Time

Have you ever done something that you wish you didn't, and wish that someone could have stopped you before you did it? Have you ever said something that you wish you could have taken back?


She was on a camping trip with her family. Father, mother and her little brother. They were in a forest and they had just finished swimming in the lake. It was not a perfect day, but it was nice to spend it with her family.


The wind was blowing. She could hear her parents just a few feet behind her, chatting away. Her brother who the most excited was way ahead, rushing into the lush forest.


"Woahh," he said. "Look what I found."


And suddenly there was a loud bang.


Everything went silent. Like she was deaf. The next few moments felt like a daze. She felt like she was experiencing a moment where you are outside your body, and watching yourself go through what was coming.


There was an explosion. Her brother had accidentally triggered an old bomb. The bomb had blinded him and cause severe damage to his skin.


Forever scarred.

***

5 years later, she is proud of how both her brother and mother have managed all these year given the condition of her brother after the accident.

He was still his jolly and cheerful self, if not he was even more optimistic now. Even though his eyesight was gone, she felt like he could see even more now. Not with his eyes, but his heart.

Everyday, he would tell her something wise or something that leaves her thinking, pondering, wondering.

Their father had left them not long after the accident. He said he needed time alone. He basically couldn't handle the pressure of raising a son was disabled. He disgusted her, and yet she still longed for her father to walk through the front door, give her mother a big kiss, pick her brother up and give her those massive and warm hugs that she misses.

She also often feels regret and painful guilt.

Why hadn't she been more responsible? Why didn't she walk with her brother? She should have been there to take care of him. She should have been watching him.

He tells her it was meant to be. He told her to think of it as a blessing in disguise. He was willing to accept it as a gift, as had he not triggered the bomb, he would have not appreciate life as much as he did today. Or perhaps, the authorities would have not searched to forest to discover 17 more bombs that could have cause danger to others.

***

Everyone could see she was unhappy. Her bother's accident had put her in a state of depression.

She would walk through the town running her errands everyday with the same hollow look on her face. She repeats everyday with the same routine. Going to school, then to work to earn some extra income as her mother could not get a stable job as she was taking care of her son who was not only blind but suffered extensive skin corrosion. She then would buy supplies from the market place from the same stores, buying the same things from the same people.

Until one day, they lady who sold dairy could not take it any longer.

"My dear," she said, "Let me help you."

"I have a friend who can help you with your sorrows, she can help you. She can give you second chance."

For some reason, she agreed to accept the offer. What other choice did she have? Anything is better than the current situation.

She followed the given address and ended up standing in front of a posh looking building. She went in and was amazed by the decor. It was like a set of a photo shoot for fashion magazine.

She asked the receptionist to see if this "friend" was available.

She was directed into a hallway which had plush purple carpet stretched all the way to the end of the hall. At the end of the hall was a door.

She pushed through the door and inside was a woman. She was old but glamorous. She had big orange hair and bright make up. There were four other people in the room all busily taking notes as the woman was talking, They too were dressed in a "unique" style.

She was so awed the she tripped and accidently pushed the woman causing her to lose balance and her orange hair fell off. It was a wig. Everyone gasped. Without it, she was just a plain old lady.

"I was going to make a trade in exchange for my services. But given the circumstances, and how you ambushed me, I guess I will have to help you for free," said the old woman.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you see if your brother had not been in an accident, you would not be depressed, the milk lady would have not referred me to you and you my dear girl, would have not clumsily pushed me to embarrass me in front of my staff and ruin my image of someone who is known with an eccentric yet admirable appearance."

She continued "Blow this whistle and time will turn to the moment you wish to be in. You can stop the explosion, you can reverse the mistake."

***

The wind was blowing. She could hear her parents just a few feet behind her, chatting away. Her brother who the most excited was way ahead, rushing to the lush forest.