Lonely
by Andresa Repšytė
Kelmė, Lithuania
Kelmė, Lithuania
“Lonely, sad, scared, unhappy, but free“ – that‘s how 53 year old Kelmė native, Barbora Stonaitienė describes herself.
Once a working family woman with a husband and three kids now has nothing. She lives in the centre of a small town and the only visitor in her house is the social worker, who comes every Monday to check on her.
Her husband died eleven years ago and the heartbroken woman fell into depression and that led to alcoholism. Barbora couldn‘t take care of herself and the kids so the kids were taken away to an orphanage, where they grew up and contacted Barbora only a few times after leaving the orphanage. “I know I wasn‘t the best example for my kids, but I know that they can be good examples for their kids“- the woman said. Stonaitienė says, that if she could turn back time , she would cherish every moment in her life which bring tears to her eyes every time she remembers them now.
Five years ago, when she stopped taking her medication for diabetes, Barbora suffered from a stroke. The stroke paralyzed her right side of the face and damaged her whole body and she can‘t move her arms enough to write. That was one of the biggest shocks to her, because she loved to write. The only occupation she now does is reading. Barbora says that she reads 3-4 books every month. “If I couldn‘t read, I couldn‘t live. Books tell the truth, show the meaning of life and that is everything, that I need right now“- the woman told.
After being asked how she sees her life after five years the woman was silent, she just lifted up her head and said that the only thing she wants is for her kids to be happy.
Once a working family woman with a husband and three kids now has nothing. She lives in the centre of a small town and the only visitor in her house is the social worker, who comes every Monday to check on her.
Her husband died eleven years ago and the heartbroken woman fell into depression and that led to alcoholism. Barbora couldn‘t take care of herself and the kids so the kids were taken away to an orphanage, where they grew up and contacted Barbora only a few times after leaving the orphanage. “I know I wasn‘t the best example for my kids, but I know that they can be good examples for their kids“- the woman said. Stonaitienė says, that if she could turn back time , she would cherish every moment in her life which bring tears to her eyes every time she remembers them now.
Five years ago, when she stopped taking her medication for diabetes, Barbora suffered from a stroke. The stroke paralyzed her right side of the face and damaged her whole body and she can‘t move her arms enough to write. That was one of the biggest shocks to her, because she loved to write. The only occupation she now does is reading. Barbora says that she reads 3-4 books every month. “If I couldn‘t read, I couldn‘t live. Books tell the truth, show the meaning of life and that is everything, that I need right now“- the woman told.
After being asked how she sees her life after five years the woman was silent, she just lifted up her head and said that the only thing she wants is for her kids to be happy.