That Strange Day- Devinandana

What do you fear the most?

Some people fear injections, heights, ghosts, or animals but In my case, I used to fear going anywhere alone or even being alone. This fear entered my life when I was around 8 years old. It happened during a bus journey with my mom and grandmother.

We were traveling together when suddenly our stop arrived. I got off the bus first, but when I turned back, neither my mom nor grandmother was behind me. I stood there, confused, shocked and unsure of what to do. I searched for familiar faces in that crowd but all I could find was strangers. After about a minute, a random man came up to me and asked if I was lost. I didn’t respond—maybe I was too shocked or scared to speak.

The next thing I remember is that he grabbed my hand and started leading me toward another bus. Strangely, I went with him without thinking much about it. As we approached the bus, I suddenly heard someone calling my name from far away. I turned around, and to my relief, I saw my mother and grandmother running toward me like they were in a race.

The moment they reached me, I broke down in tears—and I cried for the rest of that day. I couldn’t even remember what the man had said or why I went with him so easily. Since that day, I developed a deep fear of buses and bus stops. I couldn’t bear the thought of traveling without my mom. The incident traumatised me. What scared me even more was seeing my mom cry as she hugged me tightly. That was the moment I began to realise how serious the situation was, and how dangerous it could have been if they hadn’t found me in time.

As the years passed, I decided I didn’t want this fear to control me forever. After the COVID pandemic, I finally found the courage to travel alone on a bus. That small fear that haunted me for so long slowly started to fade, though even now, when I stand at a bus stop, the memory sometimes flashes through my mind. But today, I see that experience differently. It was a moment that taught me how unpredictable and real the world can be, and how important it is to stay aware of our surroundings.

We all carry fears—some big, some small—but every experience, even the frightening ones, can lead to growth. They shape us, teach us, and give us the strength to face life with a little more courage.