The Holes in My Heart | Teen Ink

The Holes in My Heart MAG

July 30, 2008
By Anonymous

As a child in Cambodia, life was difficult. It went from bad to worse when my mother got sick. As usual, my father left us and went someplace else. I hardly ever saw him. I loved my ­father and maybe I still do. He wasn’t a nice man, though. He used to hit us, especially my mom. I never knew what we did wrong. Maybe the alcohol took over his mind.

One time after he left, I overheard people talking about how he had fallen in love and gotten married all over again. I never saw him after that.

Meanwhile, my poor mother’s heart was slowly melting. She was paralyzed because my dad hit her so much. She couldn’t move half of her body. So, at the age of six, I took care of her and my two brothers and sister. We had no money and lived in a very rural area without electricity and water. I had to cook, clean, beg for rice, and be the mother of the family. I rarely went to school.

I think my mom had seen me suffer enough. I’d had enough too! So, to make things easier, my mom sent my sister and one of my brothers to live with relatives in another village. People in Cambodia often take care of relatives’ children. I missed them but knew they were being cared for. I was the oldest, so I stayed; my mother needed me to take care of her and my baby brother, Long.

For a while it was just Long, my mother, and I. But then my brother, who was less than a year old, was very sick and skinny. One day I came home and Long wasn’t there. My mom said she had given him away to someone who said they could take care of him. He wasn’t coming back.

I was sad and confused but didn’t ask too many questions. I knew it must have been difficult for her, and we had no money for food or doctors to help Long. We didn’t know where he had gone, but my mom trusted the stranger who took him away, and hoped – we both hoped – that he would be safe and healthy.

My mom and I went on with our lives. We loved each other very much, but we suffered silently day ­after day. We were still struggling with hardly any money or food, and we missed Long terribly but ­never talked about him.

One afternoon, about a year after Long left, we ­received some good news. A man from the city came to our village and told us that a family in the United States had adopted my baby brother. He showed us pictures. My brother, now named Shane, was smiling, wearing nice clothes, and looking very healthy. Even though we missed him and life was hard for us, my mom and I were so happy to know that my brother was okay.

My peace did not last long. One night I had a horrible dream that my mom left me. I was crying and I couldn’t stop. I cried for such a long time that I woke my mother. I told her what I had dreamt. She said that she would never leave me.

Weeks passed, and then my nightmare came true. My mother died of a stroke. I blame my dad because of the injuries he gave her. Thinking about it now, I hate him.

I wish I could have done something. But when I saw my mother collapse, time passed so quickly I didn’t know what to do. I was only eight! The day my mother died, I didn’t cry because I didn’t know what death was. I did cry when they buried her. I knew at that moment that I would never see her again.

After my mother died, one of my aunts took me in. She was very poor, just like my mother. She was mean, and I think she was mad that she had to take care of me, but I had nowhere else to go.

One day the man who had brought the pictures of my baby brother came to visit again. It had taken him a long time to find us because I had moved. He was sad to hear that my mother had died. Then he gave me new clothes, a doll, and more pictures of my brother. My aunt asked him if the family who adopted my brother would want to adopt me too. The man turned to me and asked if I wanted to go live with my brother in the United States. Even though I didn’t know what to expect, I said yes. He said he would find out if it was possible. I waited for what seemed like forever. I started to think that maybe the American family did not want me.

But that wasn’t the case.

About a year later, the Americans who had adopted my brother finally came for me. As I now know, there is a lot of paperwork involved with adoption. They had to get permission from my family, the Cambodian government, and the United States government before they could come to get me.

The first time I saw my new parents was in a hotel lobby. I told the translator that they had long noses. I didn’t know I was being rude; I just wasn’t used to seeing Caucasian people. I was really nervous around them. I think they were nervous too. I didn’t smile until we went to the hotel room and my new mom showed me the clothes she had brought me. My face lit up fast! We didn’t talk much because I didn’t know how to speak English, but she made flash cards with pictures to help us communicate.

The day we left Cambodia I was filled with emotions. I was eager, worried, upset, and confused because I didn’t know where we were going and I had never been on a plane before. All I remember about my trip was that I threw up for most of the 21-hour flight. It was like the plane was a gigantic sickening machine. It felt as though the trip would never end.

When we landed in the United States I was so ­happy. After we waited in a bunch of lines, we walked out of the airport. The air was a lot colder than in Cambodia. In the distance, I saw a strange man waving at us. He looked excited and happy. I ­also saw a little boy next to him. I knew immediately it was my brother. I didn’t act excited to see him ­because I was still feeling so sick from the plane, but I was really thrilled.

My new grandpa drove us to my new home. In the car I looked out the window and saw strange yet beautiful houses. I kept peeking at my brother. He was now three years old and looked so clean and healthy compared to the last time I had seen him. At that moment I knew that I was going to be happy again.

And that is where I am now. The nightmares have ended because of two wonderful people who adopted my brother Shane and me. Adjusting to life in the United States wasn’t easy, but getting adopted is the most beautiful feeling. Even though we are not related by blood, I knew from that first day that my dad and mom cared about me very much. They filled up all the holes in my heart.



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This article has 184 comments.


Grey_Moth said...
on Apr. 7 2022 at 1:25 pm
Grey_Moth, Fraziers Bottom, West Virginia
0 articles 0 photos 1 comment
This is beautifully written. I'm glad you still have your brother, and I hope you both are well.

on Dec. 15 2021 at 3:00 pm
ILiveToRead PLATINUM, Wailuku, Hawaii
24 articles 3 photos 150 comments
how beautiful amen and congrats

oliviav05 GOLD said...
on Apr. 20 2021 at 1:37 pm
oliviav05 GOLD, Grand Blanc, Michigan
19 articles 0 photos 25 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." -Nelson Mandela

This was so good it made me cry!! Best wishes for your life in America.

KJ03 said...
on Oct. 19 2020 at 8:35 am
KJ03, Ewing, New Jersey
0 articles 0 photos 18 comments
You have an emotional backstory and I'm sure that makes you a very strong person. I was happy to read you and your brother got out of a tough life situation.

on Dec. 11 2018 at 9:27 pm
Chayaisdbest BRONZE, Brooklyn, New York
2 articles 0 photos 17 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Hard times don't create heroes. It is during those hard times when the 'hero' within us is revealed."
-Bob Riley

Wow, you touched my heart. I ache thinking about all the emotional turmoil you had to go through. I sent through a pretty tough time too, but your so strong!

on Sep. 24 2018 at 4:37 pm
Briel_Disuenden, Ashland, Ohio
0 articles 0 photos 3 comments
Wow, what an amazing backstory you have! I especially loved the line, "As usual, my father left us and went someplace else. " As someone who also has an absent father, I can relate! Well done :)

on Jan. 29 2018 at 7:40 pm
beaka2000 BRONZE, Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania
1 article 0 photos 3 comments
AMAZING!!! MY love goes to you and your family

skyla.G said...
on Apr. 19 2017 at 12:51 pm
skyla.G,
0 articles 0 photos 1 comment
This something special. Just remember this built who you are today. Also thank you for sharing your story!

Arti.M BRONZE said...
on Feb. 24 2017 at 2:07 am
Arti.M BRONZE, Tirana, Other
4 articles 0 photos 46 comments
Great essay, I enjoyed your essay a lot.

Sparaxis GOLD said...
on Jan. 14 2017 at 6:55 pm
Sparaxis GOLD, Saint Marys, Georgia
13 articles 1 photo 307 comments

Favorite Quote:
"If you keep on picking on me, I'll mess up again. This time, on PURPOSE."

I agree with you there!

JulesC GOLD said...
on Apr. 28 2013 at 6:24 pm
JulesC GOLD, Orlando, Florida
14 articles 0 photos 10 comments

Favorite Quote:
"It was cliché, he knew, but he meant it classic." ~S.E. Hinton (Some of Tim's Stories)

This was an amazing story! It was so touching!

on Feb. 27 2013 at 11:52 pm
Aeliss-Novak-the-Zombie-Space-Pirate BRONZE, That Place With All The Trees And Stuff, Oregon
1 article 3 photos 150 comments

Favorite Quote:
Impossible is not a word, just a reason not to try.~Kutless

I'm going to smile and make you think I'm happy, I'm going to laugh, so you don't see me cry, I'm going to let you go in style, and even if it kills me - I'm going to smile.~Anonymous

*hugs really tightly* YOU ARE AN AMAZING PERSON. :O And for someone who doesn't have Enlgish as a first language, you have much better grammar than a lot of people who do.

on Nov. 30 2012 at 4:37 pm
Danielle101 SILVER, Ocala, Florida
5 articles 0 photos 7 comments
This is a beautiful story! What you've gone through is so unfortunate. Never stop writing! 

on Nov. 30 2012 at 3:32 pm
Deej6595 BRONZE, Billerica, Massachusetts
3 articles 0 photos 369 comments

Favorite Quote:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

This is a beautiful story. Like a short  memoir. Please, keep writing no matter what.

on Oct. 25 2012 at 8:37 pm
KindallNicole BRONZE, Grantsboro, North Carolina
4 articles 0 photos 6 comments

Favorite Quote:
Courage doesn\'t always roar, sometimes it\'s the thing at the end of the day saying,\"I\'ll try again tomorrow.\"

This article was absolutely amazing! I'm so happy you finally found happiness. God bless

on Oct. 6 2012 at 6:54 am
ShannonLil99 GOLD, Ongar, Other
10 articles 1 photo 47 comments

Favorite Quote:
'Why should I care what other people think of me? I am who I am. And who I wanna be.'


















- Avril Lavigne

I find it hard to get into articles so I tend to skim them but with this article I hung on to every word. I loved it! It must have been a traumatic experience for you but I really am glad that it turned out a lot better :) x

Nelu96 said...
on Aug. 19 2012 at 4:42 pm
Beautiful!  

on Jul. 28 2012 at 9:19 am
MissInkslinger BRONZE, Lexington, Kentucky
4 articles 0 photos 18 comments

Favorite Quote:
I love argument, I love debate. I don't expect anyone just to sit there and agree with me, that's not their job. Margaret Thatcher

This is really touching; it made me cry. I'm sorry you had to go through that, but I'm so glad it ended up happily and I'm sure it will continue to go happily. I'm impressed by how honestly you are willing to share this.

on Jul. 24 2012 at 8:09 pm
garthgirl8888 BRONZE, Long Beach, California
2 articles 0 photos 20 comments
This is an incredibly beautiful story... have you heard of Portrait of an Adoption?

on Apr. 12 2012 at 7:30 pm
beautifulspirit PLATINUM, Alpharetta, Georgia
35 articles 0 photos 1398 comments

Favorite Quote:
The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
--Eleanor Roosevelt

I'm happy and relieved that your story had a happy ending. To deal with so much at such a young age... I can't imagine it. And you are that much stronger for going through it.