Imagine. You had everything, money, looks, brains and popularity. Wherever you go, girls know your name and everywhere you turn you have friends acknowledging you. What would you do with all that? Would you party every other day? Or would you use all that you have and help make the world a better place? The choices we make every day matters. This is the story of a young man, who had his life turned out to be more breathtaking than he’d expect it to be. This is my story.

“Life, how fast it twists and turns. I didn’t expect it to be like this, not in a million years.”

My name is Jonathan. I’m young, rich and handsome. Or perhaps I used be. Now life just seems to be an empty barrel just waiting to be disposed of. I remember those days when I was back in school, being the most popular guy on campus. Getting a girl wasn’t such a hefty chore; it was more like a past time for me. And the guys are either jealous or just looking for an opportunity to hook up with the girls who were always around me. What a life I had then, breezing through my studies too.

Then there was her, the girl I gave everything up for. She was just a year younger, my beloved sister’s age and just like any other plain Jane, she did not have a figure to die for or even a face with the golden ratio. But her eyes, her eyes won me over and most of all was her oh-so-seductive voice. Got me a fever the first time I heard her, a fever I know only she could cure. Her name was Annabelle and it suits her perfect too.

It took me 6 months just to get her. She was hard to get unlike the other girls I dated. She had the same background as me, wealthy but yet our parents are really never there. I could easily relate to her, about anything and everything. And every day, it was like heaven on earth. I was drowned in the pool of her love and I know I made this choice.

For the whole two years of being with her, life was superb. And the only family I really have my sister Sheila, reaped the rewards of this “marriage” I had with Annabelle. She was just like a limb of my own; I could neither live with nor live without it. Sheila got the sister she never had, and I was just as contented with this relationship. Perfect, I used to call it.

Here comes the killer, on my final year, assignments were piling up and I wanted give it the best I can. Leaving very little time for Annabelle, it was a very tough time for her. I was not there for her all the time anymore, I wasn’t even aware of our anniversaries. All these then led to that fateful night, the night I lost my life.

It was a beautiful Saturday morning as I woke up to the sound of my favourite tune on the radio. I felt great, like there’s nothing that would go wrong. I had my usual cereal breakfast, and did my workout. After which, I prepared myself for the evening’s get-together; putting on my flowery print shirt and my jeans on, did my hair and spray cologne all over myself. I told my sister to not wait up for me, I kissed her and left the house.

I took a cab straight to The Central @ Clarke Quay and aliased with my friends. It was busy as per normal; young teens walking around in their colourful outfits, men and women in their suits looking like they needed the weekend to rest. Then there were us, standing in the middle of the mall looking around for a place to have lunch. All of us in our shirts, colourful yet elegant shirts, and our dress pants; it was party night. I saw couples, quite a few them, all in smiles and they looked like they drank one cup too many in the early evening. I started to think of Annabelle so I called to check on her.

She picked up, first sounding as if she heard a ghost then she started mumbling, sounding as if she was in a meeting. She told me she was busy but her background was the hustle and bustle of the road. We hung up and I should have known that something was wrong, but as usual I brushed it off my mind.

My friends decided to grab lunch at Starbucks Coffee; they ate while I drank my drink quietly on the side. I remember having this churning feeling inside, it made me feel real bad. It really wasn’t a pleasant experience, especially when the plans were to have fun, party and breathe all the stress out. We were all drowning in our work for weeks; this party night had to be the best before we start to drown into our work again.

We sat in there, for like an hour. We gossiped like little girls, we laughed till our eyes would tear and complained like we were unsatisfied husbands. It was all good fun, to pass the time before heading off to party. But I was hoping that Annabelle would show and be here laughing with us. And just when we were about to leave, God answered my prayers; but not in the way I wished for.

It felt as if a sharp blade was thrust through my gut, with the blade slicing off all the major blood streams. Creating a catastrophe inside me, everything was going haywire. Time stalled and moved slower than Neo in the movie Matrix. I was shocked, stunned, broken, and insulted, all at the same time. There she was holding hands with another man, coming into Starbucks Coffee, not even noticing I was sitting right beside the door.

Her eyes, her eyes were all over him, those hazel brown eyes. The same eyes I fell in love with, were now in love with another man. She even kissed him on the lips as they entered Starbucks Coffee. My friends could tell by the look on my face, I was devastated. But she was still oblivious, that I was there watching her every move from the moment she entered, till the moment that she turned and looked around for seats. That was when she saw me, her face turned as white as snow; I knew then that she was shocked and ashamed.

But that was not all, amongst all of my closest friends, the one I trust most was the one holding her hand, kissing her lips, and the one who said he was too busy with his work to join our little get-together; and his name is Adam.

Next thing I knew, I screamed a scream so loud that it made her cry. I stomped right in front of Adam, and gave him what he deserved; a punch on the face. After which, I left the whole tainted scene.

My friends followed suit, and they kept trying to calm me down. They said so many things, but all of that went through one ear and out the other. I could not concentrate at all, all I heard were my own footsteps and my heavy breathing. Everything happened so fast, it was like the exhilaration of jumping off the cliff, the only difference; this was heartbreak.

Once we were all far away and out of their sight, I fell to my knees and tears streamed down my face. I didn’t care who or what was watching me. I just wanted someone or something to take the pain away. On top of all the stress I had, I have to deal with this. Not only did my girl cheat on me, but my close friend backstabbed me too. At that point of time, how I wish God would take my life away; God did not answer me that time though.

For the whole two years, I made choices that were the best for me, my sister and Annabelle. I made choices that were sacrificial of my past lifestyle; I had no time to party with my friends, not even time for myself. Even on days that I was free, it was either spent with my sister Sheila or Annabelle. That night was reserved for my friends and I to party, and even though I had the choice to go home and calm myself down. I took the choice to party and dance my sorrows away.

Oh what a party it was, really. There were three girls to each guy on the dance floor, but that wasn’t what I wanted. Girls were the last thing on my mind, all I wanted was to party and forget. I know it is totally impossible to forget two years in one night. That’s the job of alcohol, and on that night an extra special medication was needed.

Yes drugs. The worst choice I made that night was taking drugs. Not only that, I was tipsy when I took them too. The only thing I remembered was bright blue and green lights and I danced till I couldn’t stand anymore. It was a party alright.

Then I remember myself crying, outside the club, and then in the cab on the way home. Everything else after that was a blur, up until I woke up in the morning...life was terrible since that morning.

Under the Penal Code (Singapore), Chapter XVI: Offences against the human body, supposedly I am charged with Rape and then again, it was sectioned under Incest. And if I was charged with Incest, being that Sheila is above the age of 16, I was to face imprisonment up to five years. Unfortunately, Lady Luck was on my side but really, how I wish she was not. I was not sure why but the judge and jury came to a consensus that I was intoxicated at the time of crime; even though I intoxicated myself.

I was charged with the misuse of drugs and I was dragged into jail for six months and that was it. I counted myself unlucky for being inside for just a short while. I tried turning over a new leaf after I was released but one shocking piece of news made the whole aspect of turning over a new leaf, excruciating. My friends came up to me, and told me that Adam and Annabelle had planned the whole encounter; everything from the day I was caught up with assignments to the day I saw them together. They had the message conveyed to me through my friends and they were asking for forgiveness; they never thought it could lead to this, especially about my sister. I assumed they had no guts to tell it to my face.

I lost my mind, I started talking to myself and I stayed away from any kind of company. I lost the ability to trust and eventually, I turned to drugs again. Six months later, I was caught and since it is the second offence under drug misuse, I was thrown in jail for a year. After my release, my beloved parents forgave me for what I have done to my beloved sister. I figured that they did not want to lose their son, because they lost their daughter to an asylum; I figured they sent her there, and I still blame myself for what that has happened to her.

But even after a year in jail, I was still very much lost in my thoughts; I was still talking to myself and was still rejecting company. So my beloved parents, afraid of a repeat of my sister, sent me to rehab. And after two years of rehab, I decided that I had no choice but to rebuild my life from scratch.

“I thought I had it all figured out, but this is Life and it never goes the way you plan it to be; especially when you make the wrong choices in life.”

So this is me rebuilding my life now, speaking to you as your mentor. That fateful night happened five years ago, and in those five years, I learnt that making the right choices is essential to leading a good life. My choices landed me in jail, my sister Sheila in an asylum and unfortunately, my studies have gone down the drain. I am lucky, lucky to even be standing out here a free man still. But I doubt lady luck will be on my side again and I am not willing to bet on it. Don’t make the choices I made because it might lead you to something you wish you never would have done. This is my story, the breathtaking story of Jonathan, the man who lost everything in just one night.

amin.

Imagine. You had everything, money, looks, brains and popularity. Wherever you go, girls know your name and everywhere you turn you have friends acknowledging you. What would you do with all that? Would you party every other day? Or would you use all that you have and help make the world a better place? The choices we make every day matters. This is the story of a young man, who had his life turned out to be more breathtaking than he’d expect it to be. This is my story.

“Life, how fast it twists and turns. I didn’t expect it to be like this, not in a million years.”

My name is Jonathan. I’m young, rich and handsome. Or perhaps I used be. Now life just seems to be an empty barrel just waiting to be disposed of. I remember those days when I was back in school, being the most popular guy on campus. Getting a girl wasn’t such a hefty chore; it was more like a past time for me. And the guys are either jealous or just looking for an opportunity to hook up with the girls who were always around me. What a life I had then, breezing through my studies too.

Then there was her, the girl I gave everything up for. She was just a year younger, my beloved sister’s age and just like any other plain Jane, she did not have a figure to die for or even a face with the golden ratio. But her eyes, her eyes won me over and most of all was her oh-so-seductive voice. Got me a fever the first time I heard her, a fever I know only she could cure. Her name was Annabelle and it suits her perfect too.

It took me 6 months just to get her. She was hard to get unlike the other girls I dated. She had the same background as me, wealthy but yet our parents are really never there. I could easily relate to her, about anything and everything. And every day, it was like heaven on earth. I was drowned in the pool of her love and I know I made this choice.

For the whole two years of being with her, life was superb. And the only family I really have my sister Sheila, reaped the rewards of this “marriage” I had with Annabelle. She was just like a limb of my own; I could neither live with nor live without it. Sheila got the sister she never had, and I was just as contented with this relationship. Perfect, I used to call it.

Here comes the killer, on my final year, assignments were piling up and I wanted give it the best I can. Leaving very little time for Annabelle, it was a very tough time for her. I was not there for her all the time anymore, I wasn’t even aware of our anniversaries. All these then led to that fateful night, the night I lost my life.

It was a beautiful Saturday morning as I woke up to the sound of my favourite tune on the radio. I felt great, like there’s nothing that would go wrong. I had my usual cereal breakfast, and did my workout. After which, I prepared myself for the evening’s get-together; putting on my flowery print shirt and my jeans on, did my hair and spray cologne all over myself. I told my sister to not wait up for me, I kissed her and left the house.

I took a cab straight to The Central @ Clarke Quay and aliased with my friends. It was busy as per normal; young teens walking around in their colourful outfits, men and women in their suits looking like they needed the weekend to rest. Then there were us, standing in the middle of the mall looking around for a place to have lunch. All of us in our shirts, colourful yet elegant shirts, and our dress pants; it was party night. I saw couples, quite a few them, all in smiles and they looked like they drank one cup too many in the early evening. I started to think of Annabelle so I called to check on her.

She picked up, first sounding as if she heard a ghost then she started mumbling, sounding as if she was in a meeting. She told me she was busy but her background was the hustle and bustle of the road. We hung up and I should have known that something was wrong, but as usual I brushed it off my mind.

My friends decided to grab lunch at Starbucks Coffee; they ate while I drank my drink quietly on the side. I remember having this churning feeling inside, it made me feel real bad. It really wasn’t a pleasant experience, especially when the plans were to have fun, party and breathe all the stress out. We were all drowning in our work for weeks; this party night had to be the best before we start to drown into our work again.

We sat in there, for like an hour. We gossiped like little girls, we laughed till our eyes would tear and complained like we were unsatisfied husbands. It was all good fun, to pass the time before heading off to party. But I was hoping that Annabelle would show and be here laughing with us. And just when we were about to leave, God answered my prayers; but not in the way I wished for.

It felt as if a sharp blade was thrust through my gut, with the blade slicing off all the major blood streams. Creating a catastrophe inside me, everything was going haywire. Time stalled and moved slower than Neo in the movie Matrix. I was shocked, stunned, broken, and insulted, all at the same time. There she was holding hands with another man, coming into Starbucks Coffee, not even noticing I was sitting right beside the door.

Her eyes, her eyes were all over him, those hazel brown eyes. The same eyes I fell in love with, were now in love with another man. She even kissed him on the lips as they entered Starbucks Coffee. My friends could tell by the look on my face, I was devastated. But she was still oblivious, that I was there watching her every move from the moment she entered, till the moment that she turned and looked around for seats. That was when she saw me, her face turned as white as snow; I knew then that she was shocked and ashamed.

But that was not all, amongst all of my closest friends, the one I trust most was the one holding her hand, kissing her lips, and the one who said he was too busy with his work to join our little get-together; and his name is Adam.

Next thing I knew, I screamed a scream so loud that it made her cry. I stomped right in front of Adam, and gave him what he deserved; a punch on the face. After which, I left the whole tainted scene.

My friends followed suit, and they kept trying to calm me down. They said so many things, but all of that went through one ear and out the other. I could not concentrate at all, all I heard were my own footsteps and my heavy breathing. Everything happened so fast, it was like the exhilaration of jumping off the cliff, the only difference; this was heartbreak.

Once we were all far away and out of their sight, I fell to my knees and tears streamed down my face. I didn’t care who or what was watching me. I just wanted someone or something to take the pain away. On top of all the stress I had, I have to deal with this. Not only did my girl cheat on me, but my close friend backstabbed me too. At that point of time, how I wish God would take my life away; God did not answer me that time though.

For the whole two years, I made choices that were the best for me, my sister and Annabelle. I made choices that were sacrificial of my past lifestyle; I had no time to party with my friends, not even time for myself. Even on days that I was free, it was either spent with my sister Sheila or Annabelle. That night was reserved for my friends and I to party, and even though I had the choice to go home and calm myself down. I took the choice to party and dance my sorrows away.

Oh what a party it was, really. There were three girls to each guy on the dance floor, but that wasn’t what I wanted. Girls were the last thing on my mind, all I wanted was to party and forget. I know it is totally impossible to forget two years in one night. That’s the job of alcohol, and on that night an extra special medication was needed.

Yes drugs. The worst choice I made that night was taking drugs. Not only that, I was tipsy when I took them too. The only thing I remembered was bright blue and green lights and I danced till I couldn’t stand anymore. It was a party alright.

Then I remember myself crying, outside the club, and then in the cab on the way home. Everything else after that was a blur, up until I woke up in the morning...life was terrible since that morning.

Under the Penal Code (Singapore), Chapter XVI: Offences against the human body, supposedly I am charged with Rape and then again, it was sectioned under Incest. And if I was charged with Incest, being that Sheila is above the age of 16, I was to face imprisonment up to five years. Unfortunately, Lady Luck was on my side but really, how I wish she was not. I was not sure why but the judge and jury came to a consensus that I was intoxicated at the time of crime; even though I intoxicated myself.

I was charged with the misuse of drugs and I was dragged into jail for six months and that was it. I counted myself unlucky for being inside for just a short while. I tried turning over a new leaf after I was released but one shocking piece of news made the whole aspect of turning over a new leaf, excruciating. My friends came up to me, and told me that Adam and Annabelle had planned the whole encounter; everything from the day I was caught up with assignments to the day I saw them together. They had the message conveyed to me through my friends and they were asking for forgiveness; they never thought it could lead to this, especially about my sister. I assumed they had no guts to tell it to my face.

I lost my mind, I started talking to myself and I stayed away from any kind of company. I lost the ability to trust and eventually, I turned to drugs again. Six months later, I was caught and since it is the second offence under drug misuse, I was thrown in jail for a year. After my release, my beloved parents forgave me for what I have done to my beloved sister. I figured that they did not want to lose their son, because they lost their daughter to an asylum; I figured they sent her there, and I still blame myself for what that has happened to her.

But even after a year in jail, I was still very much lost in my thoughts; I was still talking to myself and was still rejecting company. So my beloved parents, afraid of a repeat of my sister, sent me to rehab. And after two years of rehab, I decided that I had no choice but to rebuild my life from scratch.

“I thought I had it all figured out, but this is Life and it never goes the way you plan it to be; especially when you make the wrong choices in life.”

So this is me rebuilding my life now, speaking to you as your mentor. That fateful night happened five years ago, and in those five years, I learnt that making the right choices is essential to leading a good life. My choices landed me in jail, my sister Sheila in an asylum and unfortunately, my studies have gone down the drain. I am lucky, lucky to even be standing out here a free man still. But I doubt lady luck will be on my side again and I am not willing to bet on it. Don’t make the choices I made because it might lead you to something you wish you never would have done. This is my story, the breathtaking story of Jonathan, the man who lost everything in just one night.

amin.