Inspirational
The Orphan: A True Story
This was related by an orphanage sister during an interview. Ligaya (‘happiness’ in Filipino, not her real name), 11 years old, was raped by her stepfather for seven long years before she was finally rescued by the orphanage sisters. This is her true story.
At the orphanage, Ligaya withdrew totally from the world. No one could talk to her, not even the other children. She stared at the wall the whole day. Inside her, a violent storm raged, but she was silent, cold, unreachable. She was incapable of tears. There were other orphans who also withdrew from the world, but soon, others began to open up. Not Ligaya. She was the extreme case. For three long years, total darkness reigned inside her soul.
The sisters devised a simple ‘game’ to try to open up unreachable orphans. They were grouped into cells of five each. All they did was talk to each for one hour every morning, and share their wounds and pains. The absolute rule was their secrets remained only within the group to protect their privacy. Not even the sisters knew. It was an effective therapy to let them open up. It is started with a window slightly opened. Through time, it would widen. Soon enough, many orphans were healed. Not Ligaya. She was as hard as a rock.
Ligaya, and Letty, another victim of sexual abuse in her group, where the only ones left in their cell, who remained closed and unreachable. The others would entice the two to talk. They would attempt to embrace them. Letty let them embrace her, but Ligaya resisted the touch of others. Their wounds remained fresh and bleeding through time. Finally, one morning, Letty caved in. She was sobbing as she talked. She talked non-stop, relating her pain.
Next day, LIgaya was half an hour late for the session. She was at the garden thinking hard about Letty’s story. When she came in, Letty admitted how her wound instantly healed when she started sharing her pain. She said it was as if a knife was removed from her back. Finally, the first hesitant tear trickled down Ligaya’s cheek. Everyone stared at her in shock. There was total silence for a full five minutes. Then the tear drop became a waterfall, no sobs, no sign of emotions, just silent tears cascading down from her soul. No one dared to say anything.
She spoke for the first time after three long years in a croaked voice. She rattled off her story as if there was no more time. She was not ashamed to describe every detail. When she finished, silent tears became violent sobs. Everyone started crying aloud. A sister came in, asking what was the commotion all about, but left quickly, realizing her intrusion. Letty was brave enough to embrace Ligaya, who had always resisted being touched. One by one, they all embraced her. Succeeding meetings turned from sharing pains to sharing joys. They became rowdy telling jokes. The pains were all released and forgotten. No more tears. Ligaya turned out to be a leader everyone adored. From total darkness to blinding light, from total despair to total hope.
After the interview, I asked the sister if I could meet Ligaya. She brought me to the kitchen and there she was, a bundle of joy, cooking noodles with three other girls. They were all giggling as Ligaya told them story after story. When she saw me, she blushed. Then her words stunned me.
LIGAYA: I don’t mind that you know about my tragedy. I’m not ashamed. I’m happy that the sisters gave me a new life. They told me you are a writer. I give you permission to write my story, but don’t put my name. Let the world know my story so they too can be healed. Even deep wounds heal.
ME: What was the thing that made you finally open up?
LIGAYA: In my utter pain, I never spoke to the Lord. I was angry at Him for abandoning me. Then I realized, it was I who abandoned Him. He was there all the while beside me, I just refused to see Him. Then, at the garden this morning, for the first time, I prayed to Him. He was just waiting for me to pray to Him before He would help me. Then did I feel His warm embrace. We have to ask Him before He extends His hand.
