As we go along life we meet people. At times we encounter situations where we need a little help and other times we are the one's lending a helping hand. In both cases we are suddenly affected or affecting the course of our lives and somebody else's journey.

I used to live with my Aunt Azon's family but there's always a situation where I was inspired to better myself by moving out. To start independently. And I did. I rented out a small room for couple of dollars a month. My though process at that time was just to have a place to sleep, a place to leave few of my things and a little freedom for myself.

The place I found was a little elevated considering it's in the mountain side of the city. So I can see the nightlights in the evening, hear the busy buzz of the city life below and yet I still hear the chirping of the crickets nearby. In the few months of independently living, I have met couple good people. The one thing I wanted to share today is not about good people but how people could change somehow in the long run.

So I made friends with other boarders who rented out the other rooms available. Every chance we get we hang out. We get to share stories over a simply prepared food and a bottle of rum. There was this day I've been introduced to a new face in the crowd. Can't remember the name of this person, it's in the tip of my tongue but for now let's call him Bruno. I'm sure the it's not Bruno but the name sounded fit to how I remember this person's physique and personality.

Bruno was the kind of accommodating person. He was staying in the room with his father and stepmother. He was the kind of person who smiles a lot and crack jokes. One day he asked for help so he could find a job. So me and the other boarders shared a little of what we have for him to start over. Even the landlady was good enough to give offer him free food most of the times and even lend couple hundred of pesos. It had been days of struggle for him to find a job. Until I decided to maybe pull some strings. I have connections somewhere and I thought maybe this person is qualified enough for the available post that time.

So I called a friend and told him about Bruno. And without further delay he was offered a probationary post. Bruno who was a laidback kind of person became busy. In the many weeks that followed the group of board mates who became friends seldom see Bruno. Bruno seem to become distant. One thing I observed is that he became a little serious. I thought maybe it was normal for someone who had found a new focus in life.

Later did I know Bruno went back to his old habits. Bruno was a drug user way before we met him. So we're told. My friend who I contacted to help him get a job texted me that Bruno hit his supervisor and was reprimanded a suspension. Also they found a stash of metaphitamine in his locker. I said sorry, because I thought Bruno was a clean hardworking person. In the days that went we've noticed Bruno's presence in the boarding house a lot. He was suspended.

I thought we could advise him to get cleaned. Maybe stop using but it wasn't the case. Bruno became irritable and always seem to find fault to anyone just to get a backlash. And most of the time challenges anybody for a fist fight. As a calm person I did not give in to such challenge. And I thought maybe it's just a way of him dealing with his inner demons. The worst had yet to come. One day when came home from duty, I noticed something in the front door of my room. It's a plastic water bottle with a reddish liquid and a lighter beside it and note with threat. For me, it was the end of the line.

It was the end of friendship.

Lesson Learned

Life changing moments are not always inspirational. There are times it's the other way around. But at the end of the each life changing story is a lesson. In this situation, I've learned that there are some people who even if you've already extended a helping hand will still revert back to his old habits.

And that we should help those who will help themselves first.

Original Content

@PajeeBear at Cent.co is one and the same @PajeeBear at Publish0x