One careless moment can ruin everything.

Varroh was 25, yet his own recklessness had cut his dreams short. He had nothing tangible to show for his life. In his youth, he had been naive and exuberant, overwhelmed by the wealth of his parents. His story was a regrettable one, marked by missed opportunities and a sense of lost potential.

His parents provided him with everything. His father served as a senator, while his mother was a judge. Their demanding careers did not stop them from raising him to the best of their abilities. Despite all they did, Varroh stepped off the right path as soon as he got admission into the university.

When Varroh gained admission into the university, his disciplined upbringing provided him with valuable guidance during his initial months on campus. His parents secured a well-furnished flat for him. He had longed for freedom all his life, but the reality before him fell far short of his expectations. Navigating from one lecture hall to the next, contending with the noisy surroundings, and managing to prepare his own meals became his most significant challenges, each task weighing heavily on him as he struggled to adapt to his newfound independence.

As the months passed, Varroh’s values underwent a significant transformation. He found himself surrounded by a group of rowdy boys who reveled in causing chaos on campus, and he became embroiled in their destructive antics. The influence of his new friends led him down a path of self-destruction, marked by philandering, truancy, and reckless spending. This newfound freedom also led to his abandonment of his high school sweetheart, Leona, despite her repeated attempts to steer him back on course. As his popularity soared, fueled by his striking appearance and newfound wealth, Varroh’s priorities shifted to indulging in his every whim, with no regard for the consequences or the well-being of those around him.

Leona was a wonderful girl: Decent, beautiful, and incredibly smart. She was an exceptional student; she kept excelling in her medicine programme. Her decision to abstain until marriage frustrated him so much that began to see other girls. His selfishness and sexual pleasures got the best of him. He viewed himself as the prize in their relationship, but when she discovered his infidelities, it shattered her heart into pieces.

A month later, during the semester break, he chose to stay at school to escape his mother’s interference in his life, even though she frequently called to check on him. He knew she was the best mother anyone could wish for, yet he felt ungrateful for pushing her away. His reckless pursuits consumed him, causing him to lose track of time, while his peers focused on graduating. By the end of the year, he had slept with nearly all his female classmates, several seniors, and three of his female lecturers, earning him the nickname “BULLET” among his peers.

He couldn’t believe that his friends, with whom he had traveled from town to town partying and sleeping around, were on the verge of graduating, while he was not. As graduation approached, he felt a thrill akin to winning a jackpot. Though his family was aware of his situation, he called them to inform them that there was no need for them to come to school, since he wouldn’t be graduating. His mother’s panic was palpable as she screamed at him, questioning why he would choose to disgrace them, but her words fell on deaf ears. He was caught up in what he believed was his best life, indifferent to his friends’ accomplishments. Weeks after graduation, he learned through Clarita, a girl he had slept with, that Leona and her parents had relocated abroad. One night, while out clubbing with friends, he experienced an unusual intoxication that left him overly boisterous. Despite Jerry, the eldest in their group, insisting on driving, he insisted on taking the wheel himself. A close call on the highway, nearly crashing into a woman, went unnoticed by him, thanks to Jerry’s quick intervention. Once they returned home, he collapsed into a deep sleep, oblivious to the chaos around him. The following day, he returned to the club and unexpectedly ran into the girl he had almost hit on the highway—Leila.

He had unknowingly come into contact with the devil, as he took Leila home after clubbing and slept with her. For the first time amidst his countless sexual escapades, he felt an unusual drain of energy. To him, she was a goddess, beautiful and curvy igniting a passion that led him to break his own rule of not sleeping with a girl more than once. Just two weeks later, they started dating, and despite warnings from his friends that something was off about her, he ignored their concerns, convinced they simply disliked her. Even his parents threatened to disown him over the relationship, but he brushed off their fears. Strangely, he had no real love for Leila, yet their connection felt inexplicably deep. Then, a month later, he received the devastating news that his parents had been shot dead by armed robbers on their way to the airport, only for Leila to insist that he should not go. He never paid his last respects to his parents and was not surprised when he learned that they had willed their property to the church, leaving him destitute. Leila’s presence in his life had ushered in untold hardship, though he remained oblivious to it until it was far too late. In the aftermath, his friends severed their ties with him, and his siblings refused to acknowledge his existence, deepening his isolation as he grappled with the consequences of his choices.

One morning, he awoke to find Leila packing her things, and when he asked her where she was going, she merely laughed and replied, “If I were you, I’d pack my things too.” Confusion washed over him as he tried to comprehend her words. She instructed the maid to take her belongings downstairs, prompting him to rush after her, pleading for an explanation, but her smile only deepened his bewilderment. As she stepped outside, he followed her, desperately begging for clarity, yet she remained silent. Minutes later, he watched the maid carry out her bag, and when he turned to her, hoping for answers, she too left him in the dark, unable to articulate the reason for the sudden departure.

He was already on the street, blind to the reality of his situation, as Leila had sold his house and car to fund her escape abroad. Desperation led him to plead with her, but her response was venomous as she declared, “It’s payback time, Varroh, and this is for Jasmine.” Confused, he asked who Jasmine was, having never heard the name before. Fury sparked in Leila as she unleashed a torrent of insults, accusing him of being driven solely by his desires while trampling over others. She revealed that Jasmine was a girl he had slept with three years prior, who had come to him in distress after discovering her pregnancy, only to be rejected and ultimately succumb to her fate. The recollection hit him like a tidal wave, dragging him back to that one fateful night after his friend’s birthday party when, after a single encounter, he had carelessly cast aside a girl in need, forever altering the course of her life.

He let out a laugh that almost turned into a choke, dismissing her words as ridiculous and not worthy of his attention. Without a second thought, he commanded his friends to throw her out of his house, eager to rid himself of the situation. That decisive action marked the last time he would ever hear from her, leaving her as a mere echo of a past mistake he was ready to forget.

She delivered the devastating news with a chilling resolve, revealing that Jasmine had attempted to terminate her pregnancy and tragically lost her life in the process. In that moment, she accused him of being the reason behind her sister’s death, claiming she had come to make him experience the anguish of losing his last family member. With her accusations hanging heavily in the air, she stepped into his car, proclaimed that her work was finished, and drove off, leaving him in stunned silence, grappling with the reality of his actions and their dire consequences.

He chased after her car, tears streaming down his face, desperate to make amends as he wished for the ground to swallow him whole. Realizing the folly of thinking he could outrun a car, he stumbled and fell to the pavement, unleashing a scream that echoed his torment; his troubled past had finally caught up with him, leaving him bereft of family, friends, and now even his home. Wandering aimlessly through the streets in nothing but his boxers and a tank top, he became an object of concern and curiosity for passersby, but he felt detached, as if he had nothing left to lose. His world shifted dramatically when a vehicle struck him, and he was rushed to the hospital, where a month later he regained consciousness only to find himself engulfed in darkness. As panic set in, he learned from the doctor that the accident had robbed him of his sight and the use of his legs, leading him to wail in despair, haunted by the realization that his life had unraveled because of choices he had made in the past.

He faced the doctor with a mix of anguish and despair, expressing his profound sorrow over his situation. “Look at me,” he pleaded, “I’m talking to you, yet I cannot see you. I don’t even know if it’s day or night. No one has come for me because I feel like a waste.” His words poured forth, laden with regret as he confessed how his youth had clouded his judgment, leading to a life devoid of accomplishments, including a degree. Overwhelmed by grief, he lamented the severed ties with his parents, who had left this world harboring resentment towards him. “I’ve lost everything, Doctor, everything!” he cried, each word a painful reminder of the life he had let slip away.

He pleaded with the doctor, his voice trembling with desperation. “I should have done better, Doctor! I should have done better!” His heart ached with regret, wishing fervently that his fate would not befall anyone else. With a sense of urgency in his tone, he implored, “Please help me tell my story to every young man out there,” wanting to make his painful experiences a harsh lesson for others, hoping to prevent them from making the same disastrous choices that had led him to this dark place.

The doctor regarded Varroh with compassion, his voice steady and reassuring. “I know how bad you feel about your situation, but believe me, this is not the end of the road for you. You can turn things around,” he encouraged gently. “It’s true that the accident took your sight and legs, but it did not take your life. In all things, give thanks to God.” The doctor leaned in, his conviction palpable as he continued, “I can arrange for you to go back to school, and you can become a graduate. This is your second chance, and I know you won’t waste it.” With a determined nod, he added, “Your story is powerful, and I will ensure it reaches every young man out there.” He struggled to grab the doctor’s hands with tears rolling down his eyes, he appreciated him for taking out time to listen to his story.

He went on to express his gratitude with heartfelt sincerity, saying, “Thank you, Doctor, for giving me a second chance after I had messed up my opportunities.” His eyes reflected deep appreciation as he continued, “I immensely appreciate you for dedicating your time to listen to my story.” The weight of his past felt a little lighter with each word, as he recognized the doctor’s commitment to helping him rewrite his future. The doctor spoke to Varroh with a sense of urgency and hope, saying, “Varroh, trust in God, and He’ll help you navigate through this challenging phase. Give your life to Him while you still can, and watch as He bestows peace upon you.” His words resonated deeply, offering Varroh a glimmer of faith and reassurance that brighter days lay ahead if he embraced this new path.

Varroh made a heartfelt promise, declaring, “I promise on this day that my life depends on God, and I will give Him thanks for saving my life.” His voice was steady, filled with conviction as he recognized the profound impact of his newfound faith, vowing to honor the grace and guidance he felt enveloping him.

The doctor informed Varroh that he would only regain his sight through surgery, encouraging him to take the chance in hopes of a brighter future. He reassured Varroh about the potential outcome while also advising him to commit to physiotherapy afterward to aid in his recovery, emphasizing the importance of both steps in his healing journey.

Overwhelmed with excitement, Varroh screamed in joy, his heart filled with gratitude for the doctor’s encouragement and expertise. He declared that once he regained both his sight and mobility, he would turn over a new leaf, dedicating himself to becoming the best version of himself and living a life full of purpose and appreciation.

The End