Monologue: The Woman Caught In Adultery

I was in my secret place. I was deep in my sin.
How would I know that they would find me?
How would I know that they would expose me!
I stood there with my body bare. I was clothed in shame.
They looked at me with contempt.
They advanced towards me with scorn.
I wanted to run, to hide, to disappear from the face of the earth.
My feet were rooted to the ground.
I was worn down with guilt and disgust for myself.
I wanted to die. I wanted to die.

They spitted at me, yanked my hair, dragged me on the ground.
Where were they taking me to?!

I was dishevelled.
My hair was loose, my lipstick smudged, my mascara discoloured by my tears.
I was covered with dirt and my legs were bruised.

They dragged me to him.
The man whom the whole town was talking about.
The man whose feet no one was worthy to touch.
The man who was the epitome of perfection.

Why were they doing this?!
As I was shoved to his feet, humiliation washed over me.
If he was the clear skies that everyone longed for,
I was the hailstorm that everyone hated.

They started to draw out their handphones.
Were they going to take pictures of me?!
It was utterly humiliating!
I covered my body with my scrawny arms before they could -
"Ka-chick"

It was too late.
The whole town was going to know about my promiscuity.
I buried my face in my hands to stifle my sobs.
Then I felt a large hand rest upon my shoulder.
I lifted my head and I saw him.
The man whose feet no one was worthy to touch.
He caressed my shoulder and blocked me from the cameras.

I was overwhelmed.
I didn't know this man but it felt like he loved me.
I was put in a trance as he uttered a string of words to them.
The next I knew, everyone was gone.
Everyone was gone!
I was vindicated!

He held my face in his tender hands.
"I don't condemn you. Go and sin no more."

About a year later, I received the news that he had passed away.
He didn't die in an accident. He wasn't put to death for a crime he had committed.
He was blameless till his last breath!
He was murdered because, because of me!
Because he forgave me when everyone else condemned me,
Because he embraced me when society hated me,
Because he made my sin, his sin,
They despised him and killed him.

Do I hate myself? Do I feel burdened?
No! He said, "My yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
I am rested. I am made not-guilty.
He lives in me. He lives in me.

Adapted form The Woman Caught in Adultery. (John 8:1-11)

My first playmate

You were my first playmate. My best friend.

I don’t know how it would have felt to have my own Barbie doll as a kid but I sure loved playing with beyblades and racing cars – because it was with you.

You; the one whom I threatened to drown whenever we went for a swim (I would never have done that by the way – just in case you still don’t know!). You; the one whose face I left fingernail marks on when my fingers were itching for revenge. You; the one who made me fume with rage whenever I was caned for hitting you. You; the one whom I stood up for when the little boy at the playground insulted you (I even remember cursing at his mum when she reprimanded both of us!) You; the one who kept on revealing my embarrassing moments in front of my cell group friends. You; the one who made me regret chasing you out of cell group, thinking that you made bad company because of what I did. You; the one who made me worry like never before when you walked out of our villa, into the night, after you fought with Praise. (We were on a holiday in Malacca, and mum and dad were out buying dinner for us. You were less than 12.) You; the one who cried and said sorry for being a mean brother after I got hit by a car. You; the one who made me tear up when I heard that you got a tattoo (yes I did) because I hated the mere idea that you might some day regret.

You were my chief accomplice.

I remember our supermarket missions, stealthily dropping snacks into the trolley but never succeeding at making mum pay for it at the counter. I remember taking turns to play Maple Story (okay fine, I probably hogged the computer most of the time) while helping each other keep watch for mum to return home, signaling that it was time to force-shut the computer and run back to our rooms. I remember talking about all-things-random at bedtime and pretending to be fast asleep the moment dad entered the bedroom. I remember being each other’s dummies, as we practised throwing the kicks and punches of aspiring street fighters (which always ended up as actual fist fights).

I was always the bully. You were that small little boy that always got pinned down by me.

But as you grew, it took me a little more energy to keep you down.

And you grew. It was becoming a challenge.

And grew. I knew I could no longer win.

Yet, I never lost, either. Even when I gave my all in attacking you, I know you always held back – you’d never hurt your sister.

And then you grew so big to the point that fighting became a laughing matter.

Somehow, as we stopped fighting, stopped arguing, stopped “hating” each other, our conversations, too, became shorter and shorter.

You were spending more time outside with your friends, and so was I. As time went by, we gradually matured as individuals, shaped by our own experiences. You probably tried to be in mine (as all younger siblings try to do) but I kept you out. And I, shamefully, didn’t seek to be in yours when it was your turn.

It was only when I heard the stories of what you’ve been through (after emerging from them) that I came to realise how much I’ve missed out from your life.

On your 19^th birthday today, I want to tell you that I’m sorry that I wasn’t there for you during the most trying period of your life – I was preoccupied with my own. Now that we’re already becoming adults, I can only hope that our baby sisters (who in actual fact, are no longer babies) will remain as the best friends that they are today.

I’m sorry that I always take you – and the family – for granted. I don’t remember ever saying this but I love you very much, my brother, my first playmate!