When Words are Broken

Sitting alone in this dark shallow room called disappointments from the city where the promises are made to be broken.

Fellow Toastmasters and Friends, Good evening.

Last Saturday was my younger sister’s 20th birthday. Everyone was busy. Everyone wears these happy smiles on their faces. “You’re dad is coming.” Mom said calmly. I can feel my blood pressure is increasing, my heart is beating faster and my hands were shaking.

It’s been 16 months since the last time that I saw dad. Sixteen months of peacefulness and confidence that I can face him as if nothing happened.

I know it’s not a big deal. It shouldn’t be a big deal. After a few minutes, dad arrives with his new wife. I went upstairs and lock my room. I went to the corner, sitting alone in this in this dark shallow place called disappointments from the city where promises are made to be broken.



Few minutes later, my sister said that dad left. I can feel that my hands stopped shaking. I can be at ease now.

Mom let me read a message from my dad on her phone,  I tried to act normally as I read it “I am glad that you treated me so well, but I am so disappointed with your eldest daughter. I will bring this disappointment till the day that I die.” I sighed.

I took a breath and said, “Did he forget his mistakes? How can he expect me to welcome him warmly when he had broken his promises so many times?” I told my mom.

“But he promise that he won’t bother us again, he just wanted to see us.” Mom told me, expecting me to be more understanding and forgiving.

Ahh! There it goes again. “I promise I won’t do this again. I promise I won’t do that.” I heard these words so many times. Enough that makes me feel so frustrated. Enough, that I can’t believe it anymore.

It is quite amusing how people can remember those promises that are being said. A word that came out from a person’s mouth is more powerful than a written contract. Once that word has been said, hope will exist, expectations will appear, and most of all, trust is given.

But, when those words are broken, no matter how you love or respect that person, there will be these small holes in your heart that will eventually became bigger as the broken words increases. And one day, that giant great hole of disappointment will sabotage hope, destroys expectations and kills trust, leaving nothing but doubts and fear.

There are things in life which is very difficult to fix when it is already broken into pieces, and one of these things is words.

It is not a mere shallow word. It is your character, your dignity and your sincerity.

Guests and Friends, When was the last time that you promise something to someone? What was your promise? Did you already fulfill it? If not, don’t you feel restless until that matter isn’t settled yet?

Do it now, while there is still time, for when words is broken, you took that person's ability to trust and you created an ugly mark to that person’s heart.

Sitting alone in this dark shallow room called disappointments from the city where the promises are made to be broken. Someone opened the door, the lights came through as it touches my heart, and then he promise again.

I gave him a chance hoping this time, my hope will be answered, my expectations will be met and my trust will be built, once more...