Cold Night

Photo by Markus Spiske:

The rain poured relentlessly outside as the dark clouds quickly consumed the evening sky. We were at a course mates birthday party, it was a joyous occasion, we were drenched in laughter and beautiful music. But it seems like the heavens had other plans. In no time, the heavens opened up, and heavy droplets of rain drenched the streets in a deluge of water, turning our beautiful but happy festive night into a somber, cold and wet journey back home.

After hours of praying for the rain to stop and it felt like the heavens had no plot to rest a bit. We decided to make our way through the downpour, Me and my friend, Mark. Besides none of our house was too far away, it was just a stone throw, so we could trek it.

But as I turned to look at Mark and ask if he was ready. I noticed this change In his mood.

"Are you okay?" I asked

He turned to me with desperation in his eyes. "Hey, do you have any extra cash? I really need to get a cab home. I'll transfer it back to your account first thing tomorrow, once I get my allowance" he pleaded, his words almost drowned by the sound of the relentless rain.

In that fleeting moment, tiny stings of guilt surged within me like a tempestuous wave. I had money in my pocket, enough to cover his cab fare and mine, and yet I hesitated. I had to think of the aroma of a delicious hot dinner in this cold weather, waiting for me to prepare at home with the sum I had in my pocket. It really seduced my conscience, if I let out the little cash I had with me, that definitely means I would go to bed hungry tonight. Besides, it was only drinks at the birthday party and no food. I wasn't sure if I was ready to wait till tomorrow so I made the fateful decision to lie.

"Sorry bro, I don't have any cash on me," I replied, concealing my truth behind false words.

Little did I have the idea that Mark, while still struggling with the relentless weight of the rain, and the pain of the cold was also within him battling a more formidable health foe called pneumonia.

The next day in school, we got the news that Mark had been admitted to the hospital due to pneumonia. It was then it dawned on me that I had messed up a friend's health. The combination of his rain-soaked clothes and his weakened immune system against cold had conspired against him. Now the tiny stings of guilts that had surged in me before now screamed within me, tormenting my every thought.

I blame myself for what Mark was passing through. I wished I had let him have the little cash I had with me yesterday so he could catch a cab. I was moody all through the whole day as my conscience dealt with me severely.

Luckily as time passed, Mark's health gradually improved, and he returned to school. My friendship with him also blossomed even more due to that incident . I learned to trust him more and, to be of help in any way possible. I apologized to him for letting him go home in that rain without a cab.

Now as I gaze at raindrops trickling down my window, as I write this on this cold and lonely night with so much lessons I've learnt. As memories from that fateful incident and day flood my memory like a dam, all ignited by the prompt. I am reminded of the guilt that once threatened to drown me. They guilt of Mark.