The memory of her courage, her silence, her smile
lets me write these words on the blank paper while
the red rose highlights her heart with the gift she is.
She arrived in my office, anxiously for the unknown,
still, persistence was visible in her eyes.
'You helped me in finding a job in the city of my dreams.
But I have no shelter, no house to stay with my children.
Please, help me she said. Help me in finding a home.
Any social institution wants to support the risk I want to take.
Namely, move with my two children to another city.
Away from Brussels, towards the city where their father works.
Away from the desperate social situation,
a one-room apartment with no central heating,
no warm water,.
It is winter-time and within some weeks
we will get kicked out of the room to end up on the street.
No one gives the support to find a home in another city.
Disbelief in my ability to manifest my dreams.
Disbelief in my potential to start a new life
makes people say to be an irresponsible, unstable mother.'
It made her doubt about her decision.
It made her almost withdraw from it.
Her situation looked uncertain, yes.
Still, she vibrated strength through her vulnerability.
The will to move mountains was visible in her desperate eyes.
My whole being told her to stand by her side
until she could take her next steps independently again.
Although as a job counselor it was not my responsibility,
we did walk together until she accomplished her dream.
It was through constant motivation,
instant positive feedback about her little moves.
It was the ongoing support during her journey,
the carte blanche of my coördinator
during my guidance to the manifestation of her dreams
that kept her going.
It made us non-stop knock on each door.
Without result for weeks,
I kept her saying we would find it.
Any shelter kept the door closed for a mother with two children.
Her situation was not critical enough they said.
Although she would stand in mid-winter on the street
with her two children, they could not give her any support.
The waiting lists of the shelters were never-ending streets.
We had some more days to find that apartment
before she was going to be kicked out
of her one-room apartment in Brussels.
Isolation, desperation, aloneness reflected in her eyes while she entered my office.
We had one more day.
My eye caught the glimpse of the advertisement for the house on the screen of my computer.
'This is it.' With steady fastness, I said to her,
'Come, take your jacket, we go together.'
I knocked on the door of my coördinator, told him we found a possible home.
You have to let me go to that city, that owner of that apartment.
I know we will get it.
His trust in my decision gave me again carte blanche.
We, my client and I, took the train.
She bought me a chocolate bar.
I will never forget that moment together on the train.
The silence, the courage of that woman
radiated in her whole story
she told to me
How she arrived in Belgium,
How she lived together with her parents,
...
I looked into her eyes and said
have faith you will come home.
We reached the city of her dreams,
her house, where she lives
and works now
happily together with her two children,
her partner, their father.
...
She cried when we took the train to Brussels again.
It was one day before she was being kicked out of her room.
It gave her all she needed to continue independently on her road.
....
I looked at her while she stepped out of the train,
and took a deep breath.
We never met again
.....
Months later,
Now,
Grace knocks at the door,
and remembers me
about the chocolate bar,
her story and journey towards a new home
while the rose of her present
highlights my heart with thankfulness.
My whole being is happy with
the gift you are!
Be well, my dear.
Thank you.
