This broke my heart....

I was driving home when I had to stop owing to the red traffic light. I was to turn left going to EDSA from Shaw boulevard, headed in the south direction, and was just a few cars away from the intersection. Since I wanted to save up on gas, I turned off my aircon and rolled down my side windows. (OK lang naman since it was evening and quite cool anyway :-) )

It was then that I saw a street child selling Sampaguita flowers to the cars in front of me. I was taken with so much pity that I decided to buy one from her as she approached me.

Seeing her endure car smogs and put herself at risk just to sell flowers made me a bit guilty into being born into a life of privilege. I was born into a good family, got good education, now have a good work and even able to drive my own car.

As the street child approached my car, I bought one of her Sampaguitas for P10. Somehow, I had wished that I could have bought all Sampaguitas she was selling. After handing her the money, she was thoughtful enough to say thank you.

One of her companion approached me and begged me to buy also one of her Sampaguitas. As I did not have enough loose change to buy another, I simply gave her my remaining loose change, amounting to a measly P7.

What she said kinda touched my heart, "Salamat po kuya, mag-iingat po kayo ha".

Words could not describe how touched I was. Somehow I felt guilty for not reaching out for my wallet so I can buy Sampaguita from her.

Words could also not describe the guilt feelings I had at that moment; for you see, I make it a habit to curse at life's every smallest inconvenience. And yet, there are street children enduring society's injustice just to make a living.

Just as the street child left me after saying thanks, the traffic light turned to green. From my side mirror, I saw both street children vendors seated at the pavement, tired and perhaps hungry, waiting for the traffic light to turn red so that they can sell their Sampaguitas.

That broke my heart...