PSLE: Library Commotion

My senses numbed me for I could not feel anything.  If I had known that that incident would have taken place today, I would not have go to the library.  I lay on the ground, thinking about the future and celebrations that I would never be able to take part in again.

The majestic sun took its place in the highest point in the sky as its rays spilled into my room, invading every nook and cranny.  I woke up and stretched, smiling like a Cheshire cat lapping up a bowl of milk.  I remembered that I was going to the library to study with my best friend, Amelia, at noon.  I perked up and quickly dressed.  It was already eleven in the morning and if I did not hurry, I knew that Amelia would be harried.  I ran like a bat out of hell down the stairs, grabbed a piece of toast and dashed out of the house.

As I neared the library, I scanned the throngs of people with my Sherlock Holmes' detective instincts and soon spotted her.  Amelia, who was pixie like, thin to the extreme, with cropped black hair, waved to me.  I grinned and welcomed the companionship of my best friend.  As soon as I reached her, Amelia and I started towards the reference section on the first floor of the library.

We sat down and took out our revision notes and revised for a good solid three hours, occasionally taking a sip of water or munch on some food that we had secretly bought. I was about to nudge her to ask her another question when she suddenly gave a ragged gasp, got out of her seat and dashed towards the exit.  I was bewildered but I followed her, hot on her heels.

Just outside the library was a man carrying a rifle and shooting everyone in sight.  Every click of the gun brought down another unlucky person.  He was bellicose with scrawny hair and with eyes like two belligerent balls of fire, ready to consume any combustible material in its path.  Amelia and I  stared at the commotion with our mouths wide open.  People were going berserk and hustled and jostled one another to get out of harm's way.  A cacophony of deafening screams and shrieks reverberated through the air.

I wanted to stop the man but was reluctant to lose my life.  Amelia's eyes widened in horror as the most outrageous scene of pandemonium unfolded before her.  Her knuckles turned white from the balling of her fists.   I did not know what to do.  As the man turned around, it finally hit me!

That man was my father!

I had not seen him for five years.  My endearing father had suffered from a mental disorder and had become violent and destructive.  He was then taken out of my life and I had never seen him again - until now.  I was breathing erratically as I stood rooted to the ground.  My father ran out of bullets and took out a knife and started slashing the passers-by.  Every slash brought down another innocent life. 

"No!" I cried, throwing myself forward to block the impending slash from another passer-by.  Lady Luck was not with me.  The chopper lashed out at me and I could feel the warm blood gushing out of my body.  I stumbled and staggered in pain. 

Just at that defining moment, a bullet shot forward, just missing me by a hair's breath and pierced eagerly into my father's chest, straight into his heart.  Bull's eye!  I was surprised that he did not fall  to the ground and staggered backwards instead.

I fell to the ground with a loud thud and closed my eyes.

"Emilia!"  Amelia's loud clarion voice shook me.  I could feel the blood stirring inside my body as my heart did gravity's work.  I opened my eyes. 

"Go, before he shoots you,"  I whispered.  Hot tears splashed onto my hand.  I knew that Amelia was crying tears of infinite sorrow, each a testament of anguish. 

"Goodbye," I wanted to say more, but my body did not allow me to do so.

"Tell my mum I love her," I spoke weakly.  Amelia nodded, her eyes glistening with tears.  I saw my father, or rather his corpse - for he was plainly dead.  I signed as I knew that I was heading to the same place as my father.  My heavy eyelids drooped.  Gently, the pain withdrew itself from me and I slipped away, away from my pain, away to a bright, cheerful and airy place which awaited my arrival.

(Written by Emilia Chow.  Edited by Mrs Julie Lee)