The plane shook again and all the passengers went into hysteria, screaming and shouting, breaking the silence and creating commotion on the plane. A voice crackled over the sound system, “All passengers please be seated, there will be an emergency landing within 5 minutes.” The third shake came abruptly and without warning, the plane started to plummet downwards violently. The passengers were all trying to unbuckle their seatbelts but it was in vain, as the seatbelts were locked, to their dismay. Within two minutes, a loud explosion ended thirty two passengers’ lives with only one survivor.
Vague images formed in Paul’s mind as he slowly opened up his eyes. Feeling as uncertain as ever, he saw a man standing in front of him, clipboard in hand while a plump little girl stood beside the man, a wide grin plastered onto her face. He tried hard to sit up but the injuries pained him more than ever. Instantly the fresh memories came back to him and he found himself hugging his knees, sobbing inaudibly as the incident replayed heartbreakingly in his mind again and again. The man with the white coat went out, leaving the little girl, his niece, beside Paul, soothing his turbulent emotions.
Life never felt as devastating to Paul as it was now. Humans are vulnerable when it comes to facing the painful truth. Paul blamed himself for everything, physically and mentally tormented by the grief and guilt. He lost everything he had in one terrible day. Had he not been so persistent on boarding that plane, his life would not be so pathetic now, Facing these thoughts, he drowned himself in sorrow. The profound sadness was unbearable and for a few times he tried killing himself but failed. For him, perhaps dying was the best solution to end his sorrow.
His niece was the only company for him during these hard times, the sole spiritual support for him. One day, his seven year-old niece asked him, ‘Uncle Paul, why do you always look so gloomy? Shouldn’t we be happy to have a chance to breathe the fresh air? To be able to see the vivid colors of the world? To be born into this wonderful world?’ Tears flowed down on his cheeks unintentionally. How brave his niece was, to just lose her parents and be here to comfort him to be optimistic. Finally, Paul came to realize that life could never be beyond reproach. He should be happy that he survived the macabre accident. He should live on happily for his late son and wife, for God granted him a chance to live. He should be grateful and thankful, not grieving on the incident that had already happened and could not be changed.
Why should we be sinking in the pessimism when the journey of life still so long ahead of us? Ponder over this statement and perhaps life would be happier. There is no cul-de-sac in our life, turn around and you will see the road that has not reached an end.
1 comments:
such a nice story...love it...
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