Living in the shadows of a hassle family, I dared not speak my heart out. I was a self-conscious girl since young. For every minor mistake that I had done, my parents would reprimand and for every good-deed I did, they would always be oblivious to them. Then, seven years back, something unforgettable happened; an incident which changed my life. It was him who taught me self-defence and confidence. It was him whom I admired the most.
The full-moon emerged, casting elongated shadows on the ground, and darkness enveloped the town. The air turned cool and the streets were deserted by midnight. After a long day, I trudged home wearily, lugging my heavy school bag. It was one of those days where I had to attend Mr Ng’s boring tuition class. Dragging my feet, I chose to take the short-cut through a dark, narrow pathway.
It was shady and misty. Driven by fear, my eyes widened and my footsteps slowed down as my courage melted away at the sight of three vague shadows at the end of the alley. Beads of perspiration formed on my forehead as my mind raced with wild thoughts. With every second that ticked pass, the distant image became clearer. To my astonishment, my face turned pale and whispered a silent syllable; “Dogs...”
The ferocious dogs headed in my direction, glaring at me with huge bulging eyes, baring their razor-sharp canines in an ugly snarl. Feeling my heart beating faster and harder, I stood rooted to the ground. All my mind could think of was to burry myself in a hole. In defence, I cowered in a corner and cried. I was near hysteria. However, nothing happened.
Curiosity got the better of me and my eyes gradually opened. I caught a sight of a teenager with broad shoulders, gripping a long wooden branch, trying to chase the dogs away. Clad in a simple white cotton shirt and khaki pants, his presence oozed with confidence.
“Come,” he beckoned with a smile. Speechless, I picked up a large stick near me and joined him in the defence. I swung the stick hard as if I was crazy and injured one before it pounce. Its leg was caked in blood and in the next moment all the three dogs scampered off.
After what seemed like eternity, the tension in my muscles eased. “Great job Kate. Be confident and never be afraid. In life, there are endless obstacles and you should never be discouraged.” the mysterious guy finally said in his crisp, clear voice. My heart swelled after hearing his words of encouragement.
When we finally saw the light, I darted quick looks at him. To my greatest relief, it was my elder brother. My face lit up with a smile immediately. His eyes glistened under the street lights with a wink. I was thankful that my brother found me and that I had learnt to be confident.
Since then, I was not the lonely, quiet girl anymore. I had learnt to speak out and be confident. This incident has etched deeply in my heart and I will never forget his bravery. He is my brother, my hero.