Another Person's Shoes.

I have heard many times, to try to understand, “What is it like to be in another person’s shoes.” Sometimes that is easier said than done. If I am honest, it is not just hard, but impossible.

I love my country, I could not imagine, wanting to live anywhere else. The only place I would like to visit, for six months at a time would be Malta. I have never been, but everyone who have I mentioned it to, they have said, “I love Malta.” All been well, I would like to go next year.

I am on a low wage, and I cannot swim, two things that would not be in my favour.

I could not begin to imagine, leaving my Mum, brothers, cousins, friends, pets, my home, or everything that is dear to me.

How desperate, would I have to be, to hand over thousands of pounds, of my hard-earned cash, that amount of money I have never had at one time, what I would have to sell to get that amount. I suppose the contents of my house.

Then to say all my goodbyes. Handing over all the money I have to a person I do not know but must trust.

With my little bag of food including baby food, and only the clothes I am wearing.

The boat is very small, and VERY crowded. I am naturally fearful, but I know it is a new start, I have weighted up the pros and the cons, this is the Best thing for my family, Paul my husband who is with me, knows it the right thing for us to do too. Many have travelled the same way, on boats even smaller than the one we are on now. Looking at the faces of everyone else, it looks like they feel just as fearful as me. I wonder why they are leaving. We all have our own private reasons. We have one thing in common, we all want a better life for our families. It is dark, the dead of night.

“My Wife and Child did not make it. The boat went down, hundreds died, I heard.” The doctor tells me, “You are one of the, lucky ones.”

“Rest in Peace, to those who did not make it, yesterday, today, and tomorrow.” x