The Story Of Damascene

I am here to tell you the story of Damascene Gatware. He wasn’t a social media influencer, nor was he a celebrity. He’s just a regular human being. I believe he is worthy of this story because he is the kindest person that I have ever met, even though he’s been through more than you and me.

He is originally from Misisi, Congo in Africa. His country was at war. From what I was told their were 2 clans who couldn’t get along. He lost his mom in this war and was forced to fight as an soldier, even though he was a kid. He had a friend, Babote, who was buried alive and yet he still survived. They watched so many of their friends & siblings go missing. Their childhood was snatched away from them. They knew no innocence.

Damascene belonged to the weaker army. So many soldiers died that they were forced to runaway to Rwanda just so they could live. When the arrived, the lived as refugees. There was barely any work. Food was scarce. Sometime they would go multiple days without eating. All they could do was sleep and drink. At least it was better than dying.

In 2018, Damascene moved to America. They told them that this was your opportunity of freedom. You live in a nice home, drive a nice car and get a great job. Damascene was happy to come. It seemed as if all his problems were over. He didn’t know that slavery still exists. It just looks different. Now that slavery is not allowed rich people had to come up with other ways to get other people to work for them. They needed to earn billions without even moving a muscle. The recruit foreigners in struggling countries instead of kidnapping. Offer the idea of an better life and pay them enough to survive. Everything that you need to survive will be signed in a contract that will set you up to pay the rich for majority of your life. I hate America, but I was trapped in this system even before I was born. Within a year he realized America is not what they portrayed it to be. He grew tired of working two jobs just to make it by. But he continued to have faith and be positive. He has been through worse.

August 13th of 2019, I was staying with my sister. I was only 19 and already going through an divorce. When I didn’t know any better I signed me and my son’s life into a contract called marriage. It wasn’t fair that I gave birth to someone alone and the law allowed him to be taken from me because I married someone. This is just another trap. I was depressed and anxious. I lost everything.

As I laid on the couch soaked in tears, Damascene knocked on the door. He was a friend of my sister’s boyfriend. He came to visit. All it took was one look into my dark eyes for him to notice that I wasn’t right. He instantly knew that there was something wrong. I saw him and ran into a private room. I didn’t want anyone to see my pain. I was embarrassed of it so I hid. That didn’t stop him. He came into the room and told me to get up. He told me that it was time to go. I looked at him like he was crazy because why is this man I didn’t know talking to me. I just wanted to sleep. I finally got up and agreed to go. I asked to shower first. I hadn’t bathed in weeks. He told me it’s okay, just come. I followed him to the car and stared silently the whole drive. He took me to get a gyro & took me to the park. I didn’t want to eat but I ate anyways. It had been days since I ate real food. I asked him, “What do you want? Why did you bring me here?” He responded, “ I wanted to remind you what life is. We all go through things & sometimes one more than the other. But you always have to get up and keep moving.” I ignored him. That wasn’t what I wanted to hear. I wanted someone to understand what I been through. I didn’t want to get up and as soon as I got back home I laid back down.

The Next day, he arrived early in the morning. He snatched the blanket of me. “I won’t feel sorry for you, There are people going through worse than you. GET UP!” He yelled. I got up hoping that he would leave if I did. But he didn’t. He went to the bathroom and turned on the shower. He told to bathe, put on clothes and get ready to leave. I thought this man was crazy. I didn’t understand why he cared so much about me. After I got ready I sat in the car. He drove me to a gas station and got me a muffin and a coffee. He then drove to a temp service. He helped me get a job that I didn’t want to go to. Afterwards he drove me back home & said “See you in the morning.”

Overtime I grew into a routine. I expected every morning. Whether we were going to work or to church. He showed up everyday. He never not once asked me for anything. It’s like he was doing all of this for free. I eventually asked him “Why are you helping me?” He told me because “God told him to.”

I eventually moved on and saved enough money to be self sufficient. At this point, we grew distant. He knew that I was okay. He felt comfortable of letting me go. As of right now, I took the ASVAB and an 54. I am eligible to enter into the MARINES as a LEGAL SERVICE SPECIALIST. I just have to lose a couple of more pounds.

To most, this story may seem as insignificant. He didn’t influence the whole world. He isn’t popular. He just a regular person. His actions taught me to be kind without expecting anything in return. He didn’t change the world, but he changed my perspective of this world.