ANYONE BUT YOU

UNEDITED SAMPLE LITERARY ARTICLE
By Maylene L Manzano
III-Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen


Once you step on that field, you can’t take a step back anymore. No hands would reach out to you and help you out. No other person can save you in your time of despair. You stand alone.

We all live in this harsh reality. We live in a world full of strangers. Different faces surround you. Who knows what they’re up to? You’re emotions wouldn’t be such a big deal. Such thoughts wouldn’t be heard. Nobody cares. Nobody listens.

For years, I’ve spent my time wandering around the halls in such despair. With a pen on my right and a piece of parchment on my left, I just let each hour pass as I reminisce all my memoirs when I was still a child. I’ve remained silent for so long. Right before I became a part of this elite group of students of this fine institution, I was a somebody with a voice. I was the voice of the unheard. I was the voice that used to search for equality. The voice that used to be the pillar of my courage and dedication. But now it’s gone.

Since then, I can’t face the world I live in. Every time I would step up to the crowd, I would not let anyone see my face nor my emotions. I let every single face in that crowd throw such hurtful words right into my face. I let them walk over me. I let them take over the life I’ve always grasped into my hands. From such actions, I can’t even defend myself. I was cloaked with fear. I want to scream and prove them wrong. Yes, I want to break free from the chains that had been holding me down for years. But I just can’t.

My lips were sealed. Sealed with all the fears I’ve kept inside for a very long time. Sealed with all the fears I’ve kept inside for a very long time. With all the judgmental people around me, I lost even the confidence I once had. I used to be a young maiden full of vigor and passion. A young lady who dreams to reach for the stars and stand strong in the midst of any storm. But suddenly, I find myself sitting in a dark corner, alone. Under the sheets, I hid myself from the frightening stares and the terrifying screams of every single person that I see. In the midst of the battle I faced, I was trembling in fear, thinking this would be the end of me. Not even a single person came to my aid. Then I realized, I was alone.

To live in a world where you’re a neophyte, I experienced a lot of hardships and met a lot of obstacles. As I went through each, I see nothing but a lonesome girl trying to find a way to make it thorough it alone. It was very hard to stand with your own two feet. To live in such a place without a pillar to hold on to was so difficult for such a young maiden to handle. But I had no choice. I had to endure all the problems that come my way. I didn’t have any right to complain. This was what I longed for a long time. And this was the price to pay.

I’ve tried to reach for the light in the midst of the darkness that embodied me for so long. I had nowhere to go. I was lost like an innocent child, crying and waiting for someone to carry me up again. I waited and waited and waited. But no one, not even a single person, came. No one.

Years passed and I lost hope. I’m still trapped in this abyss alone. I would never be able to go back to the way I was before. I don’t care anymore what might happen if I stay here a little bit longer. No one cares for me anyway. Then I thought, why don’t I just disappear? After all, I have no one. Why bother live without anyone to share your life with? It seems so useless. Everything’s just a waste.

But then, I can’t help but think if someone would be miserable if I leave. I know all these years, I withstood alone all the storms that came my way. But at this very moment, if I suddenly leave this place for good, would anyone cry because of me?