Category: Personal

It is finally the week after. Once the crowd was over with the euphoria of superficial freedom, a kind of liberty that one shouts out loud but have none of it, life returns to its dull elements.

We wake up in the morning, trying to beat others in the traffic, cursing while we are at it. Some are still in bed, still unemployed. But the sun rises, faithfully than most of us could ever be, as it has always been since time first began, whenever that was.

Some flags still fly. Some other are on the ground, stepped upon by unsuspecting strangers. The patriotism and the cry for liberty that many made on August 31 was an one night stand. One is only so enamored with the other only before the climax. Once satisfied, life goes on as if nothing happened. We go on our separate ways after talking so much about how we loved each other. How fake.

The sky was so blue that day. I half suspected it to rain like it had the days previously. Just like how it is raining drizzly today. I woke up late after going to bed at 4AM, doing things that I used to do in college, trying to relive life that I had. It was a fool’s errand but I did what I needed to do. But the morning was so blue that I woke up and stayed on my bed, staring outside, smiling at the cloudless sky. I thought I saw the color of liberty smiled back at me.

Liberty is a foul word these days, despite how many simpletons are shouting, we are free. They celebrate freedom but scorn others that cheer for larger freedom. Their freedom needed to be defined by fascists and they celebrate blindly in their cage. True freedom reaches for the sky, a concept a meek mind incapable of even imagining. Perhaps, the sky is too high and daunting to them. Socrates was right; prisoners chained since childhood in a cave are scared of the sun. The comfort of the cave spoils them. The darkness that imprisons them are their protector.

When the Prime Minister held up his hand while shouting senseless, I could not help but recall a certain German standing on a podium, addressing a sea of smartly dressed individuals in gray at the Nuremberg Rally. Maybe I am extrapolating too much. Silly me.

The birds sang, trying to convince to me to get out of bed, to grab the moment, to live the moment. Yet, sigh, it felt so good to just lie down without worry. I told the birds, shoo, go away and let me savor this peace of mine. The mind felt so empty, as if the world is alright. Let me have my peace, just this morning.

But time conspired against me. The sun rose too fast, the clock was running on steroid. The next thing I knew, the day ended. Yet, I felt so tired. For this one day, I told myself, let me stay in bed, please. I do not wish to hear to any more lie about on how free we are. For once, leave me be. Be damned with your sanctimonious speeches. I am tired of all of it and I want no part of it. I just want to be free.

Here comes another day, another to sweep your lies aside, another day to anger you for being different, for refusing to be part of your drone, for dismantling your narrow worldview. It is another day for liberty, another day for eternity.