Conclusion one: Wait For Me…
After some tough decision, he finally decided, "This is who I want to spent the rest of my days with, I cannot hope for any better than just being with her. I will choose her." He rushed to his car and sped to the airport. He called her on the way but she did not pick up his calls. He tried again and again. She finally decided to pick up his call and he told her, "Wait for me, I’m on my way. Please wait for me, just a little longer." She hung up all of a sudden and walked away.
He increased his speed as he come closer to the departure hall. He left his car in a hurry and proceeded to the immigration gateway. When he arrived, he searched for her but she was nowhere to be seen. He thought it was all over that he had finally lost her for good. But something unexpected happened. She walked towards him from a distance and stood on the spot, not too far from where he was. He turned his head and he was jubilant to see her. She was dressed elusively in her white dress. He stepped forward and both of them leaped into each others’ arms. "I’m sorry." He told her with tears in his eyes. "I’m sorry too." She replied with tears flowing down her rosy cheeks. Both of them were willing to give each other one more chance to embrace their love…
This ending is inspired by "One More Try" by A1.
Conclusion two: My Angel…
After some tough decision, he finally decided, "This is who I want to spent the rest of my days with, I cannot hope for any better than just being with her. I will choose her." He rushed to his car and sped to the restaurant. Hastily, he entered their favourite place and found her waiting patiently, sitting alone in one corner of the room. His heart beat faster as he approached her. She was well-clad in a white gown, looking deep and straight into his sparkling eyes.
As he sat, he told her, "You truly have fascinated me and to me, it is precious." She replied, "You have given me comfort, just being close to your bring me warmth I’d never want to let go of." He took her hand and smiled. To him, she was the angel he must have been waiting for. He realized that she is so close yet so far back then but now, he only wanted to spend this moment to cherish his time with her. She expressed her true feelings for him and told him how much she loved him from that accidental moment. And her feelings grew but she was too afraid to show it to him. Now, she was more than grateful to finally made things clear right in front of him. Candlelight dinner was what both of them were looking forward for, just the two of them and the flame that resembles their undying love…
This ending is inspired by "Girl in the Moon" by Darius.
Friday, July 29, 2005
Sunday, July 24, 2005
Stop Hiding From Yourself...
He has always thought that this motivational course is useless because he feels that motivation should come from the heart not by people talking to students. But he went ahead anyway, together with his class. The first day of the course started when this man presented himself with confidence and arrogance in front of the audience. He walked for a while, watching each and every pair of eyes looking at him. And then he introduced himself. From the time he started he did not mention that there will be lecturing or practicing just talking and listening intently. He thought, “Alright, we will see.” From the minute he started, his mouth never stops for more than three hours straight, joking around and it looked as if he was digressing most of the time instead of getting straight to the point. He laughed at his silly jokes of course and thought, “Alright, this is different.” The whole day just involved laughter, smiles and joy. His spirits was lifted up somehow but only by a fraction. The mentor told, “I want you to do one thing when you arrive home. Just three simple words, I love you. Say it to your parents, alright.” When he arrived at home, he did not say it.
The second day went on smoothly like yesterday with one particular exception. The mentor asked, “Did you do what I asked you to do yesterday?” Some put their hands up but majority kept their hands down. Furious, he started to flare, “What is up with this attitude? I just asked you to say that three simple words to your parents and you did not even give a damn about it!” The lights in the room were switched off. He continued, “Do you know that what I asked you to do will give so much to your parents. Just think about it, all of you in this room are champions. Among millions of the sperms from your father, you swam all the way to fertilize your mother’s egg. You only have twenty four hours or you will die. And do you know that the distance to be covered in human context it is as if running from Sentosa to upper Thailand? Just think about it, why you managed to fertilize the egg instead of the other millions. It is because you are the best of them all. Everyone in this room, listen up, you are champions. During labour; your mother experience excruciating pain, half of your mother’s feet in on earth, the other in her grave. Every time your mother gives birth, half of her life force is drained out. And the one thing she wants was to hear your cry. She would even sacrifice herself or undergo caesarian so that you will be born into this world. Nine months you give her pain and worry if you will turn out to be a normal embryo. Your father, he worked his guts out to provide for the family. He may not be able to express his feelings, but deep down he cares. Just imagine how hurtful for him when you ignored him, when you cursed him because he discipline you harshly. One day when your father is buying something you like, he met with a fatal accident and time just stops. How will you feel? The breadwinner is gone forever not having the opportunity to feel your love, to receive your apology. You just do not know that parents loved you so much, supported you since you are young and this is the way you repay their kindness, with ingratitude and hate! You will beg and cry and scream out loud should your parents die right now in this moment and there is nothing you can do to stop it.”
He cried and cried, hiding his face under his arms, ashamed and guilty. He continued, “You lie to your parents, blame them, complain about them but in reality, you are just giving excuses, you are the reason why you lie, you blame, you complain. Stop hiding behind you mask, stop hiding from yourself! We are all human living in a less than perfect world, so accept it, but do not give up that you are unable to achieve your goals in life. When you take off your mask, you believe in yourself, you give a hundred percent, you ignored what people say about you, you cherish those around you, you don’t feel ashamed, you become who you truly are. So, open up to your parents, to your friends, to your teachers and to yourself. Do what is right and your goals can be achieved only if you persevere, be yourself and you have people to back you up. Parents may hurt us in some ways, but we should move on, learn to forgive and forget, leave the past behind, act in the present and dream about you future, that is life!” His heart just felt as if a lightning had struck him, cries and whines were heard across the room, every single one of them broke into tears, they cannot lie that they are strong anymore, they are weak. They admit their mistakes; they learn to be humble, to feel inferior. To him it meant so much because he has not made the best of his life at least appreciate his parents especially to his father who was working overseas, only visiting him once in three to four months. To his classmates who he thought are just individuals, pretending they are friends. To the people he knew who he has not expressed his true feelings about them. He felt hurt and regretful. He never knew this kind of feeling, neither everyone in the room. It was tears that wiped away their sorrow, guilt, regret and pain. He came out of the room, reborn and rejuvenated. But the real test was yet to come.
The third day came along; parents were gathered in the hall together with the students one late evening. The mentor started explaining what has been going on for the last few days but he did not mentioned that we cried. He then said, “Parents, now I would like some of your children here to come up and give their testimonial about you, their teachers, their friends and most importantly themselves. This is their time to grow up.” Some people went upstage and gave their speech. He sat watching them one by one appeared on stage being honest to themselves with his heart aching. “I want to go and make my parents proud, to tell them that I have overcome my dreadful past and turn over a new chapter in my life.” He finally went up to stage when third speaker ended her speech. He came unprepared with a speech but he knew as long as he is true to himself, the words will find its way out and reach out to the hearts of those who listen to him. True enough, his class cheered him on, giving him the drive to give it all. He knew, some of them would never thought that he would do something like this, courageously address the audience in front of his parents, the principal and the vice principal, the teachers who taught him this year, the other two classes and other people’s parents. This was the moment he knew he did not want to miss out because this is the time to shine, to grow up, to put an end of hiding behind his mask and be himself. In front of so many people, he asked his mother who was only present then to stand up while he gave his speech. He told her how much he loved her. He asked his teachers to stand up as well, telling them about his ambition that he would give a hundred percent for them and to express his gratitude. He then explained about his father, “The symbol that I have chosen is my father. He may not hear me because he is not here today. But from young, I have always looked up to him. He may not show his love for me but I know he will be there when I need him most. He taught me to me who I am today and without my father and my mother, I would not be here today. When I saw this school for the first time, I knew right away that I want to go here. There is something that attracts me which I cannot explain why and in this school I have met dedicated teachers who supported and guided me thus far.” He saw he mother crying. By then, he knew he has made his family proud of him and hundred pairs of eyes will be witnesses that he will grow up to leave this school with ‘A’s written in his certificate. His class cheered once again, but this time the others as well. He felt so high; he felt that he was a changed man. When the closing ceremony ended, his class gathered together to sing a song. The hall turned itself to blend with the night sky. He sang with all his heart, swaying together with his classmates. After which, he searched his mother and gave her a hug that he had never given him for seventeen years. And also he hugged his teachers who made a difference in his life. It was heartwarming, it was when he took off his mask, plucked up the courage he had never known he had and he made every single moment counts to express his feelings. It was more than experience, it was the moment to truth that he would like to share with those people important to him; it was more than he can ask for. He knew that it was perfect and only time to stop hiding from himself.
This story is based on real account of the author. The author would like to thank the mentors of this motivational camp, Mr Ramesh Muthusamy for giving him the drive to believe in himself and Ms Cherie Lim for sharing her life experience and conducting the camp. It is only when we believe in ourselves, great things we thought we never could have done, could happen in our lives wherever and whenever we wanted it to happen.
The second day went on smoothly like yesterday with one particular exception. The mentor asked, “Did you do what I asked you to do yesterday?” Some put their hands up but majority kept their hands down. Furious, he started to flare, “What is up with this attitude? I just asked you to say that three simple words to your parents and you did not even give a damn about it!” The lights in the room were switched off. He continued, “Do you know that what I asked you to do will give so much to your parents. Just think about it, all of you in this room are champions. Among millions of the sperms from your father, you swam all the way to fertilize your mother’s egg. You only have twenty four hours or you will die. And do you know that the distance to be covered in human context it is as if running from Sentosa to upper Thailand? Just think about it, why you managed to fertilize the egg instead of the other millions. It is because you are the best of them all. Everyone in this room, listen up, you are champions. During labour; your mother experience excruciating pain, half of your mother’s feet in on earth, the other in her grave. Every time your mother gives birth, half of her life force is drained out. And the one thing she wants was to hear your cry. She would even sacrifice herself or undergo caesarian so that you will be born into this world. Nine months you give her pain and worry if you will turn out to be a normal embryo. Your father, he worked his guts out to provide for the family. He may not be able to express his feelings, but deep down he cares. Just imagine how hurtful for him when you ignored him, when you cursed him because he discipline you harshly. One day when your father is buying something you like, he met with a fatal accident and time just stops. How will you feel? The breadwinner is gone forever not having the opportunity to feel your love, to receive your apology. You just do not know that parents loved you so much, supported you since you are young and this is the way you repay their kindness, with ingratitude and hate! You will beg and cry and scream out loud should your parents die right now in this moment and there is nothing you can do to stop it.”
He cried and cried, hiding his face under his arms, ashamed and guilty. He continued, “You lie to your parents, blame them, complain about them but in reality, you are just giving excuses, you are the reason why you lie, you blame, you complain. Stop hiding behind you mask, stop hiding from yourself! We are all human living in a less than perfect world, so accept it, but do not give up that you are unable to achieve your goals in life. When you take off your mask, you believe in yourself, you give a hundred percent, you ignored what people say about you, you cherish those around you, you don’t feel ashamed, you become who you truly are. So, open up to your parents, to your friends, to your teachers and to yourself. Do what is right and your goals can be achieved only if you persevere, be yourself and you have people to back you up. Parents may hurt us in some ways, but we should move on, learn to forgive and forget, leave the past behind, act in the present and dream about you future, that is life!” His heart just felt as if a lightning had struck him, cries and whines were heard across the room, every single one of them broke into tears, they cannot lie that they are strong anymore, they are weak. They admit their mistakes; they learn to be humble, to feel inferior. To him it meant so much because he has not made the best of his life at least appreciate his parents especially to his father who was working overseas, only visiting him once in three to four months. To his classmates who he thought are just individuals, pretending they are friends. To the people he knew who he has not expressed his true feelings about them. He felt hurt and regretful. He never knew this kind of feeling, neither everyone in the room. It was tears that wiped away their sorrow, guilt, regret and pain. He came out of the room, reborn and rejuvenated. But the real test was yet to come.
The third day came along; parents were gathered in the hall together with the students one late evening. The mentor started explaining what has been going on for the last few days but he did not mentioned that we cried. He then said, “Parents, now I would like some of your children here to come up and give their testimonial about you, their teachers, their friends and most importantly themselves. This is their time to grow up.” Some people went upstage and gave their speech. He sat watching them one by one appeared on stage being honest to themselves with his heart aching. “I want to go and make my parents proud, to tell them that I have overcome my dreadful past and turn over a new chapter in my life.” He finally went up to stage when third speaker ended her speech. He came unprepared with a speech but he knew as long as he is true to himself, the words will find its way out and reach out to the hearts of those who listen to him. True enough, his class cheered him on, giving him the drive to give it all. He knew, some of them would never thought that he would do something like this, courageously address the audience in front of his parents, the principal and the vice principal, the teachers who taught him this year, the other two classes and other people’s parents. This was the moment he knew he did not want to miss out because this is the time to shine, to grow up, to put an end of hiding behind his mask and be himself. In front of so many people, he asked his mother who was only present then to stand up while he gave his speech. He told her how much he loved her. He asked his teachers to stand up as well, telling them about his ambition that he would give a hundred percent for them and to express his gratitude. He then explained about his father, “The symbol that I have chosen is my father. He may not hear me because he is not here today. But from young, I have always looked up to him. He may not show his love for me but I know he will be there when I need him most. He taught me to me who I am today and without my father and my mother, I would not be here today. When I saw this school for the first time, I knew right away that I want to go here. There is something that attracts me which I cannot explain why and in this school I have met dedicated teachers who supported and guided me thus far.” He saw he mother crying. By then, he knew he has made his family proud of him and hundred pairs of eyes will be witnesses that he will grow up to leave this school with ‘A’s written in his certificate. His class cheered once again, but this time the others as well. He felt so high; he felt that he was a changed man. When the closing ceremony ended, his class gathered together to sing a song. The hall turned itself to blend with the night sky. He sang with all his heart, swaying together with his classmates. After which, he searched his mother and gave her a hug that he had never given him for seventeen years. And also he hugged his teachers who made a difference in his life. It was heartwarming, it was when he took off his mask, plucked up the courage he had never known he had and he made every single moment counts to express his feelings. It was more than experience, it was the moment to truth that he would like to share with those people important to him; it was more than he can ask for. He knew that it was perfect and only time to stop hiding from himself.
This story is based on real account of the author. The author would like to thank the mentors of this motivational camp, Mr Ramesh Muthusamy for giving him the drive to believe in himself and Ms Cherie Lim for sharing her life experience and conducting the camp. It is only when we believe in ourselves, great things we thought we never could have done, could happen in our lives wherever and whenever we wanted it to happen.
Love Triangle...
Dilemma soon sets in. He was caught in the middle, should he go for someone he truly loves who hardly respond to him or should he accept the fact that accepting a new love could probably solve all his worries. He sat on the wooden bench facing the picturesque scenery of the lush, green hills across the clear water lake, thinking on how he can make the right decision.
He recalled the school days when he spent his treasured childhood with the ‘earlier’ girl. He met his first love when they were in kindergarten and they have been classmates for decades. He gave her a box of chocolates during Valentine’s Day, she gave him a fond smile and that was the end of it. The following year, he gave him a stalk of rose; again she gave him a smile, no more than that. There was one occasion when she was bullied by the bigger boys, he stood up and stepped forward despite his frail-looking physique. He was beaten up while she escaped. He threw some weak punches with little impact on the bullies and they replied by outnumbering him, bashing him up so badly that blood smeared on the white walls and canteen floor. Teachers soon arrived and stopped the fight. He came out alive out of the onslaught with face battered badly. The girl approached him the next day after school at the courtyard, gave him a letter and kissed him on his cheek as a token of appreciation. But that was all, and the letter she wrote dashed his dreams of getting closer to her.
Teenage years came by; they were still in the same class. He often looked at her from his seat at the back of the classroom, hoping she would at least turn around but she did not. In class, there was never a communication between them making looked as if they were strangers. Her ignorance made him feel disappointed but deep inside her heart; she has some feelings for him although not as strong as he has for her. Both remained just classmates till he was forced to transfer to another school. She approached him again on the last day in that school. His buddies who presented him with a farewell gifts, made way for her when she appeared on the door front of the class. She handed him a small memento, a farewell letter. He read her letter on the spot, realizing that she finally decided to speak her mind. But, the waiting game and the pain of being ignored and rejected seemed to have overshadowed his mind. He returned the letter to her and told her to keep it, “The time is not right, I need time to mend my heart which you have broken into million pieces.” Despite saying this, he still left a room for her in his heart, no matter what he had said.
He took out an old photo he took with the ‘latter’ girl. He met her when he was transferred to the new school. He got to know her when she bumped into him in the hallway. She offered him a tour around the school realizing that he was a new student. He agreed and from there she became fond of him. He compared her with his first love and he found that this girl is simply fascinating. She turned his orderly world upside down, she spoke her mind about everything under the sun and her carefree attitude made him realize that she probably could be the one he has been looking for all these while. Although he could almost feel it right on the tip of his fingers, he was still attached to the past he was unwilling to let go. And he remained dormant about his feelings.
Often, she flaunted her charisma and tried to make him engage in conversation which she has succeeded. She began digging up his likes and dislikes, found out about his one of a kind personality and enjoying being in company with him. She hoped that she would one day melt his heart and make him stop being a dreamer. Through the years, her feelings for him grew stronger but he never responded in the manner she wanted him to. Nevertheless, she kept trying, giving her hundred percent.
The day has finally come, the day to choose between the two. The ‘earlier’ girl was leaving for London to further her studies, waiting for his arrival before she departed. His arrival could probably change her mind to go abroad. The ‘latter’ girl was waiting for him at their meeting place, a French restaurant, hoping to express her true feelings for him directly when he arrived. He looked at his watch; it was ten minutes to five. Time seemed to be running out and he still could not make a decision, he could not bear to let any of them down and his final ten minute decision would determine his future. Only one of them was going to be sharing the holy matrimony with him after a decade of waiting. After some tough decision, he finally decided, “This is who I want to spent the rest of my days with, I cannot hope for any better than just being with her. I will choose…”
The author wants the readers to pick for him who would be the most suitable wife for the character mentioned above and why she deserves to be his wife. Your decision will conclude this story. Whoever you may choose, the two of them will live happily ever after, leaving one broken hearted.
He recalled the school days when he spent his treasured childhood with the ‘earlier’ girl. He met his first love when they were in kindergarten and they have been classmates for decades. He gave her a box of chocolates during Valentine’s Day, she gave him a fond smile and that was the end of it. The following year, he gave him a stalk of rose; again she gave him a smile, no more than that. There was one occasion when she was bullied by the bigger boys, he stood up and stepped forward despite his frail-looking physique. He was beaten up while she escaped. He threw some weak punches with little impact on the bullies and they replied by outnumbering him, bashing him up so badly that blood smeared on the white walls and canteen floor. Teachers soon arrived and stopped the fight. He came out alive out of the onslaught with face battered badly. The girl approached him the next day after school at the courtyard, gave him a letter and kissed him on his cheek as a token of appreciation. But that was all, and the letter she wrote dashed his dreams of getting closer to her.
Teenage years came by; they were still in the same class. He often looked at her from his seat at the back of the classroom, hoping she would at least turn around but she did not. In class, there was never a communication between them making looked as if they were strangers. Her ignorance made him feel disappointed but deep inside her heart; she has some feelings for him although not as strong as he has for her. Both remained just classmates till he was forced to transfer to another school. She approached him again on the last day in that school. His buddies who presented him with a farewell gifts, made way for her when she appeared on the door front of the class. She handed him a small memento, a farewell letter. He read her letter on the spot, realizing that she finally decided to speak her mind. But, the waiting game and the pain of being ignored and rejected seemed to have overshadowed his mind. He returned the letter to her and told her to keep it, “The time is not right, I need time to mend my heart which you have broken into million pieces.” Despite saying this, he still left a room for her in his heart, no matter what he had said.
He took out an old photo he took with the ‘latter’ girl. He met her when he was transferred to the new school. He got to know her when she bumped into him in the hallway. She offered him a tour around the school realizing that he was a new student. He agreed and from there she became fond of him. He compared her with his first love and he found that this girl is simply fascinating. She turned his orderly world upside down, she spoke her mind about everything under the sun and her carefree attitude made him realize that she probably could be the one he has been looking for all these while. Although he could almost feel it right on the tip of his fingers, he was still attached to the past he was unwilling to let go. And he remained dormant about his feelings.
Often, she flaunted her charisma and tried to make him engage in conversation which she has succeeded. She began digging up his likes and dislikes, found out about his one of a kind personality and enjoying being in company with him. She hoped that she would one day melt his heart and make him stop being a dreamer. Through the years, her feelings for him grew stronger but he never responded in the manner she wanted him to. Nevertheless, she kept trying, giving her hundred percent.
The day has finally come, the day to choose between the two. The ‘earlier’ girl was leaving for London to further her studies, waiting for his arrival before she departed. His arrival could probably change her mind to go abroad. The ‘latter’ girl was waiting for him at their meeting place, a French restaurant, hoping to express her true feelings for him directly when he arrived. He looked at his watch; it was ten minutes to five. Time seemed to be running out and he still could not make a decision, he could not bear to let any of them down and his final ten minute decision would determine his future. Only one of them was going to be sharing the holy matrimony with him after a decade of waiting. After some tough decision, he finally decided, “This is who I want to spent the rest of my days with, I cannot hope for any better than just being with her. I will choose…”
The author wants the readers to pick for him who would be the most suitable wife for the character mentioned above and why she deserves to be his wife. Your decision will conclude this story. Whoever you may choose, the two of them will live happily ever after, leaving one broken hearted.
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
A Life After Death...
He stood by the coffin, looking at him with a dampened heart. Beside him was an angel, waiting for him to let go all his desires and to bring him to heaven to have his judgement. He finally decided that it was time to leave although his heart felt as if it was breaking into pieces to see his loved ones mourn over his death. He told the angel that he wanted to attend the funeral before he met his maker. The angel accepted his request and vanished into thin air.
His tomb was well decorated with flowers, the fragrance so alluring yet it brought tears to those around. Everyone was dressed in black, some kneeling, some standing but they all came with one purpose; to say their final goodbye to the man they used to call a friend, a husband, a father and a man whose death was inevitable. He looked at her, tried to place his hand on his wife’s shoulder but he could not feel her warmth. He tried to look at her in her eyes but it looked as if she could not see him. The angel approached him and said, "Pardon me, but it is time to leave, my child for He is waiting." He tailed the angel and left his burial site. "Hold my hand." The angel said. He grabbed her hand and soon he was lifted high above the azure sky. He closed his eyes as he was raised to His kingdom.
The angel uttered, "You may open your eyes now." He slowly opened his eyes and before him was faces he recognized, his father, mother, grandparents and others who were related to him. They were all deceased along time ago and here they are in a reunion. The Almighty sitting on his majestic, holy throne asked him to come forward. He then asked him, "Welcome to my eternal kingdom, my child. You have spent a valuable lifetime on earth with those you loved dearly so I have decided to invite you here and give you an eternal life to stay in my kingdom. Throughout your life, I have noticed your sincerity, your pure heart and your maturity and I am impressed with what you have done on earth. But I sense fear and sorrow in your heart right now, tell me child, why do you feel so?"
He muttered calmly, "My Lord, I have not done much in my life and I missed those I loved. I cannot imagine what their future will be like without me around." He answered, "My child, I shall let you visit your past and your generations’ future and may be you will find the key to unlock all your sadness. And if you passed my test, I shall let you have the freedom to choose whether you would like to be reincarnated or stay here and be part of our holy kingdom." He thanked Him and the angel brought him out of the throne room. "Past, Present, Future… you shall visit all of those realms and watch yourself and reflect if you have made the right decision. These realms are meant for your eyes only and cannot be altered. I shall be with you till you decide to meet His Grace one more time." The angel said to him.
He nodded and opened the door of the Past. As he entered the room, he could see a baby in the crib. Two adults seemed to be delighted and they played with the baby. "You were the jewel of your parents, their first born and your birth brought joy and bliss in their lives." Then he noticed, a boy walking across the room. He searched for a set of colour pencils and a blank paper then began drawing his family. "You loved your parents as much as they did to you." Later, the boy turned to be a teenager. The teenager looked outside his room window and noticed a pretty girl by the gate. He rushed to her and she gave him a letter. Both of them giggled and soon parted after exchanging smiles. "You were adorable and charismatic. Many fell for you yet you chose a simple girl, your neighbour, the girl whom you shared your childhood with." Grey clouds began to overshadow the teen’s house. The teen was crying, together with his mother and relatives by the bed. The doctor shook his head, gave a regretful sigh and left the room. The teen watched his father rested on the bed, there was no movement at all; he last saw him that odious day. "You were deeply grieved by your father’s passing and ever since you began cherishing life while you can because you have missed occasions where you could have at least give your father a comforting hug or just a warm chat." He visited his past event after event and each time the angel comforted him. Upon reaching the door end, the angel said, "You have a wonderful past, filled with innocence and purity. And these are major factors that created the man you will become in the Present. I am certain that your past have shown you what you did not see back then." He nodded and told her that he was more than satisfied to understand what he did or what those events were meant for. His regrets for the past gradually disappeared.
He then proceeded to the next door, the Present. He opened the door and saw his family in the living room. His wife had a sullen expression across her face, his three daughters stuck close to their mother trying to comfort one another. "They look sad, grieving upon your departure. In their moment of loss, there is nothing more important than to mourn." His eyes became teary but he could not feel the warm tear drop as it flowed down his cheek. He then took notice of his tomb. It was beautifully adorned with flowers and people whom he knew visited his tomb to give respect and bid farewell. "You will be remembered by those who knew you, even after your death." The Present had less to offer but at least it gave him a relief to know that his family was not traumatized and he found their bond to be closer somehow. The angel showed him the secrets that his wife and his daughters kept, mostly written in a diary.
"June 23rd, Dad came home late as we expected. Luckily, we waited for him and we saved his birthday cake. We had our first birthday celebration for Dad in a candlelit living room. It was rather romantic but I prefer the chocolate, black forest cake. Oh, happy 47th birthday, Dad…if you happen to see this. Love, Claire"
"May 3rd, Mom and Dad are having their wedding anniversary today. I wonder what they are going to give each other. From what I know, Dad always comes up with something new every year. Just last year, he bought her a mini piano. Mom has always loved playing piano. And guess what, she could play that mini piano with ‘a whole new world’ tune. Oh, I guess all of us are going to take a peek tonight in the living room, I bet it is going to be one of a kind. Love, Lisa."
"December 26th, Merry Christmas everyone; it is snowing cold. It is a great time to build snowman and have snow fight. I’m not going to lose again, Dad. You will not believe it, Dad, last night I had put a plate of cookies and a glass of warm milk by the table downstairs, near the telephone. And in the morning, they are all finished and I found candy sticks in the red sock I hung by the fireplace. Santa must have sneaked in last night. I’m going to catch him next year. Love, Beth."
"April 1st, to my wonderful husband, I have hidden your car key in the kitchen and I am glad you did not find it till this afternoon. You panicked that you will be late for work and desperately searching for your key high and low. Claire, Lisa, Beth and I were giggling away seeing you behave. Revenge is sweet. I hope you learnt your lesson and I will appreciate it if you do not hold any grudges on this matter. Love, Elena."
"To my handsome prince, I have been waiting for you to say ‘it’ for a long time. Now that you have admitted ‘it’, I think our relationship can start to blossom like the rose you gave me a few days ago. I was kind of nervous when I waited by your gate to give you my letter and worried that you would not come. But you did and that really make me feel so…you know, (blushing). Hope to hear from you soon. From your princess, Elena."
He smiled after looking at their writings; he did not know how much his family loved him. The angel said, "Love is a beautiful thing. And I am glad that you have such loving family and you must have felt the same towards them. But nothing last forever, even so, their memories of you will always have a room in their heart. Death is temporary loss, but all those memories will always live." He understood what she meant and continued to open the final door.
"Beyond this door is unpredictable." The angel said. After hesitating for a while, he entered the room, the Future door is opened. He saw emptiness at first but slowly, there was light, then there was life, water, air, plants, animals. He found a fountain by the garden. He walked towards the fountain and looked at the reflections on the water surface. Elena became a widow all her life, had adorable grandchildren and she still looked beautiful even at her old age. Claire married a rich man who loved her deeply. Lisa remained single, working as a vet and opened her own pet clinic. Beth is doing very well in school and received a scholarship to London to pursue law. Yet after decades of his death, his tomb was well maintained and flowers still were being placed. "Their future is bright and so will your next generations. They will walk the path you have taken and all of them will grow up to be just like you. There will always a part of you in all your future generation." He smiled but remained silent. The angel continued, "Let us go, there is nothing left that I can show you." Both of them head back to the throne room where His Majesty was waiting.
He asked him, "It was quite a trip, wasn’t it? My child, it is time you decide. Would you like to stay here and watch your family from afar or would you prefer to be reincarnated to be close with your family? Both ways, you win. You have impressed me from time to time when you are on earth and I want to test you once again and if you pass this test, I shall give you what you seek." He thought for a moment and made his decision…
"My lord, there is nothing I shall want. It was you who brought me to life and it was you who brought me here. The Past, Present and Future do not matter to me, I may have left those I cared for, but I have cherished every moment when I was alive. Now only my spirit remains and what I brought back together with this spirit worth much more than being reincarnated to be close to my family. And watching my family from afar would not gain both my family and I with anything. I would be glad to commit myself to you. There is nothing I shall want, My Lord." He answered.
"My child, you are special yet you are not arrogant, instead you are sincere and willing to let go of your desires. I no longer sense any fear and sorrow in you. You are true to yourself and I am impressed once again. Very well, my child, here is your final judgement. You will be sent back to earth as a guardian angel just like the one who brought you here. You will live an eternal life in my kingdom and shall never be reincarnated to feel pain, shame, guilt, lust, greed, anger, sloth and fear. You will be welcomed to the table of the Last Supper just like everyone here. Go now, spread the good news about my everlasting kingdom and lead the lost sheep back to the Promised Land, where life is everlasting."
There is peace in his heart, mind and soul. He received a life after death, an everlasting life for those who walk on the path of heaven. There is nothing he shall want…
His tomb was well decorated with flowers, the fragrance so alluring yet it brought tears to those around. Everyone was dressed in black, some kneeling, some standing but they all came with one purpose; to say their final goodbye to the man they used to call a friend, a husband, a father and a man whose death was inevitable. He looked at her, tried to place his hand on his wife’s shoulder but he could not feel her warmth. He tried to look at her in her eyes but it looked as if she could not see him. The angel approached him and said, "Pardon me, but it is time to leave, my child for He is waiting." He tailed the angel and left his burial site. "Hold my hand." The angel said. He grabbed her hand and soon he was lifted high above the azure sky. He closed his eyes as he was raised to His kingdom.
The angel uttered, "You may open your eyes now." He slowly opened his eyes and before him was faces he recognized, his father, mother, grandparents and others who were related to him. They were all deceased along time ago and here they are in a reunion. The Almighty sitting on his majestic, holy throne asked him to come forward. He then asked him, "Welcome to my eternal kingdom, my child. You have spent a valuable lifetime on earth with those you loved dearly so I have decided to invite you here and give you an eternal life to stay in my kingdom. Throughout your life, I have noticed your sincerity, your pure heart and your maturity and I am impressed with what you have done on earth. But I sense fear and sorrow in your heart right now, tell me child, why do you feel so?"
He muttered calmly, "My Lord, I have not done much in my life and I missed those I loved. I cannot imagine what their future will be like without me around." He answered, "My child, I shall let you visit your past and your generations’ future and may be you will find the key to unlock all your sadness. And if you passed my test, I shall let you have the freedom to choose whether you would like to be reincarnated or stay here and be part of our holy kingdom." He thanked Him and the angel brought him out of the throne room. "Past, Present, Future… you shall visit all of those realms and watch yourself and reflect if you have made the right decision. These realms are meant for your eyes only and cannot be altered. I shall be with you till you decide to meet His Grace one more time." The angel said to him.
He nodded and opened the door of the Past. As he entered the room, he could see a baby in the crib. Two adults seemed to be delighted and they played with the baby. "You were the jewel of your parents, their first born and your birth brought joy and bliss in their lives." Then he noticed, a boy walking across the room. He searched for a set of colour pencils and a blank paper then began drawing his family. "You loved your parents as much as they did to you." Later, the boy turned to be a teenager. The teenager looked outside his room window and noticed a pretty girl by the gate. He rushed to her and she gave him a letter. Both of them giggled and soon parted after exchanging smiles. "You were adorable and charismatic. Many fell for you yet you chose a simple girl, your neighbour, the girl whom you shared your childhood with." Grey clouds began to overshadow the teen’s house. The teen was crying, together with his mother and relatives by the bed. The doctor shook his head, gave a regretful sigh and left the room. The teen watched his father rested on the bed, there was no movement at all; he last saw him that odious day. "You were deeply grieved by your father’s passing and ever since you began cherishing life while you can because you have missed occasions where you could have at least give your father a comforting hug or just a warm chat." He visited his past event after event and each time the angel comforted him. Upon reaching the door end, the angel said, "You have a wonderful past, filled with innocence and purity. And these are major factors that created the man you will become in the Present. I am certain that your past have shown you what you did not see back then." He nodded and told her that he was more than satisfied to understand what he did or what those events were meant for. His regrets for the past gradually disappeared.
He then proceeded to the next door, the Present. He opened the door and saw his family in the living room. His wife had a sullen expression across her face, his three daughters stuck close to their mother trying to comfort one another. "They look sad, grieving upon your departure. In their moment of loss, there is nothing more important than to mourn." His eyes became teary but he could not feel the warm tear drop as it flowed down his cheek. He then took notice of his tomb. It was beautifully adorned with flowers and people whom he knew visited his tomb to give respect and bid farewell. "You will be remembered by those who knew you, even after your death." The Present had less to offer but at least it gave him a relief to know that his family was not traumatized and he found their bond to be closer somehow. The angel showed him the secrets that his wife and his daughters kept, mostly written in a diary.
"June 23rd, Dad came home late as we expected. Luckily, we waited for him and we saved his birthday cake. We had our first birthday celebration for Dad in a candlelit living room. It was rather romantic but I prefer the chocolate, black forest cake. Oh, happy 47th birthday, Dad…if you happen to see this. Love, Claire"
"May 3rd, Mom and Dad are having their wedding anniversary today. I wonder what they are going to give each other. From what I know, Dad always comes up with something new every year. Just last year, he bought her a mini piano. Mom has always loved playing piano. And guess what, she could play that mini piano with ‘a whole new world’ tune. Oh, I guess all of us are going to take a peek tonight in the living room, I bet it is going to be one of a kind. Love, Lisa."
"December 26th, Merry Christmas everyone; it is snowing cold. It is a great time to build snowman and have snow fight. I’m not going to lose again, Dad. You will not believe it, Dad, last night I had put a plate of cookies and a glass of warm milk by the table downstairs, near the telephone. And in the morning, they are all finished and I found candy sticks in the red sock I hung by the fireplace. Santa must have sneaked in last night. I’m going to catch him next year. Love, Beth."
"April 1st, to my wonderful husband, I have hidden your car key in the kitchen and I am glad you did not find it till this afternoon. You panicked that you will be late for work and desperately searching for your key high and low. Claire, Lisa, Beth and I were giggling away seeing you behave. Revenge is sweet. I hope you learnt your lesson and I will appreciate it if you do not hold any grudges on this matter. Love, Elena."
"To my handsome prince, I have been waiting for you to say ‘it’ for a long time. Now that you have admitted ‘it’, I think our relationship can start to blossom like the rose you gave me a few days ago. I was kind of nervous when I waited by your gate to give you my letter and worried that you would not come. But you did and that really make me feel so…you know, (blushing). Hope to hear from you soon. From your princess, Elena."
He smiled after looking at their writings; he did not know how much his family loved him. The angel said, "Love is a beautiful thing. And I am glad that you have such loving family and you must have felt the same towards them. But nothing last forever, even so, their memories of you will always have a room in their heart. Death is temporary loss, but all those memories will always live." He understood what she meant and continued to open the final door.
"Beyond this door is unpredictable." The angel said. After hesitating for a while, he entered the room, the Future door is opened. He saw emptiness at first but slowly, there was light, then there was life, water, air, plants, animals. He found a fountain by the garden. He walked towards the fountain and looked at the reflections on the water surface. Elena became a widow all her life, had adorable grandchildren and she still looked beautiful even at her old age. Claire married a rich man who loved her deeply. Lisa remained single, working as a vet and opened her own pet clinic. Beth is doing very well in school and received a scholarship to London to pursue law. Yet after decades of his death, his tomb was well maintained and flowers still were being placed. "Their future is bright and so will your next generations. They will walk the path you have taken and all of them will grow up to be just like you. There will always a part of you in all your future generation." He smiled but remained silent. The angel continued, "Let us go, there is nothing left that I can show you." Both of them head back to the throne room where His Majesty was waiting.
He asked him, "It was quite a trip, wasn’t it? My child, it is time you decide. Would you like to stay here and watch your family from afar or would you prefer to be reincarnated to be close with your family? Both ways, you win. You have impressed me from time to time when you are on earth and I want to test you once again and if you pass this test, I shall give you what you seek." He thought for a moment and made his decision…
"My lord, there is nothing I shall want. It was you who brought me to life and it was you who brought me here. The Past, Present and Future do not matter to me, I may have left those I cared for, but I have cherished every moment when I was alive. Now only my spirit remains and what I brought back together with this spirit worth much more than being reincarnated to be close to my family. And watching my family from afar would not gain both my family and I with anything. I would be glad to commit myself to you. There is nothing I shall want, My Lord." He answered.
"My child, you are special yet you are not arrogant, instead you are sincere and willing to let go of your desires. I no longer sense any fear and sorrow in you. You are true to yourself and I am impressed once again. Very well, my child, here is your final judgement. You will be sent back to earth as a guardian angel just like the one who brought you here. You will live an eternal life in my kingdom and shall never be reincarnated to feel pain, shame, guilt, lust, greed, anger, sloth and fear. You will be welcomed to the table of the Last Supper just like everyone here. Go now, spread the good news about my everlasting kingdom and lead the lost sheep back to the Promised Land, where life is everlasting."
There is peace in his heart, mind and soul. He received a life after death, an everlasting life for those who walk on the path of heaven. There is nothing he shall want…
Saturday, July 09, 2005
Out Of The Picture...
He has finally crossed the finish line; exhausted, sweating and thirsty. It was his moment of joy; the feeling of triumph was just overwhelming. Never had he imagined that he would finally make it. He was later crowned a winner, a champion and a hero. But deep inside, he knew it was time to be out of the picture. It was time for new blood to rush down the race track and be the first to finish the race.
He first started as a junior, a second year student, when he joined the team. He was rather quiet and keeps to himself. He never takes the initiative to practice, always waiting for order from his seniors and coach. He felt that his team was in a broken state, uninspiring for many for they had never won any competition. And he became just like his seniors, skipping practices and never tried to do his best. A year was wasted on boring trainings.
By the end of the year, he was called out by his coach. He said, "You have just been promoted to the senior team. Well done." He was shocked. How could a sportsman like him managed to gain entry into the most prestigious team. Without any ideas on what to expect, he walked into the senior’s training session. All eyes are on him. He coldly looked at those brimming eyes and searched for a place to sit down. He remained silent throughout the session. By the end of it all, he has evaluated them; one by one he found a common trait and a strong desire to make things run. A revolution perhaps, but he refused to believe it and he waited till the time is ripe. Another year was wasted well, not as much as last year’s. There was much improvement in his attitude and the way he interact with his teammates.
Then, the juniors arrived. They were lively, outgoing and simply friendly. Being in charge of them, he thought that it was going to last, all their smiles will turn sour and their laughter will be long forgotten. The coach told him that he wanted his team to win this year and appointed him as the captain. He had no choice but to accept the job. He knew it was not going to be a smooth sailing journey till the end. There will be storms, lightings and the ocean’s rage. Nevertheless, he felt something was different as months passed.
His prediction did not come true. His juniors who he thought to be a burden had become the fuel that drove his motivation to move on. They practiced together from sprints to long distance running, rain or shine and what more surprising was that his juniors kept smiling and fatigue did not seem to bother them at all. They stuck by him, listening to his every command and instruction. And they put in extra effort when they trained. This made him worked even harder. He changed soon after. He became more committed, more blissful inside and more confident about what he was doing. After trainings when his juniors had left, he would do extra rounds. Before trainings, he would be one of those who came early. He grew to like his team which somehow changed him to be someone different in a positive light.
Months passed and the competition was finally here. The team was more than ready but there was always some doubts and setbacks along the way. The race soon started. He looked back on those trainings his team had, those smiles of joy, those grins and all the hard work. Two years was wasted and on this moment, he was determined not to let history repeat itself. He led them with confidence as they walked towards the race tracks. The crowds went wild, cheering, making all sort of noises he could not make out. The atmosphere at the stadium was tense. It was the first time he felt such feelings as if chills ran down his spine. When the gunshot was heard it was show time. And yes, he made it across the finish line.
It was a great success that the coach praised him for leading these rookies to have their first taste of victory. It was almost an unbelievable achievement of his life and he knew he owed it to his juniors who lifted his spirits high to soar. The victory was celebrated back at the campus where a mini farewell party was conducted. His juniors were behind it all, surprising him greatly. And a small farewell gift was presented to him. It was a farewell card. It almost brought tears to his eyes but he held back. He just did not want to cry in front of his juniors. It left a special meaning in his heart. He had never thrown his seniors a farewell party let alone gave a farewell gift. To him, this was unexpected and probably the most beautiful thing that had happened to him throughout his time in the school. He could not react that he had forgotten to thank them all. How he wished he had at least thanked them for caring, a significant event that showed that he would be missed but not forgotten…
This story is based on a real account. The author wants to share his past experience with his juniors and his point of view. Plot has been partly altered to protect privacy of those involved in the story.
He first started as a junior, a second year student, when he joined the team. He was rather quiet and keeps to himself. He never takes the initiative to practice, always waiting for order from his seniors and coach. He felt that his team was in a broken state, uninspiring for many for they had never won any competition. And he became just like his seniors, skipping practices and never tried to do his best. A year was wasted on boring trainings.
By the end of the year, he was called out by his coach. He said, "You have just been promoted to the senior team. Well done." He was shocked. How could a sportsman like him managed to gain entry into the most prestigious team. Without any ideas on what to expect, he walked into the senior’s training session. All eyes are on him. He coldly looked at those brimming eyes and searched for a place to sit down. He remained silent throughout the session. By the end of it all, he has evaluated them; one by one he found a common trait and a strong desire to make things run. A revolution perhaps, but he refused to believe it and he waited till the time is ripe. Another year was wasted well, not as much as last year’s. There was much improvement in his attitude and the way he interact with his teammates.
Then, the juniors arrived. They were lively, outgoing and simply friendly. Being in charge of them, he thought that it was going to last, all their smiles will turn sour and their laughter will be long forgotten. The coach told him that he wanted his team to win this year and appointed him as the captain. He had no choice but to accept the job. He knew it was not going to be a smooth sailing journey till the end. There will be storms, lightings and the ocean’s rage. Nevertheless, he felt something was different as months passed.
His prediction did not come true. His juniors who he thought to be a burden had become the fuel that drove his motivation to move on. They practiced together from sprints to long distance running, rain or shine and what more surprising was that his juniors kept smiling and fatigue did not seem to bother them at all. They stuck by him, listening to his every command and instruction. And they put in extra effort when they trained. This made him worked even harder. He changed soon after. He became more committed, more blissful inside and more confident about what he was doing. After trainings when his juniors had left, he would do extra rounds. Before trainings, he would be one of those who came early. He grew to like his team which somehow changed him to be someone different in a positive light.
Months passed and the competition was finally here. The team was more than ready but there was always some doubts and setbacks along the way. The race soon started. He looked back on those trainings his team had, those smiles of joy, those grins and all the hard work. Two years was wasted and on this moment, he was determined not to let history repeat itself. He led them with confidence as they walked towards the race tracks. The crowds went wild, cheering, making all sort of noises he could not make out. The atmosphere at the stadium was tense. It was the first time he felt such feelings as if chills ran down his spine. When the gunshot was heard it was show time. And yes, he made it across the finish line.
It was a great success that the coach praised him for leading these rookies to have their first taste of victory. It was almost an unbelievable achievement of his life and he knew he owed it to his juniors who lifted his spirits high to soar. The victory was celebrated back at the campus where a mini farewell party was conducted. His juniors were behind it all, surprising him greatly. And a small farewell gift was presented to him. It was a farewell card. It almost brought tears to his eyes but he held back. He just did not want to cry in front of his juniors. It left a special meaning in his heart. He had never thrown his seniors a farewell party let alone gave a farewell gift. To him, this was unexpected and probably the most beautiful thing that had happened to him throughout his time in the school. He could not react that he had forgotten to thank them all. How he wished he had at least thanked them for caring, a significant event that showed that he would be missed but not forgotten…
This story is based on a real account. The author wants to share his past experience with his juniors and his point of view. Plot has been partly altered to protect privacy of those involved in the story.
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