Sara Sia

Just One Last Picture...

I walked down these narrow, poverty-stricken streets with bits of trash scattered among the worn concrete rubble that paved each step. The light of my digital camera flashed with a warning of a waning battery, but I tenaciously wanted to take just one last picture. Suddenly, the sound of laughter diverted my attention. Among these destitute pathways, were children who were playing with such amour, radiance and vivacity. They had created through their youthful ignorance a world which cultivated walls of innocence against their dire surroundings.

I quickly scrambled for my camera. I wanted to capture this illusory world created through the hearts of these children, which seemed to protect them from hunger, violence, and hate. They saw the camera and shuffled to pose for it with such unabashed vitality. To my great dismay as I snapped the shot, my camera went dead a few seconds afterwards. Sadly, I was only allowed to take one last frame.

Later, as I saw the photo that I had taken I was quite surprised at what had developed. I had wanted to capture this ephemeral moment of innocence that unfailingly was embraced by youth despite the circumstances. Instead, these eyes and faces of four children looked back at me portraying the world. Each face showed me what each of us feel, regardless of age or situation. Universally, we encounter moments of wit and knowledge, uncertainty mixed with a little fear, happiness and trust as well as a contemplative view of where we are in life.

What I thought they were guarded from was not their illusion but mine. They knew how hunger eats, how poverty dwells and how hate grows. However, they were able to embrace life as they felt it to be--nourishing.