The sky above Lagunillas was often tinged with a melancholy gray, a mirror of Joselyn's inner landscape. In his thirties, he carried with him the weight of two university degrees culminating in honors, a master's degree defended with passion and a postgraduate degree that promised broad horizons. The diplomas, carefully framed in the family home, seemed to observe her with an accusing silence, mute witnesses of a path that had taken an unexpected detour.
Joselyn worked at a local pharmacy. Every morning, as he put on his white coat, he felt a twinge of irony. Their hands, once intended to manipulate complex laboratory tests or unravel intricate economic problems, were now dispensing painkillers and antacids. The conversations with the clients were brief, functional, far from the academic debates or discussions about the future of the country that had so passionate her.
Depression had crept into his life like a lingering shadow, obscuring the bright colors of his accomplishments. The frustration of seeing her efforts seemingly wasted, the feeling of being trapped in a present that did not reflect her potential, had slowly consumed her. There were days when getting out of bed was an epic battle, where the energy to perform the simplest tasks felt like an unbearable weight.
He remembered clearly the sleepless nights studying, the excitement of receiving his degree, the promises of a bright future. Venezuela, his beloved land, had been the engine of many of his aspirations. He wanted to contribute to its development, to apply his knowledge to build a better country. But reality had imposed itself with brutal force. The economic crisis, the lack of opportunities, the feeling of widespread stagnation, had eroded her dreams and pushed her towards a path she never imagined.
In the middle of the pharmacy counter, surrounded by boxes of medicine, Joselyn was often lost in thought. He relived the discussions with his fellow students, the ideas that stirred in his mind, the conviction that they could make a difference. Now, those ideas seemed distant, almost unreal. I felt a lump in my throat when I heard the news, as I saw how so many talented young people left the country in search of a future.
However, deep within his being, a small flame of hope kept flickering. It was a flame fueled by the love of his land, by the memories of a vibrant Venezuela full of possibilities. Despite the darkness that sometimes shrouded her, Joselyn clung to the conviction that the situation was not permanent. He dreamed of the day when his knowledge and skills would be needed, when he could finally contribute to the rebirth of his nation.
In the breaks from work, I read news about the incipient changes, about the voices that cried out for a different future. He allowed himself to imagine a scenario where his studies would not only be a memory, but a valuable tool for reconstruction. This hope, although tenuous at times, was her anchor, the force that drove her to get up every morning and face another day at the pharmacy.
Joselyn knew that fighting depression was an arduous road, full of ups and downs. He had learned to recognize dark days and to look for small glimmers of light. She allowed herself to feel the sadness, the frustration, but she also made an effort to remember her worth, her achievements, the intelligence that had led her to overcome so many academic challenges.
In conversations with some regular customers, she found small moments of human connection that eased her loneliness. Sometimes, they shared stories, concerns, and in those moments, Joselyn felt that she was not completely aware of it.
And so, day after day, Joselyn continued to dispense medicines, offering a kind smile to whoever needed it, while inside, hope for a better future for Venezuela and for herself was still alive. It was a silent struggle, a personal battle fought in the everyday setting of a pharmacy in Lagunillas, but it was a genuine struggle, driven by the deep longing to see the land he loved and the potential he knew still resided in it flourish again. His story was that of many Venezuelans, a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity, clinging to the hope of a brighter tomorrow.
