A Dormant Memoir: A Son’s Reflection on Love, Pain, and Redemption

Excerpt of the upcoming book. For decades, this memoir remained dormant in my mind—memories of pain, longing, and the silent suffering of my mother. It is not easy to write, but I feel compelled to bring out the truth, not in bitterness, but in understanding. This is my apology, not for telling the truth, but for the weight of it.

I grew up knowing the pain of fatherlessness, not just in absence but in neglect. My father was there, but only in the periphery of my life—present yet distant, acknowledged yet unreachable. I remember going to his office almost daily, like a beggar seeking alms, asking for whatever financial support he would give. I never questioned why it had to be a daily plea instead of a weekly or monthly provision. It became routine. I accepted it then, but now, as I write, I realize how unnatural it was for a child to chase after his own father for sustenance.

From childhood, Joseph dreamed of becoming a doctor, just like many of the kids in his neighborhood. He lived by a simple yet powerful principle: if you have a strong desire to pursue a goal, go for it. If success doesn’t come as planned, at least you tried—and there are always other paths to explore. Life is filled with many roads, each leading to new opportunities. What matters is knowing that what you want to be is what you can be…