All these years, she has survived through varying thoughts.

Society kept her alive, though seldom acknowledged her existence these days. She wondered why? She wondered why it wouldn’t allow her to come out of the shadow and become one with itself.

She looked back, to her early days.

Not long after she was conceived, she started taking different forms. Evolving and molding herself according to the norms set forth. The news of her conception spread like wildfire. She enjoyed the attention. People everywhere were amazed and intrigued by her. It didn’t take long to figure out she was one-of-a-kind in this world of sameness. And this was her trump card.

When she was only few years old, she became an explorer. Of places, people, lives, traditions, thoughts, souls.

She really loved traveling. Going to different places, meeting new people, experiencing their lives. When it was time to go, she made sure a part of her stayed with them. So they could mold it and make it their own. Something that would represent their traditions. She liked that, knowing there was a part of her that lived on.

She was embraced, appreciated, treated with utmost love. Every household, family invited her and gave her a place in their hearts, never to be forgotten. She became of opinions, experiences, customs. Unknown to her, however, she was changing, modifying herself after every visit. To fit in and become more relevant.

Her itinerary shortly came abrupt. She had gone around the world, traveled to almost every place inhabited by humans. She felt she had nowhere to go. She couldn’t help but wonder — Where is home? Where should I go?

A sudden thought filled her, tearing her. She needn’t think about all this. She was going to live on through the people she met. They were going to keep her alive through their daily actions and reactions. She had fulfilled her purpose.

Years have gone by, she is still alive. Though her body is starting to fade, her memories are still intact. She is not sure whether she is remembered as vividly as the days she came into their lives. She hopes she is.

Time and again, people came back (though mostly in times of distress and uncertainty), to rely on her, seek comfort in the knowledge she bestowed, the familiarity she represented. They tried and still try to find ways wherein she can be seen as a personification of their values and traditions. It gives them pleasure to continue living (in their own way) at the cost of her mere existence.

They never left her, holding onto her for years.