PSLE: Drunk Driving

It was my dad's fortieth birthday. Everyone at home wanted to throw a birthday celebration for him. I volunteered to cycle to the bakery a stone's throw away to get a birthday cake. Soon, I was whistling a birthday tune as I made my way home, paddling along a secluded road, excited to see Dad's response.

All of a sudden, I heard a loud rumbling sound. I turned and saw a flash of headlights. It was a lorry, barrelling towards me at high speed. My heart was hammering against my ribs. I tried to cycle faster but it was in vain. The lorry was too fast for me! A million thoughts flashed through my head.   Was I going to die?

By now, the lorry was just inches away. My legs immediately turned to stones and my face blanched in trepidation. Mercilessly, the vehicle collided into me.  The impact was so strong that I flew a few metres away. My bicycle became a complete wreck and my chocolate fudge cake was - smashed.

Sensing the impact, the tyres screeched to a halt. I lay sprawled on the ground for I was bleeding profusely. The lorry driver alighted and staggered towards me. I could smell beer from his foul breath. He was clearly intoxicated. "Save me," I pleaded repeatedly in whispers.   I thought he would be stricken by remorse and help me out. I was wrong! Driven by fear and guilt, he fled the scene. Before I could even comprehend it, he had driven off, his vehicle roaring away in a distance until it disappeared down the tarmac road.

Despair gripped me! My wretched body was enveloped in mind-numbing pain. Blood was oozing out of my wounds. Life was simply seeping away as I came face to face with the grim of death. There was hardly anyone who would use this secluded road. Was I going to die?

I was beginning to swing in and out of consciousness. I heard footsteps in a distance. My heart skipped a beat. Then, a towering shadow loomed over me and a familiar reassuring voice called out, “Son, are you okay?” It was Dad.

I flashed a weak smile.  Hot tears blurred my eyes and I blacked out.  Soon, the ambulance siren wailed down the shadowy street. I was immediately whisked off to the hospital. Fortunately, I arrived in the nick of time and was saved by the medical team after a gruelling three-hour operation.

My family descended in the hospital like a plague of locusts. Everyone was worried sick. Needless to say, there was no birthday celebration for Dad.  However, he reassured me that seeing me alive was his best birthday gift ever.  I recovered speedily soon after.   As for the drunk driver, he was subsquently arrested and imprisoned since his act had been caught by a traffic surveillance camera. Well, serve him right!