PSLE: Shoplifting gone awfully wrong

The Yishun Mall was bustling with activities. Shoppers were milling about, shopping for bargains. The synergy of the boisterous crowd was high and the noise was reaching a deafening level. I was alone, browsing in Metro. Mother's Day was around the corner and I badly wanted to get a wonderful gift for her.

Nothing was interesting. It was so hard to select a unique gift. I was feeling disheartened when I spied a lovely necklace with a ruby pendant. Since my mum's name is Ruby, this would be a perfect present. I beamed widely as I hurried towards the necklace. My heart fell when I saw the price tag. It cost a hundred and twenty dollars and I was short of twenty dollars. What should I do? If I continued to save, this necklace might become sold out.

A brainwave hit me like a lightning bolt. Just take it! After some major dithering, I threw my mother's ingrained warning out of my mind. Darting my eyes stealthily from side to side to check if the coast was clear, I nicked the necklace. A huge grin plastered across my face as I felt the necklace in my pocket. I hastened my steps towards the Metro exit.

However, my happiness was short-lived. The stupid alarm suddenly came alive and shrieked loudly.   Startled, my legs felt like lead for a split second. “Boy, stop there!” a booming voice called out and a burly security guard was whizzing towards me like a bullet. My heart palpitated against my ribs as fear pulsated inside me. I knew I was done for. I could imagine how disappointed my mother would feel if she found out about this. I shuddered at the thought; I must not be caught!

Thinking on my toes, I sprinted like an Olympic athlete. I weaved past the crowd with a posse of security guards hot on their heels. I spotted the exit of the Yishun Mall and sped towards it. I thought that if I escaped from the building, I might not be so easily caught but the stubborn guards refused to give up.

Ahead of me was a road. The merciless rain had started pouring in torrents. Raindrops were pelting down heavily. I was soaked to the skin but I continued running. The distance between me and the guards was closing in. Should I run across the road? What if a car knocked me down? To me, getting caught was worse! I could not imagine the disappointment on my mother's face. I was caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. Seeing that the road was clear, I seized this golden opportunity to dash fanatically across the tarmac.

Lady Luck was not on my side. A black Ferrari was speeding down the road. All was too late! My legs turned jelly and my face became ghastly pale. I thought it was the end of me. I closed my eyes, awaiting my impending doom. The car gave a deafening screech. Crash! Strange? Nothing happened to me. I opened my eyes and terror seized me. Instead of knocking me down, the driver had avoided me and swerved his car, crashing into a huge rain tree. The car was in a total wreck; the driver died instantly.

Trepidation blanched my face white. Intense guilt filled my heart. My moment of folly caused the death of an innocent life. How could this have happened? I was nabbed by the security guards who handed me over to the police. The police did not pursue the matter except for a stern warning as I was underage. 

I later found out that the driver was the father of three young children. I felt like I were a murderer. Till now, regret has hung over my heart and refused to leave. I could never forgive myself for my folly of only a miserable twenty dollars.