Reflective_Essay__This_Incident_Proved_to_Be_the_Turning_Point_in_My_Life

After graduating from high school, I went on to study fashion designing. Here in college, I met a girl, Vanessa, who had deep blue eyes and light brown locks. She was a kind, gentle and considerate person. She always thought about others before herself. She was very charitable and loved to care for those less privileged than herself. We got to know each other and became good friends. Vanessa and I used to spend our weekends together and on several occasions, joined each other on holiday. But, all this changed in one day. Vanessa’s dad was a wealthy businessman and he was envied by many people. He was the target for every hijacker. On a dark, starless night, they chose to attack. Vanessa and I had gone out to the shopping mall, her parents were alone at home. Five vicious men broke into the house. They tied Vanessa’s mum and dad to a chair and gagged them. Then they continued their mission, that is, to take as many valuables as they can. Back at the mall Vanessa and I were enjoying ourselves. She had no idea that her life was going to change when she got back. I was lying in bed that night, when suddenly the phone rang. It was Vanessa. She was screaming hysterically telling me that I must get the police to come over to her place immediately. I was very worried. I alerted the cops and went to her house with my dad. When we were outside, she told me to be careful because ‘they’ may still be in the house. At that moment, I knew exactly what happened. We waited outside for then cops and then went in. When we entered, we saw blood spills everywhere. Her dad’s body was lying on the floor drenched in blood as her mother watched on, crying at the scene in front of her. He had cuts all over his body. A policeman immediately phoned for an ambulance while another untied the mother. I informed the cops that the daughter was somewhere in the house, I went with them to look for Vanessa. It didn’t take long to find her. She was in a corner of her room, sobbing. I rushed toward her and held her tight. She was shivering. Just then the ambulance arrived to fetch her dad. Vanessa’s mum joined him in the ambulance and my dad took Vanessa and me. In the waiting room, I kept reassuring her that everything’s going to be fine. I told her that she and her mum could stay at my house. But she didn’t speak; she just cried. Minutes went by and then she revealed to me that she had been raped by one of the men. I held my tears back, I had to be strong for her sake. The nurse walked in and announced that Vanessa won’t be able to see her dad until the next day. That night, she and her mum came home with me. Months went by, Vanessa fell ill and her dad was still recovering from his injuries. I would visit them often or telephone them. Vanessa was admitted into hospital; they conducted many tests on her. Then a few days later I received horrifying news: Vanessa was HIV positive. I was very upset. She was being treated for it but her condition was getting worse and worse. She didn’t want to go out in public anymore so I used to visit her but, she was very quiet and spoke little. Her mum was traumatized. One afternoon I went to visit Vanessa. She felt tired and weak. I asked her if she needed anything, but she replied no and went to sleep. She needed some rest so I left her in peace. I didn’t realize that this was the last time I’ll see her. At the dinner table that night, we received a distressing call from Vanessa’s mum. Vanessa didn’t wake up after I left this afternoon. After that call I went to my room and burst into tears. I became depressed. My mum wanted to send me for counseling but I resisted. I became quiet and hardly spoke. I visited Vanessa’s parents often, but it was a sad atmosphere. After a while I began to realize that I couldn’t carry on living my life like this. I had to do something. Vanessa’s life has helped be to learn that life is short. One bad incident can change your entire life. Death can come to old or young people. Today, I’m a successful fashion designer. I have helped many under privileged people to get their lives on track. I have my own organization which helps people who suffer from AIDS. This organization is dedicated to Vanessa. I still think a lot about her, about how her life would be now. I really do miss her a lot. Vanessa’s illness and death has been the turning point in my life. I was upset about it, but in a way it has made me a better person. I want the world to realize that people with AIDS are normal just like us. I will always remember Vanessa, she has inspired me to help make the world a better place.