FOREIGN

Amidst a bustling crowd, I found myself lost in thought. I genuinely felt utterly alienated. Even though everyone gathered here was family, relatives, and kin. Over the years, year after year, I hadn't seen them, not even for a fleeting moment. Due to my circumstances, often living far from home, I rarely visited. Consequently, I didn't recognize their voices and felt like a stranger. When they greeted me, I replied silently. I could only nod my head as they approached me, one by one, trying to strike up a conversation. When they tried to engage me, I simply assented, not asking them anything back. Because I still felt alienated from them. It wasn't just a feeling of alienation; confusion and awkwardness permeated my heart. I genuinely didn't know how to greet them. The truth is, I wasn't familiar with them. Even though all these feelings stubbornly clung to me—alienation, awkwardness, and bewilderment still held sway in my heart—I still valued them and didn't flee anywhere. I remained among them, who had graciously come to visit my humble dwelling.