An Unforgettable Incident

The boat had capsized and only I had survived............or so I thought. Guilt stabbed at me as I thought of what I had done. When the waves came crashing in and the boat started sinking, I moved to the edge of the boat and saw a life jacket. I knew what my friends would have done. They would have died together rather than one man saving himself. But I did not have that courage. I could not face death. I donned the life jacket without second thoughts and jumped out and swam, fighting against the waves. I swam onto a shore and removed my jacket. It was then I recalled this incident and I guessed it was something that I would not forget for the rest of my days. But as I walked through the island I had landed on, I realized that there would be no 'rest of my days’. The island was uninhabited, and it had nothing to eat or drink. Just sand and dried out leaves, which meant I would die anyway even if I hadn't cheated on my friends. I moved back to the edge of the shore and hoped help would come but I knew that it was foolish of me. The sea had not finished venting her anger on someone. I collapsed and sobbed helplessly in self-pity and in the grievance of my friends' death. The light turned to dark and at some point, I thought I saw a light. But I knew that it was my helpless mind making me hope. After hours of sobbing and staring out into the sea, I finally accepted my situation. I just hoped that my death would not be so excruciating with hunger and thirst.

What happened next was not something I could not even imagine at that time. A light came closer and closer and I saw my friends coming in our boat. They had survived! They climbed onto the shore and gave me food and water which I took hesitantly but choiceless. They did not talk about what I had done but I knew that in their silence they had forgiven me. That day I realized the meaning of the quote ‘a friend in need is a friend indeed'. They extended their hand to support me up from the ground and I grasped it hoping never to let go.