At the Bus Stop

While waiting for my colleagues to pick me up at the bus stop for the [Dhow Cruise], a Kabayan (from the same country where I came from) approached me and asked for bus "directions". I don't know much about bus routes for I don't take the public bus that often. Since I wanted to help, I did what I could... I called the toll-free number of Dubai Transport. At least, I tried to help and it worked.

We had a chat and I noticed that she was unusually bubbly and cheerful. She was so jolly that I never expected she was (and has been) carrying such heavy problems. She has four children back in our home country and she's separated from her husband. She recently left her job and will be flying back to her hometown... And even though she will be with her children (and parents) during Christmas and New Year, she'll be jobless and penniless.

Yet there she was, cracking jokes, giggling and laughing with me at the bus stop.
I didn't feel any pity for her. What I felt was intrigue and admiration.
Where did all her smiles come from?
Ah, perhaps a human soul can have a type of strength more resilient than what I have imagined.