Question
You are advised to write between 350 and 500 words on the following topic:
The main character in your narrative has accidentally broken a very valuable item at a neighbour’s house. Using the title ‘The Lie’, write the beginning of this story.
Model Essay
The Lie
It was supposed to be a routine visit to the neighbor’s house, a simple gesture of goodwill to check in on Mrs. Thompson, who lived alone and often appreciated company. Sarah had decided to bring her beloved cat, Whiskers, with her to Mrs. Thompson’s house, thinking that the elderly woman would appreciate the company.
As soon as Sarah stepped into the elegantly furnished living room, Whiskers, ever the curious feline, began to explore his new surroundings. In his playful antics, Whiskers accidentally knocked into a precarious stack of books on a nearby shelf, setting off a chain reaction that sent an antique vase toppling to the ground.
Standing in the center of the room, surrounded by delicate porcelain figurines and ornate vases, Sarah froze as her gaze settled on the shattered remnants of what had once been a priceless antique vase. The pieces lay scattered across the polished hardwood floor, glinting ominously in the afternoon sunlight streaming through the window.
“Oh no,” Sarah whispered under her breath, her stomach twisting into knots as she realized the gravity of the situation. How could Wishkers have been so careless? How could she have let this happen?
As panic threatened to overwhelm her, Sarah’s mind raced, desperately searching for a solution to the mess she had unwittingly created. She couldn’t afford to replace the vase, not on her modest salary as a freelance writer. And she certainly couldn’t bear the thought of facing Mrs. Thompson’s disappointment and anger.
In a moment of desperation, Sarah’s eyes darted around the room, searching for any sign of a solution. And then, like a beacon of hope, her gaze landed on a small table tucked away in the corner of the room. On it sat a small silver frame, holding a faded photograph of Mrs. Thompson’s late husband, a renowned artist who had passed away several years ago.
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An idea began to form in Sarah’s mind, a plan so audacious and reckless that she could hardly believe she was considering it. But as she surveyed the shattered pieces of the vase strewn across the floor, Sarah knew that she had no other choice. She had to do something, anything, to make this right.
With trembling hands, Sarah knelt down and began to carefully gather the broken fragments of the vase, her heart pounding in her chest with each delicate movement. As she worked, she couldn’t shake the feeling of guilt that gnawed at her conscience, the knowledge that she was about to deceive Mrs. Thompson in order to cover up her own mistake.
But as Sarah pieced the vase back together as best she could, she couldn’t deny the sense of relief that washed over her. Maybe, just maybe, Mrs. Thompson wouldn’t notice the damage, or would assume that it had been broken by some other means. And if she asked, Sarah could always come up with some plausible explanation, some convincing lie to deflect suspicion away from herself.
With a heavy heart and a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach, Sarah stood up and surveyed her handiwork. The vase was far from perfect, its delicate form marred by jagged cracks and missing fragments. But from a distance, it looked almost whole, a testament to Sarah’s desperate attempt to cover up her mistake.
Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, Sarah turned to leave with Whiskers in her arms, her mind already spinning with excuses and justifications. But as she reached for the doorknob, a voice from behind her stopped her in her tracks.
“Sarah, is everything all right?”
Word Count: 597