On a Saturday evening as I finished my evening Job I packed up my bags and headed out the restaurant, working three jobs in a day wasn't easy but providing for my family was worth all the hassle.
The cool evening breeze greeted me as I stepped outside, the weight of the day's exhaustion settling into my bones. The city was alive, bustling with the usual Saturday night energy—cars honking, street vendors shouting, and groups of people laughing as they headed out for the evening.
But for me, the night meant only one thing: getting home to my family.
I adjusted the strap of my worn-out bag on my shoulder and started walking toward the bus stop. My legs ached from standing all day, but I pushed the fatigue aside. I couldn't afford to slow down, not when my family was waiting for me.
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Home was a small apartment on the edge of the city, tucked away in a quieter neighborhood. It wasn't much, but it was ours. The peeling wallpaper, the creaky floorboards, and the leaky faucet in the kitchen—it all held a sense of comfort that no luxury could replace.
As I unlocked the door and stepped inside, I was greeted by the familiar sound of my younger sister's laughter.
"P'Nat's home!" she called out, her voice echoing from the tiny living room.
"Hey, Mali," I said, kicking off my shoes and setting my bag down. "Have you eaten yet?"
She shook her head, her long braid swaying as she did. "I was waiting for you."
I sighed, though I couldn't help but smile. "You should've eaten already. You know I don't get home until late."
"I wanted to eat with you," she replied, her tone matter-of-fact.
Before I could argue, my mother's voice floated in from the kitchen. "Nat, you're home. There's some curry left over from lunch—heat it up for yourself and Mali."
"Thanks, Mae," I called back.
Mali and I headed to the kitchen, and I quickly set about reheating the food. She sat at the table, swinging her legs and chattering about her day at school.
"And guess what, P'Nat? I got a perfect score on my math test!"
"Perfect score, huh?" I said, glancing at her with a proud grin. "Looks like I'll have to reward you."
"Really?" Her eyes lit up.
"Of course. But only if you promise to keep it up."
"I will! I promise!"
Later that night, as the apartment grew quiet and everyone else had gone to bed, I sat at the small desk in the corner of my room, sorting through bills and calculating expenses.
Money was tight, as always. Between rent, groceries, and school fees, there was barely anything left for emergencies. But somehow, we managed.
I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my temples. The weight of responsibility felt heavier at times like these, but it was a burden I willingly carried.
My father had passed away two years ago, and since then, I'd taken it upon myself to be the provider for our family. My mother worked when she could, but her health wasn't great. Mali was still in school, and I wanted to make sure she had every opportunity to succeed.
Sometimes, I wondered what it would be like to live a different life—one where I didn't have to work three jobs, where I didn't have to worry about making ends meet. But those thoughts were fleeting. My family was my everything, and I'd do whatever it took to give them a better future.
As I closed the notebook and turned off the desk lamp, I allowed myself a moment of quiet. Tomorrow would be another long day, but for now, I could rest knowing that I was doing my best for the people who mattered most.
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Monday morning I got up really early, made breakfast for Mali and Mae, got Mali ready for bed and we were ready to head out the house.
"Phi might me late from picking you up from school today, so don't go anywhere okay." I told her as I helped her with her shoes.
"Okay." She replied.
"I can just pick her up, don't stress yourself out." Mae said, brushed off her concerns really quickly. She wasn't in th state to travel long distance to pick Mali up.
"Mae, you just stay home and wait for us to come back."
I gave Mae a soft but firm smile, making sure my tone was gentle but convincing. "I'll be fine, really. Just rest. You've been pushing yourself too much lately, and you know it."
Mae hesitated, looking at me with that concerned expression she always wore when she knew I was taking on too much. "I just don't like you running around so much. You're always working hard. I wish you didn't have to do all this."
"I know, Mae," I said, adjusting Mali's backpack straps and giving her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "But you and Mali are everything to me. I'll manage."
She sighed but didn't argue further. "Alright, but you be careful. Both of you."
"I will, Mae," I promised, offering her a quick hug. "We'll be back soon, and I'll make sure we stop by the store on the way home. I'll get those things you've been asking for."
Mali tugged on my sleeve, impatient to get going. "Let's go, Phi! We're going to be late!"
I chuckled and ruffled her hair. "Alright, alright. Let's get you to school, then I'll get to work."
The morning was cool, and the streets were already busy as we made our way to the bus stop. Mali clung to my side, bouncing excitedly as we walked. Despite the exhaustion I felt from the weekend, seeing her so full of energy brought a smile to my face.
"I'll be fine," I reassured her again, feeling her little hand grip mine tighter. "I know I promised Phi might be late, but it's nothing to worry about. We've got this."
She nodded, but her eyes still looked a little worried. "I don't like it when you're tired, Phi. You should rest more."
"I'll rest later, promise," I said, bending down to her level. "For now, I need you to be the strong one, okay? You've got school, and I've got work."
She gave me a small, determined nod. "Okay, Phi."
We waited for the bus in silence for a few minutes, just enjoying the early morning calm. The bus soon arrived, and we got on, finding seats near the back.
As I settled in beside Mali, I couldn't shake the feeling that the day ahead would be another test of my strength—physically and mentally. But with Mali's smile in front of me and Mae's words of encouragement echoing in my mind, I knew I could keep going.
We had to make it. For them.
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My name is Nattawut Raksasakul, born December 7, 2000. I was born into a happy family, loving dad and loving mom. As long as I can remember my parents both showed me equal love, dad taught me how to ride my first bike mom show me how to make the perfect fluffy eggs and everything was great.
When Mae got pregnant with Mali I was so happy to be a big brother, Pa and I did everything for Mae. Everything seemed so perfect for our little family until the day I got assigned my second gender, when we found out I was an alpha mom was so happy. Since dad was at work we waited for him to reveal the good news but… on his way back he got into a very bad car accident that ended his life.
The day dad died was the day our life ended also, everything around us seemed to gloomy. Mom being 3 months pregnant feel into depression, and being a 6 year old I didn't know how to comfort her. All i could do was sit around and stay strong for her.
As the years passed, Mom's depression didn't seem to fade. Her smiles became rare, and I learned to be more self-sufficient, hoping that one day I could fix everything for her, for us. But it never felt like enough. It wasn't until I was older that I realized how much I had buried inside myself—how much I had grown up too quickly.
On the outside, I was the strong, reliable older brother. But inside, there was a constant ache. I wanted to be angry, to scream, to tell the world how unfair it all felt, but I couldn't. I couldn't let that show. My mother needed me to be the man of the house now, and I wasn't about to fail her.
As I grew older, I took on more work to help support us, juggling school and part-time jobs. But no matter how much I tried to fill the gaps, something was always missing. I kept telling myself that one day things would get better, but every time I looked at Mom, the sad eyes of the woman who once radiated love and joy, I knew that our lives would never be the same again.
And yet, I never stopped trying. Because what else could I do?
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"That's all for today Nat, thank you for your hard work!" A senior said as I dropped of my package, "Phi I could do more work if you have any work left" i said.
"No that's all, thank you."
I gave a small nod and turned to head out, but before I could leave, the senior called out to me.
"Hey, Nat, you've been working non-stop lately. Don't forget to take care of yourself, alright?" he said, his voice a little softer than usual.
I paused, a little taken aback. It wasn't often that someone outside of my family showed concern for me like that. I forced a smile and waved it off.
"I'm fine, really. Just doing what needs to be done."
But the truth was, I wasn't fine. I was exhausted. My muscles ached from the long shifts, and my mind was constantly running, always thinking about the next thing I had to do, the next task I had to handle. But I couldn't afford to slow down. Not yet.
"Well, if you need anything, don't hesitate to ask," the senior added, giving me a reassuring pat on the back.
I nodded again, my smile a little more genuine this time, and stepped out into the cool evening air. The street was busy with people rushing to get home, their faces tired and worn from their own day's struggles. I was just one of many, but it didn't make it any easier to keep going.
I pulled out my phone, checking the time. I still had to pick up Mali from school, then head home to help Mom with dinner. There was always something to do.
As I walked down the street, I tried not to think about how much I had left to do. Instead, I focused on the present moment—the sound of my footsteps, the chill in the air, and the soft hum of the city around me.
Maybe, just maybe, I could make it through tonight without feeling too tired. But deep down, I knew I couldn't keep up this pace forever. The weight of everything—my responsibilities, my family, my own well-being—was becoming harder to carry.
But for now, I had a job to do, a little sister to take care of, and a mother who still needed me. And that was all that mattered.
TBC