Question
You are advised to write between 350 and 500 words on the following topic:
He sat staring at the envelope that had arrived in the morning’s post. The postmark on the front said ‘London’. That was where his parents were on holiday, but the envelope looked official. Continue the story.
Model Essay
He sat staring at the envelope that had arrived in the morning’s post. The postmark on the front said ‘London’. That was where his parents were on holiday, but the envelope looked official. The starkness of the white paper and the bold, typed address made his heart race. A sense of foreboding washed over him, mingling with the curiosity that gnawed at his insides.
Michael reached for the envelope with a trembling hand. His parents had been excited about their trip to London, a long-awaited vacation to celebrate their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. They had been sending cheerful texts and photos since they arrived, snapshots of them in front of Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and other iconic landmarks. Everything seemed perfect. Why, then, did this envelope feel like a harbinger of bad news?
He carefully opened the envelope, trying to steady his breathing. Inside was a single sheet of paper, crisp and neatly folded. As he unfolded it, his eyes scanned the heading, and his heart sank further: “British Embassy.”
Dear Mr. Michael Adams,
We regret to inform you that your parents, Mr. and Mrs. John and Emily Adams, have been involved in a serious accident. They are currently in intensive care at St. Mary’s Hospital in London. The embassy has been in touch with the hospital staff and will assist you with any necessary arrangements.
Please contact us as soon as possible at the following number…
The words blurred as tears filled Michael’s eyes. He reread the letter, hoping he had misunderstood, but the stark reality remained the same. His parents were hurt, and they were thousands of miles away.
After a moment of numbness, he sprang into action. He grabbed his phone and called the number provided. A calm, professional voice answered, confirming the details and providing more information about their condition. The embassy official assured him that his parents were receiving the best care possible, but the situation was critical. They also arranged for an immediate visa and flight for him to London.
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Michael packed a bag in a daze, his mind racing with worry and fear. The next few hours were a blur of hasty arrangements, phone calls to family members, and a frantic drive to the airport. As he sat on the plane, staring out at the vast expanse of clouds, he couldn’t shake the feeling of helplessness. All he could do was wait and hope.
The flight seemed interminable, each minute stretching into an eternity. Memories of his parents flooded his mind—his mother’s warm smile, his father’s hearty laugh, their unwavering support throughout his life. He couldn’t imagine a world without them.
Finally, the plane touched down in London. Michael rushed through customs and took a taxi directly to St. Mary’s Hospital. The antiseptic smell, the hushed voices, and the sterile white walls intensified his anxiety.
A nurse guided him to the intensive care unit, where a doctor briefed him on his parents’ condition. They had been involved in a car crash; his mother had sustained multiple fractures, and his father was in a coma. The words hit him like a punch to the gut.
Michael spent the next few days at the hospital, holding his mother’s hand, talking to his unconscious father, and praying for their recovery. The embassy staff were supportive, helping him navigate the foreign healthcare system and providing moral support.
Gradually, his mother began to heal, and one miraculous day, his father opened his eyes. Tears of relief and joy mingled with the sadness and fear that had gripped him. Their recovery was slow, but every small step forward felt like a victory.
In the weeks that followed, Michael realized how fragile life was and how quickly everything could change. The ordeal had brought his family closer, and he vowed never to take them for granted again. The official-looking envelope from London had brought with it a storm, but it had also reaffirmed the strength of their bond and the resilience of their love.
Word Count: 663