The 2023 J.U.C. Media, Research & Writing Awards | Submitted Category: WRITING/General
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The 2023 J.U.C. Media, Research & Writing Awards
Submitted Category: WRITING/General – Short Story
Submission Code: W1/General
Student Grade: 11 | Word count: 1268

I Was Feeling Depressed so I Took A Trip

[The 2023 J.U.C. Awards, LMGlobal.Org]
They say everyone, and everything has a purpose in life. Whether it is the president of the largest country in the world or even a small insect. It all has something to do with the complex ecosystem that we live in. This abstract question has been, in fact, studied by many religion studies and philosophers. Christianity had written the idea of each of us having a different role within the body and that our role is to fulfill it the best we can. Islam, on the other hand, also defines the ultimate purpose of human life is to fulfill it the best they can, by acknowledging and worshiping God. After all these horrendous years of searching for the ultimate purpose in human life, lots of old creepy libraries, dangerous streets, the grief of losing, and bad coffee, I decided to watch Lord of the Rings one day. There was a conversation that stuck in my head between Gandalf and Frodo. “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” Was that it? Just wait and bow to our faith. Sit back and do nothing?

I come from a very long line of academias of literature, philosophy, and religion. I remember my father was giving me speeches from his new thesis on the dinner table. I was probably going to elementary school at the time so I had zero clue what he was talking about. No questions. Nothing. It was just him talking with some big words; my mom as well.

I also had to reinterpret the surrealist paintings and their meaning. Being raised by highly educated academicians was a marvelous experience, which I have never denied. However, there’s the absolute fact that it also made me never fit in school. While my friends were having dumb conversations about their boyfriends, I was too busy reading the autobiography of Jean Paul Sartre.

With that note, I decided to double major in philosophy and psychology. Fast forward to graduation, I had become an expert in analyzing human behavior, literary texts and even, reading people. And I was able to manipulate myself into thinking my purpose was to follow my family’s footsteps.

Soon enough the depression hit me, which was something I had been drowning in the back of my consciousness for as long as I’ve known myself. After months of therapy, pills and nature walks, I decided to take this trip. I took my grandpa’s old car and took off when the sun was rising. Just like that, without saying a word to anyone.

The strange thing about literally studying the human mind is that you may even fail to find answers to your questions, your needs. Ironic right? After driving for several hours, I went to a gas station to get some food and refill the tank. When I went to the supermarket, a tall, oversized guy with greasy black hair yelled at me saying: “Ma’m, your car is about to explode! There is something wrong with the machine!” I felt like ignoring it at first, but then realized he may not be totally crapping about it. As I was coming out of the store with bags: “It was fine when I was driving, what seems to be the problem Mr…?”

“Galaboo. Mr.Galaboo.”
“Mr.Galaboo?, really?”
“Yes, ma’m, it’s real. But we really need to hurry because look at it, it’s gonna explode. Like, BOOM! kind of explosion.” he cried out. When I looked a little further than his right shoulder, I could see a young woman, looking like this guy. She hurried: “Bobby come on! Don’t bother this woman. We’re so sorry ma’am, Bobby sometimes gets… way too excited. He didn’t hurt you, did he?”
“No, that’s okay. You have nothing to worry about. I thought his name was Galaboo.”
She was getting relaxed. It was a good start.
“God no, did he tell you his nickname? I cannot believe you Bobby? Why can’t you ever sit on your butt?
“Oh no, please don’t be mad at him, he wasn-“

On the spur of the moment, the ground started shaking as we heard a kaboom.

After the whole screaming, worrying, peeing into pants routine, that woman was actually the first one to speak, because I was too stunned to: “Okay, alright. Bobby for once guessed something right. And I’m not leaving you here. You can stay at our home and we will call Mr.Clark if there’s anything he could.. you know, fix it.”

“I…. don’t… know… oh god…” I hyperventilated.

We looked like an entertaining image, and it was actually pretty funny. I looked like I was so worried about my car but in reality, I was just thinking about those two people. I still didn’t know whether they were siblings or a couple but it was readily obvious that they actually cared about each other. They certainly had a unique way to show that, but could see, or you can’t. I honestly don’t know if reading people is something that I developed over these years.

“Hey what’s your name? Come on, the sunset is early here. We’re going to our place.”

“It’s Lila, what’s yours?
“It’s Claire. And this is, of course, Galaboo.”

We walked to their house for a good fifteen minutes and the rest is history. For all these years, I had been looking for the ultimate purpose of humble human life. I constantly felt like there was this void that I was trying to fill. All these thesis, books, mind games, and everything in between… I didn’t need that much.

The void that I was trying to fill in was…love.

Sure, they’re the keys of your child’s brain development but they also need to have that nonsense childhood. Like the snowball fights or hide and seek… When we first got to their home, a little girl threw a snowball to Galaboo which was way too big for her height. Galaboo threw one too and before I knew it, I was in the game, too! Looking back, I remember the genuine laughter and the freezing cold. Believe it or not, that’s all it took to make me feel the best.

After a few weeks, it was time for me to go. The car never got fixed but I was able to save some money to get a bike. As I was driving on my way home, another realization hit me. I was thinking about what little shop I should be going to today. Yes! Not an abstract question or a complex philosophical question! I wasn’t obsessively wondering about the ultimate purpose! Because I didn’t need to! All I needed was my parents. All I needed was their comfort that they would always love me no matter what happens. I didn’t need two highly educated academics, I needed my parents!

This is why my little bee, even though I won’t be able to see you grow up, just know that I will always love you. Your father and your family will always be there for you. My medical condition is not something that separates me from you. There are so many people that will love you endlessly. You will never, ever be alone. If you ever get into the question of the ultimate purpose in life, go on a trip. Meet with people. But not like with strangers like I did, it’s dangerous out there. Find yourself. I will try to give you that freedom as much as possible. Lastly, never eat your grandfather’s yeast. It will damage you.

Love,

Mom