When the Lights Went Out, Hope Shined Brighter

Hivers, have you ever found yourself wide awake at night, thinking about everything all at once? What if the future doesn’t go as planned? What if things get harder? These thoughts kept me up tonight. I couldn't sleep, my mind full of worries and questions. To calm myself, I grabbed my phone and started scrolling through my photo gallery.  As I went through the memories, I stumbled upon some photos I took back in December 2021. They were from one of the hardest times I can remember — the aftermath of Typhoon Odette. Do you still remember how strong that typhoon was? The damage it caused was beyond what I expected.  These pictures reminded me of the pain, the fear, and the strength we all had to find during those difficult days. As you can see in the pictures, the damage was so big that, at the time, we felt hopeless. We looked around and saw broken homes, fallen trees, and ruined roads. It was hard to believe that everything could go back to normal again. We didn’t know where to start, and for a moment, it felt like we couldn’t overcome it.  There was no electricity for about two months. At night, everything was dark, and we had to rely on candles or flashlights. There was also no clean water supply. We had to walk or travel to other places just to get drinking water for our daily needs — like cooking, bathing, and drinking. It was really hard, and there were times when we felt tired and unsure of what to do next. But we didn’t let the situation break us or make us give up. We stayed strong and helped each other. Everyone in the community did their part. We shared what we had, supported one another, and faced each challenge together. Slowly, we started to rise again. Even in the middle of all that destruction, we slowly found the strength to move forward — together.  This was us during those two long months without electricity. At night, we slept near the shore because it was cooler and more comfortable there. We made a small campfire to light up the area so it wouldn’t be too dark or scary. The fire gave us a bit of warmth and comfort. Sometimes, when the sea water was high and calm, we would go for a night swim to relax and forget our worries, even just for a while. It became one of the few simple joys during that difficult time  And of course, the light of the moon gave us hope. Even when everything around us was dark — no electricity, no lights in the streets or houses — the moon was there, quietly shining above us. It reminded us that no matter how hard or dark our situation felt, there would always be a light to guide us. It was very bright, that it gave us enough comfort and strength. Just like the moonlight, hope was always there — helping us move forward, one day at a time. Looking back, I realized that even in our darkest moments, we can still find light — whether it’s from the moon, a small fire, or the kindness of people around us.  Typhoon Odette took away a lot, but it also taught us something important: we are stronger than we think, and we can get through anything as long as we don’t give up and we help each other. Right now, I realized that life may not always go as what I planned. There will be struggles, storms, and nights full of worries. But just like after every typhoon, the sun will rise again. The light will return. And while waiting for that light, we must hold on to hope, support one another, and believe that better days are coming. ⭐️