We were on our way to the annual All African Student Convention, held every year in Bloemfontein, South Africa. Students from all over Africa participate in this exciting event, which lasts for five days. There are many events to choose from! There is music, sports, chess or dancing. My school really looked forward to participating every year, and that year 2003, was no exception.

After we settled down, my uncle announced he was going to buy us some pizzas in town. He made it clear, once again, not to do anything out of character. Since we had come by train, I wanted to take a shower. After I dismissed myself, my girlfriends decided to accompany me to my room. One of my friends, Kate*, wanted to take a photo of the whole group before I got into the shower. I said okay. Just before she was about to take the photo, one of my other friends, Lana*, saw a .22 (gun) lying in the corner of the hallway.

Vick and friends after recovery.

{mosgoogle right} Little did I know, that at that moment, when I stood up from the floor... I felt a blow. At first it came softly, like someone hugging me, and then I felt indescribable pain. I started murmuring loudly, trying to calm myself down. I couldn�t think clearly, for I had no idea where the pain had come from. Everything around me was in a blur. When I looked at my left shoulder to see what had caused it, I saw the white bone sticking out�and there was blood everywhere. I kept talking to myself, walking briskly up and down the hallway, thinking that the pain would go away in a minute. But it didn�t. And then I fainted. I was shot without realizing it. I did not even hear the sound of the shot echoing through the hallway. Therefore, I only felt the pain.

When I woke up again, I saw everybody running around me frantically. My uncle had arrived out of nowhere, and was speaking to me softly. �Come, Vicki, we must take you to the doctor to see if it�s serious.� We climbed in the 4x4. Kate was the only one who came with me to the hospital. Because of huge amount of blood gushing out of my arm, we had to stop at a certain point to change the tissues that kept the blood from flowing. Kate tried comforting me, said everything was going to be okay. But still, tears of pain and bewilderment kept flooding out of my eyes.

I stared out of the window, trying to forget the sight of blood. My uncle kept asking Kate what had happened. I didn�t care; I just wanted the pain to go away. Suddenly, I saw for the first time how beautiful the sunset was. I guess it�s in times like these that you think really absurd thoughts. All the time I was thinking my arm was broken or something, for I had no idea there had been a gun involved. That night at about 10 o�clock, for the first time, I heard that I had been shot. The words came from my uncle�s lips after I had tried to convince him that I was fine. It was then that the real shock came over me. I had actually been shot!

The next morning I was operated on. The doctor said I was lucky to have survived. If the bullet had hit me at a point beyond its destination, there would�ve been severe conditions. I could�ve either been paralyzed, dead, or they would�ve had to amputate my arm. I was lucky that the bullet didn�t hit any of my main veins. I was very thankful. And yet�I couldn�t participate in the All African Student Convention anymore. I felt like such a failure, even though it wasn�t my fault that it happened.

I was traumatized for the next few days. I didn�t want to eat, talk, or even sleep. I was still bewildered at what had happened. The shock made me cry all the time. My family had driven through from Worcester to Bloemfontein the night before, just to see me in time before my operation. And yet, I didn�t want them to be there. I wanted to be left alone with my thoughts, my feelings.

In the end my mom sent me to a counselor. I had unanswerable questions racing through my mind. Why did it happen to me, of all people? Why me? Why am I still alive? At times I had thought it would've been better to die. The counselor prayed with me, and for me, and helped me understand everything from a better point of view. Violence does happen when you don't expect it. It�s a part of life. The one thing that I learned was that even though circumstances and events change, it cannot take away one thing from you: your choice on how to react towards it.

There was a lot of forgiveness involved. I had to forgive Lana, the girl who accidentally shot me. I had to forgive my friends for not listening to my uncle�s warning. I also had to forgive myself. I knew that I had to go on with my life with no regrets or bitterness.

After everything, I can now look back and realize that it had changed my life for the better, not for worse. I chose to be positive about it, and not blame people for the sadness in my life. After something like this, you start to realize what really matters in life. Life takes on a new meaning. You look at small things and realize it�s not as bad as it looks.

I am glad this happened to me. Now I can face life with the courage I lacked before. Life will not always be sweet and fun. After all, it�s standing up again that counts, not the falling! I have to make the best of every moment. There is a purpose for my life. Being alive is an honor, which I now embrace with all I've got. Every day is a privilege�just to be able to live life to the fullest.

*Names have been changed to protect those involved.

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skyzllrmyl   |2007-07-06 07:12:40 Hello! Good Site! Thanks you! qyqysnidhdrjbq Reply 0   0

ygtfearhrr   |2007-07-06 07:11:30 Hello! Good Site! Thanks you! qyqysnidhdrjbq Reply 0   0

qruonbszbh   |2007-07-06 07:10:25 Hello! Good Site! Thanks you! qyqysnidhdrjbq Reply 0   0

Valerie   |2007-03-23 07:12:39 God is good..keep up the good work! Reply 0   0

Belinda   |2007-03-23 06:57:29 This is an amazing story with an amazing person...Vicki....you made the right choices ... forgiveness and becoming a better person and not a bitter person! God bless and keep on protecting you! Reply 0   0

Jess   |2007-03-19 21:27:18 Wow, that is such a moving story. I can't believe that actually happened! Reply 0   0

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."