Isko, an immigrant from the Philippines, has been living alone in his Bexley, Ohio apartment for almost 10 years. He's a traumatized Navy veteran who has seen & heard it all. He hardly ever leaves the house, except for grocery shopping & walking his emotional support service dog, a Pomeranian named Hilario. Hilario means "cheerful". Hilario is obviously there to cheer up & comfort Isko.
Isko's father abandoned the family (to escape from being charged for child abuse & a plethora of other crimes) & disappeared shortly after they immigrated to the United States, when Isko was 7 1/2. Isko's mother had a former coworker who used to babysit him & his 2 sisters, Carmelita & Darna. Isko was the middle child. The babysitter was ALSO abusive!
Isko always asked, "Why me?" He told Hilario all of his problems, because he couldn't afford a mental health therapist. Isko talked to Hilario like a real therapist. His neighbors added more abuse by bullying & making fun of him because he openly talked to Hilario about all of his past traumas & abuses whenever he took Hilario for a walk, but Isko didn't care about being laughed at. Hilario showed a lot of compassion & empathy. He was sad when Isko was sad.
Isko's father was verbally & emotionally abusive, but mildly physically abusive to all 3 children. When their evil babysitter, Josie, watched them, she gave them strange punishments, like forcing them to drink a whole bunch of water in 1 sitting & then forcing them to hold in their urine. She wouldn't let them use the bathroom, & then she beat them whenever they peed on themselves. She once gave Darna a bloody nose that would not stop. That's when Josie was charged with child abuse. 2 weeks later, Josie died in jail.
Isko enlisted in the US Navy, hoping that his life would turn around for the better. Sadly, it didn't. He questioned why he never had a good life. Just before he made the decision to end his own life, he decided to take a Greyhound bus trip to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania instead. Reflection time. He made sure to take Hilario with him.
When they arrived at the bus station in Philly, Hilario barked constantly. His barks caught the attention of Isko's former boot camp friend, Damien. Damien was shocked to see Isko, & they talked for a bit. Damien knows how hard it is. Damien had a motorcycle accident & had to get his leg amputated because he was hit by a drunk driver in broad daylight on a Monday afternoon.
When Isko talked about what he was going through, Damien shared the gospel with him & prayed with him. When Isko accepted Jesus Christ & decided to live, even Hilario rejoiced!
THE END