Thursday, April 06, 2006
I shall be free from this place one week from now after ten long years. Leaving this place was the dream of many others here. I was happy at first but feelings of fear, dejection and sadness began filling my heart. “Will the society look down on me. Will they accept me? What about my family?” These questions raced through my mind when I knew that I was going to be released.I was too ashamed to face my family members. What I did had shamed them terribly. I was thinking about the questions when suddenly, my mind recalled back how i landed here in jail.
I was only a mere teenager then. Only seventeen years of age. I had everything. I was the only child in my family. My father was a rich shipping tychoon. I was envied by many but i was not happy. Both my parents were constanly busy working that they neglected me. As i grew older, they paid less attention to me. They gave me a lot of freedom and would give any amount of money i asked without even questioning. That was when i went astray and began mixing with the wrong kind.I felt happier being around my new groups of friends. They appreciated me more. They treated me very nicely. Then, things change for the worst for me. I began smoking, shop-lifting and even involving myself in gang riots. I did not know what i was doing but everything i did with them really thrilled me. I often came home late but my parents still did not notice it.
I continued meeting my friends. We continued doing our crimes untill one day, they told me to do something for them. i agreed as all i had to do was deliver a parcel to someone near the jetty. " What is inside the parcel?"i asked. "It is nothing important . Just do as we say and you will officially be one of us now,"they said. I took the parcel and made my way to the jetty without checking it after they told me the desription of the man. I believed that they would not do anything to harm me. Little did i knoe that it was going to be the biggest mistake of my life.
I made my way to the jetty and saw the man with a group of others. They were all carrying big boxes of parcels. Just as i was about to hand him the parcel, i heard some shouting." Stop! You are under arrest! This is the CID! Attempt to run are futile! The area has been combed!"shouted the voice. I stood rooted to the ground. My heart beat vigorously when the policeman handcuffed me. I did not know what was wrong. I was speechless when i saw drugs coming out from the parcel as the police opened the it. My heart sank and i could not believed that my own friends would do this to me.How could they!
I was then sentenced to ten years imprisonment despite claiming that i was framed.I had no evidence to prove my case. My parents came to court. My father had tears streaming down his eyes.He had a shameful and disappointed look on him as i was led away. My mother on the other hand fainted after the sentence was made by the judge. I knew that i had shamed and hurt them terribly that day. My mother visited me in prison daily but my father never did. I did not blamed him for that. None of my friends came to see me too. I then realize that blood was indeed thicker than water.
"Mr Saw,"say the jail warden. I snapped out of my thoughts when i heard my name being called. I wiped away my tears and looked up to him. " It is time for you to go ," said the warden. I went up to him and followed him out of the jail cell. When i was out, i saw my parents waiting for me outside. My mother was overjoyed. I went up to my father and apologised to him.I really regretted my actions. Suddenly, he gave me a hug when i least expected. Tears of happiness felt down my cheeks. I knew my father had finally forgiven me. i vowed to them that i shall never commit a crime ever again. I had turn over into a new leaf . I was so happy and overjoyed when my other family members accepted me back too. Nothing that day could make me lose my happiness that i felt. Feelings of fear and dejection simply vanished to thin air.
8:56 PM
