A day i will always remember

my life changed completely when my parents left to a far far place. i was left with my frail, old grandmother.

days for a 4-year-old were different for me from the other kids. my grandmother had to work day and night just to make ends meet. we make muffins at night and sell them at dawn. during good days, our earnings may reach up to RM50 but there were also days where business was fruitless.

7 years-old. time for me to go into primary one. i was reluctant. i did not have any interest in studies but Grandma insisted that i have a good education in order to have a better life in the future.

up to primary six, i was just an average student. i wanted to quit studies back then but Grandma made me continue learning in the secondary school. she had a very unique way of convincing me. i then believed education is essential.

on my 12th birthday in november, it was a like any other routine day. i could still remember that business was very slow that day. it was still early, but Grandma told me to pack our stuffs and head home. it was never like her. then i thought maybe Grandma wants to celebrate my birthday.

i was wrong. after a simple dinner, still there was nothing. i got furious and slammed my room door shut. i went straight to bed.

next morning, i was shocked to see a neatly wrapped package on my table. as i slowly unwrapped the beeeautiful thing, i strained my eyes for a glimpse of the content. out of the blue, i was holding my first ever dictionary. there was note on it.

From: Grandma

two simple words, but they brought a whole new meaning of life.

i am a successful lawyer now. in my hands, is the old dictionary. i looked out the window towards the sky and whispered..

Thank you, Grandma!