Imaginative Writing
Finishing with “the moment had passed”
The stars seemed a distant to me. However, their twinkling lights sparked good memories of my high school days with my friends and peers. Two years after completing high school studies, we found ways to meet each other; Fred, Ted, and I. We all hailed from the same neighborhood in the city of Leicester. Every day, we used to sit under a tree in the city’s most famous park and rekindle memories of our high school days.
Fred was a genius. It was believed that his intelligence ran down their family ties. Everyone adored his attitude and his ability to assist others solves complex issues without hesitating or shrugging off shoulders. Besides, Fred constantly cracked jokes in class just to create an atmosphere of fun and good interactions among class members. His huge sense of humor always kept us happy and it became a source of admiration for everyone in class. More importantly, Fred had mastered the norm of being friendly to anyone and everyone, regardless of their background, color, religion, language, and ethnicity. His genius nature coupled with his sense of humor was a perfect combination for an individual who understood how life can easily take a turn for the best. On the other hand, Ted was referred to as “The quiet one.” He rarely expressed his true self and image to strangers, save for his closest pals like Fred and I. Ted would transition from being quiet to a mathematics and chemistry guru. His soft spot for complex and technical subjects surely amazed everyone in class and school, especially those who considered him a quiet and desperate individual who has lost track of time or simply confused. Besides, Ted had his stronger side too. He would sense danger from afar and alert the possible victims of harm and adverse effects. He would point at someone making a mistake and correct them. Nonetheless, he would always remind his close friends and associates of the saying that “Never interrupt your enemy when they are making a mistake.” The few who understood his intentions always stacked to it while the rest who had no slight idea of its meaning ignored it for good or even made jokes out of it. Fred’s and Ted’s humility were always emulated by everyone in class. I always looked forward to the positive side of life. Making good friends and learning from their positive attributes. I always associated myself with them due to their outstanding personality traits.
One day, as we sat under the tree in the city’s park thinking of our memorable high school days and moments, a black van suddenly pulled upfront and next to a certain bank. At first, we all assumed the sudden turn of events and concluded it was just a delivery van or simply a vehicle belonging to one of the agencies providing vital security to critical infrastructures and their occupants. Suddenly, two masked men hurled teargas canisters and smoke cylinders towards the park and fired two shots in the air. We all stood up, scattered towards safety and ran for our dear lives. Before I could go any further, I heard a third gun shot and a sudden explosion from a distance. Everyone in the park screamed as they ran helter skelter like headless chicken. In a spun of moments, the peace and calm atmosphere enjoyed throughout had suddenly turned into unprecedented chaos. “Was the city under attack?” “Have we been attacked by aliens?” These questions lingered through my mind but I could not find any answer. To add insult to injury, a second explosion ripped through the park right in my direction. I passed out.
I woke up in a hospital bed seemingly confused and not having the slightest idea of the sudden turn of events. I could see monitors close to me, and a bandage on my hand and left leg. I could hear beeping sounds of machines in the hospital ward. Also, I was on oxygen with several pipes through my nose and mouth. My family members surrounded my bed and I could see tears flowing freely from my sister’s eyes. This seemed a completely different world for me due to the fact that I always saw people in such conditions but never imagined myself in it someday. I saw a female nurse approach me and before I could utter a word, she suddenly interrupted and said only eight words “We are so sorry for your loss, Jack.”
Suddenly, I saw a body bag with somebody in it being wheeled towards the morgue. Before I could imagine anything else, my mom whispered, “Sorry Jack, Fred died in the explosion but Ted survived but in critical condition.” Life had taken a turn for the worst. I could not cope with the fact that my friend was no more. Surely, everything that rises must fall. Flashback memories of our best moments together suddenly passed through my mind but before I could realize all is gone and lost