Write a time when you were wrongly accused of something.

KAREN LIM Class: 2/3

          I walked into my room and looking at the vast collection of books decked on the shelf, took out one to read. I was about to open the book to read the awaiting pages that were filled with beautiful contents. Out of nowhere, a bookmark fell out and as I picked the fallen bookmark, I smiled. This bookmark was a reminder of a long-forgotten time when I was wrongly accused. This incident will always be a precious life lesson. It all began four years ago…

          “Samuel!” a cheerful voice could be heard as I turn around to see my best friend, Nikolai, whom I had been friends with since we were babies. We were practically like family as we knew everything about each other. It was the start of our journey as secondary one students and it was God’s gift that I had Nikolai there with me in the same secondary school, so I would not be lonely as I thought I would be. I said hello to Nikolai, as he smiled.

“I am glad to have you here, Sam!” Sam was Nikolai’s nickname for me ever since we were in kindergarten.

“Me too, Niko!” Of course, Niko was my nickname for him.

          The first few months were perhaps the best months I had ever encountered. Both of us were inseparable, but perhaps I had spoken too soon. Nikolai had recently gotten a new friend, Elizabeth. Every single day, he began to hang out with Elizabeth more and more often, constantly wagging his imaginary dog’s tail and going off to her instead, leaving me alone. But what Nikolai did not know was the fact that my bully was Elizabeth and she would do anything in order to make me suffer and that meant taking my best friend, Nikolai, away from me.

          Finally, she decided to make her move in class where all the students, including Nikolai were there.

“Samuel stole my wallet and used all my money!” Nikolai who had grown even closer to Elizabeth, stepped in front of me and looked at me with eyes filled with anger and betrayal.

“I never knew you would do something as despicable as this…” Nikolai trailed off as he hugged Elizabeth who was smirking at me while pretending to cry, enjoying Nikolai’s comfort. She went off, accusing me of all the wrong things she could think. I could hear the muted whispers from my classmates as I noticed in shock that Nikolai’s baby blue eyes contained something that I had never wanted to see – disgust.

          That was the breaking point for me as I glared at Elizabeth with unshed tears in my eyes. “Elizabeth!” I dragged her name as I shouted, I balled my fists as I smirked, seeing her surprised face. Nikolai seemed shocked that I was angry since he knew that I was a person with high anger tolerance, so it was very rare to see me angry.

“If you want drama, you know there is a drama club in this school, you should go apply for it, you have the skills.” I fired my insulting words at her as the class shouted, “BURN!”

“You, Nikolai.” Nikolai flinched as he knew that I would only mention his full name when I was utterly disappointed in him. “I am so disappointed in you. We have been best friends since we were young and yet you chose to believe your new friend whom you know for no more than a few months…” I trailed off and this time, it was Nikolai’s turn to be silent as he looked crest-fallen. “I am disappointed in you, Nikolai. Like really disappointed.” I said as I quickly took my bag and ran to the hidden spot in the library which Nikolai and I considered to be our sacred haven.

After what seemed like eons, I could finally hear footsteps coming nearer to my spot. Nikolai peeked at me, his eyes and nose all red and puffy.

 “I am sorry, Sam. Please do not be disappointed in me.” I just smiled and pat his soft raven locks. He reached for his back pocket and took something out. It was a bookmark, a hand-crafted bookmark. “I made two bookmarks, one for you, one for me.’ Nikolai explained as I took the bookmark and chuckled.

          After that day, Nikolai stopped talking to Elizabeth and gradually spent more time with me. I could feel the old Nikolai slowly coming back as I smiled and appreciate every single second with him.

          “Sam, I am back!” I went out of the room as Nikolai’s bright and cheerful voice disrupted my thoughts. I greeted him as he looked at the familiar bookmark in my palm. Indeed, I am glad that Nikolai chose my friendship over Elizabeth and that no matter what, true friendship will always conquer all challenges in life.