The Beginning of a New Life

It has to be this way. She hesitated for a moment. Maybe someone would find me here and offer me a
better solution than this…

Seconds, minutes, passed. Still no sign of hope was seen nor received. She gave up the thought that
someone would rescue her.

Downcasted, crestfallen, feet shuffling, she approached the parapet. Climbing over the railing, she felt
the cool breeze sweeping her gently, blowing her hair free in the air. Carefree, this is freedom… So this is
how it ends…

‘Beep.’ She glanced at her mobile phone. A message… “Who cares if you end your life? I don’t, so stop
trying to fake yourself. I know you’re a coward…” Those were the words of her so called ‘best’ friend-
Jane.

She pondered. Courage. She would show her that she had courage… She took a step forward and took a
look down. Looking at things from here, they seemed of such little importance, mediocre details…

She gazed up in wonder of the sky.

It had never been so inviting to her in her entire life. ‘Oh God, why bring upon me so much suffering?
Haven’t I been a good kid? Haven’t I honoured my parents? So why! She was desperate.

Are you that unjust O’ Lord? Or is there going to be a rainbow after all this mess… She wondered.

Yes, things weren’t working out for her. She suffered in school. She wasn’t a popular kid and had bad
grades. All because of the friends she mixed with. However she did try, she did her best to stay out of
trouble, but like most kids around her age, Gwen needed to feel accepted by her peers, she needed to
feel secure. Yet her mother kept giving her pressure.

Oh she just had to be that perfect person. Beneath the surface of the name called Gwen, is nothing but
an empty shell. And she doesn’t want something like that at all.

I have to be perfect right? I have to be happy in all this right? I have to be good in all conduct, speech
and mannerism right? I have to be a role model right? I have to put everyone first before me right? I
have to be strong right? I have to be the one that holds together? I can’t show my emotions? That’s
right.

Her mum always wanted to be perfect. She made up her mind. She was going to end it all, there and
then.

Suddenly, she received another friend’s message. “Hey Gwen, I know you’ve been through a lot but
don’t give up no matter how tough life is for you okay? Try and talk to a counselor, it helps…” It was
Esther, one of her good friends.
Gwen changed her mind. Thanks to Esther. At least there are people that care for me… She stepped back
from the parapet. All that she had done just now then seemed so ridiculous. Why try to end my life?

My life was given by God and is should be His right to take it away, not mine. She heaved a sigh of relief,
Esther turned out to be the benefactor of her life. It was the turning point for her, to a new life. She
would no longer live her life for others. From that moment, Gwen was a new person…