Life with Maria

“Kaya ko pa ba?”

It’s the question I ask myself every single day.

Sometimes it echoes silently in my head, sometimes it comes out as a whisper through tears at 2AM. Because behind the smile we show the world is a soul tired of betrayal—especially when it comes from the people we once trusted most.

There was a time I believed money couldn’t ruin relationships. We believed in loyalty. We gave what we could—sometimes even more than we had. And in return, some of those we trusted with our lives betrayed us. Not just with money, but with lies and manipulation.

It wasn’t just our finances that were stolen. It was our trust. Our sense of security. Our belief that good intentions would always bring good back.

But we—we’re left picking up the pieces. Quietly. Painfully.

So I’m writing this today—not to seek pity, not to call them out—but to leave a mark.

If a year from now I’m still here, I want to look back at this post and say: “We made it. You didn’t let them destroy you.”

But if I don’t make it... If life becomes too heavy, if the pain swallows me whole—then this will be proof that I fought. That I tried. That I gave life every ounce of strength I had.

To anyone reading this who’s ever felt the same: You're not weak for feeling tired. You're not alone for being hurt. You're human.

And maybe, just maybe, tomorrow we’ll have enough strength to ask the question again—

“Kaya ko pa ba?”
And still answer… “Oo, kahit paunti-unti.”