Pest or Family?

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Jill, 18 years old and Paul, 8 years old are sister and brother.

Jill being a teenager, is always hanging out around with her friends and enjoying her days with girls outing, partying as well as dating with her charming beau.

Paul on the other hand, being 8 years old, he always behave... well, just like the child he is. Always wanting attention from his folks as well as from Jill.

Jill couldn't stand this cumbersome little brother of hers. She is tired of his ever attention seeking, tired of his cries when he couldn't get what he wants, tired of him taking up her time trying to talk to her about some stuffs that she's not even interested in.

'Stop bothering me, you little pest!'

'Get out of my room, can't you see I'm on the phone?!'

'I got no time for you, why don't you just go and play with your toys?!'

These are the things Jill usually said to this little brother before she returned to her mundane stuffs like giggling with her beau on the phone, chatting with her friends on networking internet sites and others.

One fine day, when Jill was crossing the road outside her house, she screamed with her lungs out as she stood frozen to the spot where she's standing as if she have been entwined with roots sprouting out from the granite ground, trapping her as a speeding truck heads towards her.

'BAANNNNNG' Jill lay there with all her limps bruised on the ground, but other than that, she was fine. The truck have must stopped in time, she thought and turned around.

What she saw would stay with her for her rest of her life. 'NOOOooooo PAULLLLLL!' She crawled over to the motionless bloodied child and kept yelling 'My little brother! Noooooo!!'

She grabbed his hands hysterically and cried uncontrollably 'Why?! My little brother! It should have been me!!!' Paul opened his eyes weakly, smiled at his sister and whispered 'Because.... you're my family, sister..'

Memories of Paul and herself came rushing back to her... When she was beaten up by her father after being found out she have been smoking on the sly, Paul was the one who stood in front of her, crying out 'Noo Dad, dun beat sister' as he tried to defended his sister from the beatings.

Memories of Paul wiping off her tears when she cried even though he was just just a toddler then. Memories of them playing together, stealing chocolates from the fridge and smuggling them back to the bedroom to share after bedtime... and so more....

Paul's hands slipped off from Jill and his body turned cold and still. 'I'm so sorry, my little brother.... I'm so sorry that I didn't treat you better... Please, my little brother, dun go away. I'll be good to you from now onwards, I promise!' Jill lay there...closing her eyes unwillingly at her brother who had given his life for hers and fainted....


Have you neglected your family or someone close to you today? There is no second chance for certain things in life. Why wait when it's too late? Spend some time with your family today.

Author of this Story - Yours Truly, Kenneth Goh :)

PS: This is my first attempt at writing inspirational stories. Would appreciate all feedback, comments and suggestions :)