PSLE: I killed my own sister

You were cycling across the road but a lorry came barrelling towards you.


Black ominous clouds moseyed across the sky. I was cycling along a quiet road as I had volunteered to fetch my adorable sister from the child care centre a stone’s throw away. Suddenly, a glare of lightning lit up the sky. I had to hurry up or it might pour!

Across the road, I caught a glimpse of Rosy smiling at me. Her round marble-black eyes sparkled as her face lit up like the brightest bulb on earth. Filled with exuberance, she was beckoning me to come quickly for there was a shiny paper star in her tiny hand. Oh, how I adored her! Not wanting her to wait any longer, I cycled across the road without waiting for the traffic lights to turn green.

Out of the blue, my ears were drawn to a loud rumbling noise. A large lorry was heading straight at me at top speed. Panic engulfed me. My legs turned to stones and cold sweat broke out on my forehead. Oh no! A million thoughts flashed across my mind. It was going to be the end of me. My attention was riveted towards the lorry which continued hurtling towards me at lightning speed.

I closed my eyes, awaiting my impending doom. The tyres tried screeching to a sudden halt. It was to no avail for it was too late to stop. The lorry driver instinctively swerved and barreled straight into Rosy’s childcare centre.

Crash! The lorry banged into the school and the walls tumbled like lego bricks. The children screamed in horror like banshees. Finally, the vehicle halted. The bonnet was badly dented and the windscreen shattered into smithereens. 

My face bleached to a sombre pale. Without hesitation, I charged towards the direction of the childcare centre. Before I reached, the rotund driver wobbled out and grabbed the scruff of my neck.

“How dare you cross the road like that?” he boomed in blistering fury. “Let me go!” I struggled free and went searching in desperation for my kid sister.

I let out a startled cry when I spotted Rosy, lying sprawled on the ground under a pile of bricks. Her white uniform was stained crimson red.  The smell of fresh blood literally assaulted my nostrils.  Her face was drained of all colours and she wore a wretched expression. She was enveloped in mind-numbing pain, bleeding profusely. My heart broke.

“Rosy, Rosy! Look at me!” I cried aloud.

She  stirred a little and pressed the paper star into my hand and mumbled, “For you!” She gave a weak smile before losing consciousness.

“Wake up! Wake up!” I pleaded, cradling her puny frame in my arms but there was no response. Each time, her breathing became more weak and labored – then it finally stopped.

Passers-by had gathered and their hearts went out to her as well. Some kind soul had called the ambulance which soon wailed down the street. Competent paramedics checked her vitals and tried to revive her. The paramedics shook their heads, saying gravely, “We have tried our best.” I was sobbing heart-wrenching tears non-stop. She had left me for eternity.

The sky rumbled and started crying buckets too – as if it understood. How I regretted my moment of foolishness! How could I dash across the road? I could have waited for the traffic lights to turn green. My hand clenched the paper star tightly as hot salty tears fell again.