SECTION A: ESSAY
Your answer should not be less than 450 words. You are advised to spend 50 minutes on this section.
Write a story that ends with the statement: I was mistaken to have thought the night would be like other peaceful nights.
A Night Unlike Any Other
The moon cast a silver glow over our sleepy town, and the rhythmic chirping of crickets created a soothing melody. I had always found comfort in the predictability of our quiet nights, where nothing extraordinary ever happened. That evening was no different—or so I thought. My parents had already retired to their room, and my younger siblings were fast asleep. I sat by my window, enjoying the cool night breeze, oblivious to the series of events that would soon shake me to my core.
It all began with a faint rustling sound outside. At first, I dismissed it as the wind teasing the leaves or perhaps a stray cat scouring for food. But as the noise persisted, growing louder and more deliberate, unease crept over me. I tiptoed to the door and peered through the peephole. Darkness stretched before me, unbroken except for the dim glow of the streetlamp at the far end of the road. Convinced I was imagining things, I returned to my bed, but sleep refused to come.
A sudden loud bang shattered the night’s silence. My heart pounded wildly as I bolted upright. Someone—or something—was outside. Summoning courage, I crept to the living room and peered through the curtains. What I saw made my blood run cold. Silhouettes of two men lurked near the gate. I wanted to scream, to alert my family, but fear paralysed me.
I quickly switched off the lights, hoping to create the illusion that the house was deserted. My mind raced—were they burglars? Kidnappers? My trembling hands reached for my phone, and I dialled my father’s number, my voice barely above a whisper as I explained the situation. He instructed me to stay quiet and assured me he would call the police. As I crouched behind the sofa, listening to my own rapid breathing, the men advanced towards the house, their movements swift and calculated.
Minutes felt like hours. I clutched a heavy object, ready to defend myself if necessary. Just as one of them attempted to force open the window, a sudden wail of sirens pierced the night air. Blue and red lights flashed across the yard as the police arrived. The intruders scrambled but within moments, they were apprehended.
As my family gathered, shaken yet safe, I realised how naïve I had been. I had believed that our nights would always be peaceful, that danger was something distant, belonging to stories on the evening news. But that night had shattered my illusion of safety.
I was mistaken to have thought the night would be like other peaceful nights.
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