Regret
My name is Alex. I have a story to tell you, one about what I regret most in life.
I was 14 years old back then. My family was rich. At least, richest in our neighborhood.
My sister, brothers and I enjoyed things most other kids in the town could only hear of or see because of that. I had been spoilt greatly and was arrogant. Eventually, my arrogance also worrying my parents. They warned me that punishments were harsh in such a place.
I didn’t know much. I laughed since harsh treatment was the thing I would only see in books and TV shows. Then one day, my life changed. Gary, one of the considered most hated kid in the village due to his mischief and arrogance. He was a year my senior, and also my best friend. He seemed well off, even though he never worked much. After 4 years of me knowing him as a friend, I finally knew why he had the money to get food, clothes, and other stuff. Turns out he was a thief. I saw him creeping into a house, owned by one of the grocers, Selena. And in less than 5 minutes, he came back out, smirk on his face and a small wad of cash in his hand. I confronted him the next day. He grinned and simply said ‘I won’t be caught. I’ve done this for 5 years, so there is no worry.’
He tried to entice me with the promise of more money and succeeded. In the end, I helped him with his thefts. I followed this lifestyle for 2 years. But on the day I hit 17, there was a snag. As I took the money, Gary had ignored the dog. It was small so he merely kicked it aside. We didn’t think it would cause us trouble, until the dog ran out yelping. Most of the neighborhood woke up and by the time we got out, we were surrounded. Our town court held in two days. My parents sobbed and townspeople who respected us slowly started hating us. Gary was sentenced to death the next week. I was lucky. They believed Gary was the leader. But the punishment I received was a great shock to me. I was exiled. Never to ever return. My mother fainted at this point. A great deal of pleading from my family didn’t work. The Judge merely said ‘This is a very light punishment.’ I was given 3 days to settle affairs and pack up my belongings. I would be shot if I ever returned. My regret came from what I did, and the hurt it caused to me. The memory of my family’s faces as I left was imprinted. The great sadness and hurt, my mother crying loudly, my sister and brothers looked at me as though it was a great betrayal. It will be the greatest regret, that the last time I saw the faces of my loved ones filled with not respect, pride or happiness but filled with sorrow and pain.
END