The Story of Rosalina

Noticeably, the oldest person in the room, I was shocked that Rosalina was even at Bright Bridge. You could almost see her story in her face. I had to know what led to her being here this late in her life. Rosalina explained to me that she hasn’t always been in this state. She lived most of her life well off with her husband and kids. However, her marriage quickly became abusive, leading to her mental health deteriorating. She told me that “I would rather be in the streets than be in my house.” Rosalina built up the courage to leave, but didn’t manage to take any goods with her, leading to a tough life on the streets. Even after all of this, Rosalina stayed positive. When I asked her for advice on life, she told me, “Don’t worry about anything except for God's love.” Rosalina found Bright Bridge by chance, just walking around on Barrancas. She has been coming back ever since. In retrospect on her life, Rosalina said, “ The experience has been tough, but God has provided.” My conversation with Rosalina was a reminder to stay positive and resilient in every situation.