BY LYN CUBILLAS
Time checked: six o’clock in the morning. I was gearing up for my second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. I looked towards the corner of our house, near the aquarium, where my youngest brother usually slept. He was lying on his mat with headphones on, and he seemed happy. I woke him up and asked if he’d like to go with me to get his first dose of the vaccine.
He laughed and said, ‘I’m afraid of needles! I have strong bones, and I don’t need the vaccine.’ He flexed his muscles, assuring me of his good health. Convinced by his argument, I proceeded to the city gymnasium to receive my vaccine.
Time checked: nine o’clock. Missed calls. Missed calls. And more missed calls. My phone had been on silent. It was my youngest brother calling me repeatedly. ‘Ate! Ate! Ate!’ he exclaimed, calling out to his older sister.
Time checked: eleven o’clock. A close friend called and said urgently, ‘Please come to the hospital immediately.’ A wave of numbness washed over me. What had happened? Who was in the hospital?
Time checked: twelve o’clock. I entered the emergency room and saw my youngest brother lying in the hospital bed, vomiting blood, unable to utter a single word and desperately fighting for his life. I embraced him tightly, offered prayers and reassured him that everything would be all right.
After months of fighting for his body, which had incurred severe damage, he told me these words: ‘Ate, please share my story. Remind people not to choose a permanent solution for a temporary problem. If I could turn back time, I would choose to live, I would choose to fight, I would choose to pursue a meaningful life.’
Yes, my youngest brother attempted suicide. Though he didn’t die right away, his body still suffered a lot of damage. I thought to myself, ‘If I could just rewrite his story, I would.’
Writing has been a habit of mine since elementary school. I write casually to relieve stress and to put my thoughts and feelings into words. After what happened to my youngest brother, I had a burning desire to write not just for myself, but for others as well.
This is my advice: write to rewrite someone’s life. Write because you may change someone else’s life story. Share every helpful tip or life hack that you can with the world. Who knows? Someone who has lost hope may find it through your words. Maybe someone who is ready to end their life or hurt themselves will read your post and receive renewed hope.
We cannot turn back time, but we can help others face the future with confidence. My life gradually changed because of someone else’s writing. So, this is my advice and my hope: to become a beacon of light to the souls who are lost in the darkness of despair. Write because someone out there might need to rewrite their story. Give them hope through your words before it’s too late for them.
About the Author
Lyn Cubillas’ work is deeply personal, inspired by the profound loss she experienced when her youngest brother’s struggles with lack of meaning and direction took him from her too soon. His passing created a void but also sparked a determination in Lyn to share the message she wished she could have given him. If she could just rewrite the story of his life, she would. But that’s not possible…
Lyn understands that, for many people, searching for life’s meaning is not a priority. But she believes that the most important things in life are those little things we almost forget, the unseen things that fill life with meaning, fulfilment and joy.
Lyn Cubillas is an author, course creator and speaker dedicated to empowering individuals to discover their purpose, pursue their vision and unlock their potential. When she isn’t writing, you can find her tutoring her four children or organising online events for her ministry, Kairos Ministry.
Connect with Lyn Cubillas on her website.
