When the storm clouds gathered over the horizon, Lala stood at the entrance of her small farm, clutching her straw hat tightly. She had heard warnings of Typhoon Matmo, but she never imagined the devastation it would bring. Through the howling wind and fierce rain, she spent the night huddled indoors, praying her animals and crops would survive. Each gust rattled the walls, each thunderclap echoed her rising fear.
By dawn, the storm had passed, leaving behind an eerie silence. Heart pounding, Lala rushed outside—only to freeze in horror. The once vibrant farmland she had lovingly nurtured lay in ruins. Rows of banana trees were uprooted, their trunks snapped like twigs. The vegetable beds, once neatly lined with fresh greens, were swallowed by muddy water. Fences lay toppled, and the chicken coop roof was torn away.
“Mother Earth… what happened…” Lala whispered, her voice trembling. She ran to check on her animals. Thankfully, most had taken shelter, frightened but alive. Her beloved cow, Bubu, stood shivering in a corner. Lala gently stroked her, tears welling in her eyes. She had worked tirelessly to build this farm, planting every seed with hope. Now it felt as if all her dreams had been washed away in a single night.
She sank to her knees, overwhelmed. Memories flashed—early mornings planting under the sun, laughing as Lala chased playful goats, evenings enjoying the golden glow of the fields. This land was not just soil; it was her heart.
But as despair threatened to swallow her, a soft bleat broke her thoughts. One of her goats nudged her gently, as if to say, Don’t give up. Lala wiped her tears. The damage was great, but life remained. Nature could break, but it could also heal.
“I will rebuild,” she whispered. “For you, for us.” She began gathering fallen branches, repairing fences, comforting each animal. Though the fields were destroyed, her spirit was not. Typhoon Matmo had brought destruction, but it had also reignited something stronger within her—courage.
With trembling hands but a determined heart, Lala stood once more, ready to sow hope again in the ruins of her farm.
