The man puffed on his cigarette, and as he smiled, his awful teeth became evident. The smoke curled into my nostrils and I tried ignoring it. I looked at his despicable face, my helpless body in front of him.

He inserted his hand into his pocket and immediately, I yelled, “Please don’t shoot!”

It was my last day in Kuala Lumpur. The city was a mesmerising place, filled with endless greenery all over. The locals were extremely warm and hospitable, and it wasn’t stressful at all moving around the city due to the efficient public transport network. I sat on the MRT, which is KL’s metro, and it was spotless and not congested at all. There were the double-decker buses too, which would take tourists to all the major attractions in the city, such as the Petronas, Merdeka 118, the King’s Palace, Berjaya and so on.

Once again, I found myself walking amidst the bustling Jalan Alor market right beside my hotel. It was located in the heart of KL, in its commercial district, which contained many of Malaysia’s skyscrapers and business hubs. The aromas emanating from the stalls and numerous shops in Jalan Alor wafted into my nose, prompting me to take a look.

There was a whole lot of seafood and fresh fruit on the menu. I didn’t try the famous durian; however, I did sit down to feast on a lobster, along with some soup noodles and a tropical drink.

My mouth began to water as I set my eyes on the marvellous meal in front of me. I quickly ate to my fill.

As I waited for the taxi on the roadside, my attention was directed to a man who appeared broke and helpless. My heart softened for him as I saw him lying on a bench, and it seemed he was half dead. I approached him and fumbled in my pocket for some Ringgits.

Suddenly, the man leapt from the bench, as energy surged through him in an instant, and he snatched the money and gave me a nasty blow in my abdomen. Everything began losing colour and the world quickly faded away.

A horrid stench emanated and as I struggled to open my eyes. The man grinned, his awful teeth evident. His rotten hand stretched into his pocket.

I yelled, “Please, don’t shoot!”

I tasted blood but made a run for it. A burst of gunfire erupted and without warning, my head snapped back. I fell unconscious instantly.

When my eyes opened, I saw immense beauty around me, as if I had suddenly been transported to a majestic place.

I could see the open air, the earthy smell, birds chirping and no traffic noise. I noticed some familiar faces, too.

Just then, I felt a sharp pain in my head. I slowly got up, holding my head. Someone held me from my shoulders; I turned and saw Mum.

She said, “My child, you are back in Hala, safe and sound!”

Instantly, serenity washed over me, for I was back in my birthplace.

Published in Dawn, Young World, February 21st, 2026