June 5, 2004

Samira was a pretty girl around 13 years of age. She was smart, fun and very popular in her school and her neighbourhood. She often walked home from school, as it was just a few blocks away.

One day while walking home from school she decided to take the long way home through the park, since she loved nature. In the park she noticed a young boy of about seventeen. He had a dazed expression and was grinning goofily. Tiny sparkling bags, apparently full of sweets, surrounded him. Curious she walked up to him and said, “Hi! I’m Samira, who are you?” Still grinning stupidly he replied, “I am Ali.”

“What are those?” she asked pointing towards the bags.

Ali took one look at all the bags and sighed contentedly, “This, my friend, is bliss!”

“Bliss?” Asked Samira confused.

“Have you ever felt angry, sad or depressed?” Ali asked, all of a sudden.

“Yeah of course!” replied Samira.

“But I don’t!” Said Ali. Then noticing her confused expression, explained himself, “See I had days when I was down and angry, then one of my friends gave me this magical ‘Bliss’. You want some? I have plenty,” said Ali.

Samira, being smart, had an idea what he was talking about, but she said cautiously, “Let me see”.

Ali handed her a sparkling bag and peering down inside she saw plenty of little pills. “Those are drugs!” she exclaimed vehemently.

“So what? They changed my life and they could change yours!” said Ali, defending himself. “Come on, try one, Samira!”

“Errr no,” she said, and ran away. But she could not take her mind off poor Ali. She knew he would die if no one stopped him, but she knew if she went to see him again, she would be tempted to use the drug. It did sound magical.

She pondered over this for weeks and after a long time she decided she would force Ali to go to a rehabilitation centre. Hurriedly, she rushed to the park and went to the place where she first saw Ali, but Ali was not there; he was nowhere to be seen. She asked the guard about him to which he replied, “He’s dead ma’am. He died last week. Turns out his body was filled with poison from the sweets he was eating.”

Samira’s eyes filled with tears. She could have stopped him, ended his crazy obsession. Just then she noticed another girl sitting with an expression just like Ali’s. Samira would help her; in fact, she would help every needy person she ever meets in her life. “Ma’am are you ok?” Asked the guard.

Walking towards the girl, Samira replied, “Never felt better,” and headed forward to change someone’s life.

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