I can still remember
the day I left home for the university. I had packed and repacked a hundred
times the night before. Mother had bought me a new flaskand a bottle of
Tiger Balm. For headaches, she said. She really thought of everything.
My boyfriend came to
send me off at the train station. A neighbor had kindly volunteered to bring me
to the station in her car. I felt like an adult for the first time in my life.
I was going to embark on a journey, both physical as well as mental. I was afraid
but I kept telling myself that this was the dream I'd had all my life and it
was coming true. I could see the sadness in my boyfriend's eyes but somehow, I
did not feel affected. I was anxious to get over the goodbyes that I had
rehearsed for so many nights. When it finally came, I felt strangely relieved.
It was a year later that I discovered that the parting was also the beginning
of the end of our relationship.
On the train, I quickly
settled down. Halfway through the journey, I made friends with an elderly man
who was also on his way to Kuala Lumpur. He asked about my destination and he
told me he was a teacher. Then the train was delayed for three hours. It felt
like eternity. I kept worrying about my brother who was waiting to pick me up.
What if he gave up and decided to go home? What was I to do? A thousand worries
raced through my mind. My friend in the train made me feel uncomfortable as I
was unable to concentrate on his attempts to engage in an intelligent
conversation. I wanted to shout `hooray' when the train started off and
continued its journey. The night seemed so cool and exciting again.
When we reached Kuala
Lumpur, my teacher friend helped me with my luggage. I was really grateful to
him as I would not have been able to manage it alone. The train was hurrying,
on its journey again. I felt so small and alone in the city. We parted and my
heart leapt when I spotted my brother. I could have run over and hugged him but
we never did that. In fact, I hardly know him. We managed to exchange a few
words instead. I was so tired that I slept like a baby on the way to his house.
When I awoke, I found myself in the midst of a party. I had forgotten that it
was my brother's birthday. Poor thing, he must have cursed while waiting for
me.
I could not sleep that
night. I was too excited and apprehensive. I did not really know what to
expect. When I finally slept, it was already 5 a.m.
Summary: The writer recalled the
day she left home for the university. She was anxious but excited to embark on
a new chapter of her life. She found bidding goodbye to her boyfriend
burdensome and felt relieved when it was over. When the train was delayed, she
was worried about her brother who was waiting for her. When it finally arrived,
she felt thankful when she saw him. On the way to his house, she had fallen
asleep. When she awoke, she realized that she was at her brother's birthday
party. She felt guilty that he had waited so long for her. She could not sleep
that night as she was too anxious about the next day.
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