On the morning of my medical entrance exam, the day I’d been preparing for my entire life, I woke up in pure panic. I blinked at my phone screen, unable to believe my eyes—every single alarm I had set the night before had mysteriously been turned off. My mind raced as I tried to figure out what had happened.
My heart sank as I saw the time: it was 9:55 a.m., just five minutes before my exam started. I felt like everything was slipping away. But in that desperate moment, someone completely unexpected came to my rescue: my 8-year-old brother, Jason. His courage and quick thinking saved me that day.
Since I was young, I’d wanted to be a doctor. That dream had only grown stronger after my mom passed away from cancer. Losing her had left an emptiness in me, and I wanted to help others facing that battle, to give people the chance my mother didn’t have. I’d poured my heart into studying, staying up late night after night, memorizing facts and solving problems, all for this one exam that could bring me closer to becoming a doctor.
To make sure I’d wake up on time, I’d set three separate alarms. I’d even left my curtains open to let the morning light stream in. Before I fell asleep, I thought of my mother and silently promised her, “I’m going to make you proud.” But that morning, something felt wrong. I opened my eyes, and it was still dark in my room. I grabbed my phone, and my heart froze—it was only five minutes until my exam was set to start, and all my alarms were off.
I raced down the stairs, my mind in a whirlwind. I couldn’t waste time figuring out why the alarms hadn’t gone off. I needed to get to my exam—fast. Frantic, I found my stepmother, Linda, sitting in the kitchen, sipping her coffee leisurely, watching me with an expression that made my stomach churn. “Linda, please! I’m about to miss my exam. Can you drive me?” I pleaded, hoping she’d see how important this was.
But she just gave me a cold, dismissive look, a small smirk playing at her lips. “You’re already late,” she said flatly, barely looking up. “Maybe that’s a sign. Maybe you’re just not cut out for medical school.”
Her words hit me like a slap, but I couldn’t let her put me down. I turned toward the door, determined to run if I had to. That’s when I heard Jason’s small but steady voice. “I know what happened,” he said, stepping forward, his face a mixture of fear and determination.
I looked down at him, confused. He bit his lip and took a breath. “I saw Linda last night,” he said, his voice shaking slightly. “She turned off your alarms.”
Linda’s smirk vanished, her eyes narrowing as she crossed her arms defensively. “You wouldn’t have made it anyway,” she sneered. “Becoming a doctor is a waste of time and money.”
I could hardly believe the cruelty of her actions, but Jason wasn’t done. He squeezed my hand tightly and said, “I called for help.” A second later, we heard the sound of sirens outside, and Jason’s small face lit up with a mix of relief and pride. Two police officers walked in, and Jason explained everything with a courage that left me speechless. The officers recognized the urgency and offered me a ride.
With Jason cheering me on, I climbed into the squad car, and we sped through the city, weaving through traffic as the siren blared. I arrived at the college just in time, breathless but ready. The proctors, seeing my determination, allowed me to sit for the exam. As I took my seat, I felt my mother’s presence beside me, encouraging me, filling me with strength.
After hours of testing, I walked out, exhausted but incredibly relieved. At home, Jason was waiting for me with a proud grin. Together, we told our dad everything. He listened in silence, his face a mixture of anger and sadness. Without hesitation, he turned to Linda and said, “I think it’s time for you to leave.”
Jason had done more than save my exam; he had uncovered the truth and protected our family. In that moment, I realized just how brave he was. Because of him, my dream was still alive, and I knew my mom would have been so proud of both of us.
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