Risk and Courage

Describe a risk you took that you do not regret.

Taking risks has been a part of my life journey, each one leaving its mark on my memory. Yet, one stands out vividly, etched into my mind like an indelible scar. It was a night when I was just six years old, living with my father in the small town of Yelm, Washington. Those were the days when my father battled addiction with alcohol, his struggles casting a shadow over our family.

On that fateful night, I was stirred from my sleep by the sound of my father stumbling home with a woman. I quietly slipped out of bed, my bladder urging me to the bathroom. Afterward, a craving for a late-night snack led me to the kitchen, where I stealthily reached for a couple of fruit roll-ups. Little did I know, that mundane act of sneaking snacks would soon become a defining moment.

As I made my way back to my room, the voices from my father’s room grew louder, punctuated by bouts of gentle laughter and muffled voices. I knew I had to tread carefully to avoid drawing attention to myself. But fate had other plans.

My siblings, lured by the faint rustle of midnight wrappers, stealthily joined me in the room. Together, we savored our bounty, emboldened by the thrill of our covert operation. Encouraged by our older brother’s persuasive charm, my sister and I found ourselves back at the counter, reaching for more fruit roll-ups.

However, our carefree moment was abruptly shattered as wisps of smoke began to infiltrate the room, creeping through the cracks of the door to my father’s room. It was a silent but ominous harbinger of the impending chaos unfolding just beyond our walls.

Panic seized us as we realized the gravity of the situation. With adrenaline coursing through our veins, we rushed to the source of the smoke, our hearts pounding with fear. Through the haze, we glimpsed flickering flames, dancing menacingly in the darkness. The air thickened with smoke, choking our lungs and clouding our vision.

In that moment of desperation, instinct took over. With trembling hands, I reached for the door, my siblings urging me not to with frantic cries. With a burst of courage, I used my shirt and flung the door open, revealing a scene straight from a nightmare. Flames licked at the ceiling, casting sinister shadows on the walls.

Without hesitation, I ran into the inferno, driven by a singular purpose – to save our dad. Despite our efforts, we were unable to rouse our father and his companion from their slumber. The realization of our helplessness hit us like a sledgehammer, but we refused to succumb to despair.

Guided by the primal instinct to survive, we ushered our younger brother to safety, our hearts heavy with the weight of uncertainty. As we stood outside, watching our home consumed by flames, a sense of determination ignited within me. “We can’t just stand here,” I exclaimed, my voice trembling with urgency. Without hesitation, we sprang into action, each of us driven by a shared purpose – to rescue our father and his companion from the inferno.

In the chaos of the night, we made a split-second decision to divide and conquer, spreading out in search of help and solace. My sister and younger brother remained by each other’s side, finding comfort in their bond amidst the turmoil. With tears in her eyes, my sister cradled our brother, offering him reassurance in the face of overwhelming fear.

As we raced into the darkness, a glimmer of hope pierced through the despair. A neighbor’s car pulled up, a wave of relief in the midst of the chaos. Without hesitation, I approached them, my voice trembling as I pleaded for their assistance. With unwavering kindness, they welcomed us into their home, offering us snacks and soothing our frayed nerves with a comforting movie – “The Land Before Time.” As they phoned for help.

As we huddled together, snacking on candy, the sense of relief washed over us like a soothing balm. In that moment, surrounded by reassuring warmth and safety. Ever since, I have had a profound sense of gratitude within me. Though the night had been fraught with danger and uncertainty, we had emerged victorious, our risk taking courage paving the way to salvation.

In the hours that followed, as firefighters battled the blaze that threatened to consume our home, I couldn’t help but marvel at the fact that we were heroes. Though the flames had ravaged our belongings, they had not extinguished the flame of hope that burned within us. And as I reflect on that humbling ordeal, I am filled with a profound sense of gratitude – for the second chance at life, for the bonds that held us together in our darkest hour. For we saved our father! From that moment on, I knew that I must take risks in life.