Come on! Write a poem or a fiction
Snap a photo under the sun
A six-word tale or a long post, perhaps?
Let’s all get word-high this July!
Want to join the fun? Find the prompt words HERE! Don’t forget to pingback & use the tag WordHighJuly. Mazel tov! 😉
DoodleScribbles 
July 12, 2016 at 12:28 am
Wow! This is a powerful piece, Maria. So beautifully written. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 13, 2016 at 11:53 am
Thank you, Josslyn. ❤ The world news lately has got me all drained and emotionally unstable, it seems.
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 13, 2016 at 12:50 pm
❤
LikeLike
July 12, 2016 at 12:29 am
let’s all have a better day 🙂
https://ladyleemanila.wordpress.com/2016/07/11/word-high-july-takipsilim-ng-buhay/
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 13, 2016 at 11:54 am
Yes to a better day, Ladylee. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 12, 2016 at 12:56 am
This is beautiful, and powerful, and hopeful, and melancholy. You’ve captured the feeling of many of us who are frustrated by the world, who see what is happening and feel the pain of everyone hurting, who still hold a tiny bit of hope that a better day lies ahead.
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 13, 2016 at 12:01 pm
Thank you, Jade! Draining, are they not? It’s really a roller-coaster of emotions for many of us who feel so deeply about these issues and we are left with nothing but to hold on to that thin thread of hope that a better day lies ahead.
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 13, 2016 at 11:22 pm
Yes, and I think the worst part might be how we want to help make things better but we can’t or don’t know how 😦
LikeLike
July 14, 2016 at 5:05 pm
Trueeeee! Arghskdfj! *endless sigh*
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 12, 2016 at 1:06 am
Incredibly apt! There’s always a confrontation going on in some form or the other. We need to focus on what unites us, rather than what divides us. Great post!
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 13, 2016 at 12:05 pm
“We need to focus on what unites us, rather than what divides us.” ~ I sooo agree, S! There are too many walls in between us that it feels like this world is one big prison cell.
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 12, 2016 at 2:49 am
Another great and beautiful post! Keep up the good work x
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 13, 2016 at 12:05 pm
Thank you for the kind words… Enjoy the day. 🙂
LikeLike
July 12, 2016 at 2:51 am
Sad but true. Always some sort of battle going on out there in the world. Between people of different level/class/ranks/social standing
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 13, 2016 at 12:09 pm
Yes and there is no end to it. Sigh. All these battles, for me, are needless.
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 12, 2016 at 4:42 am
i think there are a lot of people at the moment who have this sense of both total hopelessness and desire for change, and it really struck a chord in this piece!
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 13, 2016 at 12:32 pm
Thank you, Sam. A lot of us a keeping our fingers crossed to see a silver lining at the end of the day.
LikeLike
July 12, 2016 at 5:35 am
Oh wow. I adore this MN
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 13, 2016 at 12:33 pm
Thank you, Sarah! 🙂 ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 13, 2016 at 12:42 pm
Of course!
LikeLike
July 12, 2016 at 5:35 am
this!**
LikeLike
July 12, 2016 at 5:55 am
Powerful piece. The comparisons we do with each other in humanity are unavoidable, but I think we could do less of them. Especially where race and sexuality etc are concerned. We need to be able to celebrate our differences but not shame and hurt those not like us. I think for your character this seems impossible, only a dream, so she tucks herself in bed, its a hiding place, a safe place from discrimination. Beautiful Maria.
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 13, 2016 at 12:44 pm
“We need to be able to celebrate our differences but not shame and hurt those not like us.” ~ Yes. I completely agree, Mandi. It is true that our differences cannot be avoided nor denied and what we need is respect instead of prejudice. As for race and religion.. these two have always been enclosed in towering walls. Each race/religion tries to prove one is better than the other–when in fact, we all bleed the same color and that there is only one God in too many names.
Sigh. I’m blabbering again. Geez.
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 13, 2016 at 1:25 pm
It’s difficult, everyone thinks they are right. Convincing them to see other views, at least respecting them, is where difficulty lies. Very true all of what you said 🙂
LikeLike
July 12, 2016 at 7:59 am
Oh WOW oh WOW–heart-breakingly beautiful write, Maria. My fave line is “trying to paint a smile in this blood speckled world”…wowwwwww. Yes, praying for a better day indeed…
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 13, 2016 at 12:52 pm
Thank you so much, Stella! Let’s all hope a day when we could smile from the bottom of our hearts and laugh wholeheartedly.
Have a lovely day! 🙂 ❤
LikeLike
July 13, 2016 at 12:54 pm
One day… ❤
LikeLike
July 12, 2016 at 9:12 am
Shadeau’s favorite line is also mine. It so beautifully and hauntingly expresses the feeling of most people in the world, as I believe most people are good. This poetic short story is like a prayer, I love it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 13, 2016 at 12:55 pm
Thank you so much, Gilda. I am holding on to that faith that there is goodness in all of us despite of these countless issues about war and death.
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 12, 2016 at 10:15 am
that photo and your words, geeeeez! they made a perfectly intense yet tired piece!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 13, 2016 at 12:56 pm
Thank you, dear! I was really feeling awfully tired when I wrote this one. *endless sigh*
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 13, 2016 at 1:23 pm
awwww, that’s sad. but this is still beautiful!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 13, 2016 at 10:00 pm
Thank you, dearieee… Still trying to push away the sighs here…
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 13, 2016 at 10:01 pm
Oh deaaar. Too busy???
LikeLike
July 13, 2016 at 10:35 pm
Yeah!! I’m juggling codes in the office. Definitely not my forte. The numbers are dancing! 😭😱
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 13, 2016 at 10:55 pm
Geeeeez. That’s bad. Hmmmm. Go dance with them dear. Aja!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 14, 2016 at 5:04 pm
Aja!! Haaay… Sana matapos nato!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 14, 2016 at 5:36 pm
Kaya mo yan! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 14, 2016 at 5:57 pm
Yep! Today’s a lot better, medyo friends na kami ng mga numbers. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 14, 2016 at 6:50 pm
nukkks! from friend to friend! 😀
LikeLike
July 12, 2016 at 5:55 pm
Beautiful thoughts and words Maria. Human kind could do with more of this reflective twilight.
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 13, 2016 at 1:00 pm
Thank you, D! I hope so, too. It’s quite a depressing process and the thought of these issues might weight us down a lot more but it’s all worth the time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 12, 2016 at 9:36 pm
beautifully humanitarian, this piece tugs at my heart!
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 13, 2016 at 1:05 pm
Humanitarian– the word didn’t come to mind until now. Thank you, Mel! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 13, 2016 at 8:29 pm
You’re welcome 😊
LikeLike
July 12, 2016 at 10:20 pm
This is wonderful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 13, 2016 at 1:05 pm
Thank you, PJ! Have a great day. 🙂
LikeLike
July 13, 2016 at 8:36 pm
You have a great day too! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 13, 2016 at 10:44 pm
Thank you, Pj. It’s a good night sleep here so I’ll be saying sweet dreams to you in advance 😘💕
LikeLike
July 13, 2016 at 10:55 pm
Sweet dreams!
LikeLiked by 1 person
July 14, 2016 at 5:04 pm
❤ ❤ ❤
LikeLike