Remembering the Ally I Lost
I came across an old memory today, and it made me think about my cousin who passed away in 2024.
Before we weren't extremely close because we lived far from each other. He was from Mindanao while I was in the Visayas. But during our high school years, he stayed with our family while studying & ibang school sya at ako naman nasa exclusive school that time those are some memories I'll always treasure.
Back then, I had a girlfriend. Our relationship wasn't approved by my parents & because of the strict environment we grew up in, it was difficult to stay connected. Phones were often taken away so we could focus on our studies & our school was very strict about g2g relationships. If teachers found out, parents would be called in for conferences.
My cousin knew everything.
He never judged me. He never told anyone. Instead, he became my ally.
Whenever he could, he would lend me his phone so I could message my girlfriend. It might seem like a small thing now, but to me, it meant the world. He helped me get through one of the most emotional periods of my teenage years. He kept my secret and supported me when I felt like nobody else understood.
Eventually, that relationship ended. The pressure became too much for us & to my prev gf. Looking back, I still appreciate her because she taught me what it felt like to love someone deeply and to be loved in return.
But today, my thoughts are with my cousin for being there when I needed someone & for helping me, for keeping my confidence & for making a difficult chapter of my life a little easier. You may not have realized how much those small acts of kindness meant to me, but I never forgot them.
I wish I had more time with you. I wish we had talked more as we got older. I hope you're at peace.
And to everyone celebrating, Happy Pride Month. 🌈
Sorry for the long post ✌🏻