Narrative essay - A Second Chance (B)

The drizzle of the and the tall palm trees were swaying in the soft breeze. As I
sat on the porch , watching the day pass by , the feeling of loneliness overwhelmed
me again. How I wish I could turn back the clock. Then, I would not be the lonely old
man that I am today.

As I sat wallowing in self-pity , I saw a girl about five years old loitering
outside the gate . I got up from the porch with my walking stick and walked
unsteadily towards her , upset by this intrusion into my quiet afternoon.

As her face came into view , the resemblance took me by surprise . I took a
deep breath , trying to steady the beat of my pulse . I looked sternly at the
seriousness in front of me.

She said in the determined voice of one who is bent on her mission, "Is my
mummy in there?"

"No , go away ! I've lived here all my life . There's no one one you're looking
for here , " I answered in a gruff voice.

Yet within me , I knew that the resemblance was no coincidence . Still

focused on me , wide-eyed and solemn , she said , " But Mummy said she used to
live here . She may have come to the wrong house . Please ask her to come out . I
want her to come home."

I looked at the stubbornly quiet face in front of me .

"Only my wife and daughter lived here . My daughter has left this house and
my wife died three years ago. There is no one else in this house except me . Your
mummy doesn't live here."

The little girl slowly took out a photograph from her front pocket , careful not
to damage the sides . She handed it to me reluctantly . With shaky hands , I took the
photo from her.

My suspicions were confirmed . It was a photo of my daughter , Sharon , The

little girl standing in front of me is indeed my granddaughter . She is a spitting image
of her mother . So many questions went through my mind . I opened the gate to let
her in.

She sat down with me and I asked her the question that had been in the back
of my mind all this while.

" Wheres your Daddy ? How come he's not with you?"
 "Daddy ? " she replied . Mummy said that God has taken him to Heaven
before I was born."

My heart sank and my guilt was immeasurable . My poor Sharon ! How she
must have suffered I could not of luxury had to single-handedly bring up her
daughter on her own . The tears that had been on the brink of my eyes now fell
unashamedly down my cheeks.

My thoughts were broken by her next question.

"Where’s my mummy? She was lying in the hospital bed and she told me that
she would be okay but now the doctor told me that she would never come back . My
mummy would never leave me . She said that she loved this house and had many
beautiful memories here. That’s why I think she came here by mistake."

When I heard this , I realized that the other little girl who had always begged
to ride on my back and drown me with goodnight kisses is gone . My heart ached
with unbearable sorrow .

I recalled saying to her " Get out of my house ! I never want to see you again !
" Those words had haunted me for the last seven years but I had always thought that
there would be a chance for me to seek her forgiveness and be reunited with my
Sharon.

Reflecting the bewildered pain in my eyes , I asked her gently , Where do you
live now ? "

" Some people took me to a place where there are lots of other children too .
Even though it is fun , I miss my Mummy . " she said.

How do you explain to a five year old that her Mummy had died ? Touching
her shoulders . I said . " Your Mummy has gone to be with Daddy in heaven but she
has
brought you here for me to take care of you.

I led her to the room where her mother used to sleep . Everything was still in
its original place seven years ago when I had chased Sharon out of the house
after she refused to break off with her boyfriend.

The last streaks of sunlight were already dithering under the trees . I held her
to me rocking her clumsily like I did to her mother when she was little . You will live
with me from now on and Mummy be watching over us from heaven ."

In my heart I muttered a silent prayer . Thank you Sharon for this second
chance . I will do a good job, I promise.