About
70, or so, years ago my great-grandfather and his son, my great uncle, went to
get food from the corner store in Puerto Rico. My uncle, Tio Juan, was only
(about) 5 years of age at the time. As the two walked down the street to the
store all they wanted were a few small items, not knowing how high the cost
would be that day.
A
man dressed in all black came through the corner store doors. He went up to the
cashier, pulled out a gun, and demanded all the money the store had. After the
robber snatched up all of the money, he took much more than that. He pulled the
trigger on his gun, aimed at the cashier, and the other people in the shop. My
great-grandfather took a bullet in his heart for his son that day, pushing away
my Tio so he could keep his safety, life, and future together. People put
others in front of their selves (such as explained) for all different reasons.
One may do it because they feel it is the right and honorable action to take.
Others, like my great-abuelo, would risk their own lives because the deep love
and passion they have for another’s life. My Tio Juan wept more than ever that
day, for it all happened so fast. Through all the pain, one thing he can never
deny is the love his father had for him, and how grateful he is to him (along with
others who were saved from the risk taking by another) and forever and always he
will be.
Sadly,
such heroic moves are not always taken. For others in near death circumstances where
one has to decide “others and possibly me” or “most-likely me only” people take
the choice to save their selves. Personally, I think it a selfish choice to
leave others to die because you are too worried about your own life when you
would hate for another to run past you in a near to death situation, but you cannot
make everyone see the same. All I know is life can literally change forever in
one split moment, choice, and/or action. There will be choices one will have to
make from the true instinct of one’s heart. Now I ask myself, would I be ready
to make the leap for another before hiding myself? And how many other are with
me?
