[Source](https://pixabay.com/photos/a-woman-in-business-mom-2773023)
Mrs Roselyn, my next door neighbour, was my hero. Her courage, bravery and kindness was one of the things I liked about her. I looked up to her ever since I was a kid. To me she wasn't just my next door neighbor, she was my mentor.
I remember one night when I was a kid. A fire broke out and the people screamed and shouted as one of the buildings caught fire. There was panic in the air. Nobody knew what to do. A toddler was trapped inside. They called the fire department but it would take about forty minutes for them to get there. And time wasn't on our side, especially for that little baby in there. The parents of the child cried profusely begging for anyone that could help them save their baby.
Mrs Roselyn, courageous as ever, dashed into the fire, not caring about being burned. Carried the little child in her arms with a blanket she used to cover herself and the child.
People cheered on and praised her. She had saved that life. The parents of the child couldn't be more happier. I remember thinking as a child that she was my hero. Heroes did exist, just they do not wear capes.
As I grew older, I admired her ways. She became my inspiration. Whenever I am faced with a difficult situation. I would remember what she always said. "Courage isn't not being afraid. It's moving on despite being afraid". It guided me through life. I would remember how calm and controlled she always was in the midst of tension and difficult circumstances and I would try to mimic those moments.
However, things changed one hot sunny afternoon. I had just come back from school and the compound was unusually crowded. Police vans and vehicles were parked outside the gate. I scrunched my eyebrow in confusion. I walked inside the compound, Mrs Roselyn's apartment was barricaded. Police gathered outside her house.
I rushed to the crowd, pushing past them until I met one of the police officers. "What's going on here" I demanded
The young man shook his head solemnly, "Mrs roselyn had been arrested for murder. Apparently, she killed a man that worked downtown"
"What! how? When?" I asked all at once.
The officer bored me and continued barricading the front of the apartment.
It felt like my world was crushing underneath me. My hero, a murderer? How? I thought to myself as I stood there unmoving. The same woman that entered into a fire to save a toddler, or was it the same woman that would go out of her way to help cross the elderly along the streets. The same woman that would always give to the community and orphanages. I couldn't believe my ears.
The days that followed didn't get any better. The news reporters painted her black. I couldn't stand to listen to them anymore so I turned off my television. Wherever I went, I would hear the news. It was everywhere, on the radio, people talked and gossiped about it. I became emotionally weak. I knew Mrs Roselyn couldn't do something like that. Something must be wrong somewhere. However, I couldn't stop the flicker of doubt that crossed my mind occasionally. The stories and evidence all pointed to her.
One evening, I stayed at the cafe close to the community's station. Sipping my coffee slowly, as I thought about all that had happened these past few weeks. Then I overheard a conversation between a lawyer and a journalist seated a few feet in front of my table.
" She didn't do it," I heard the lawyer say.
I leaned in forward in my seat, stretching my ears to hear more
"Mrs Roselyn was threatened to take the fall for a crime she didn't commit to save her only daughter, Anna."
What? I scrunched my eyebrow, deep in thought. Could this truly be true?
The next morning, Mrs Roselyn was released from jail. The news had flown across the whole town. Once again, people began talking about it.
As she walked into the compound. I ran up to her and hugged her deeply. She chuckled a bit and hugged me back.
"What really happened?" I asked curious.
" I had to save my only daughter, they threatened to kill her if I didn't take the fall for that crime. I had no other choice, "she said with tears.
I hugged her again for a few seconds, trying to comfort her.
"I'm glad, the truth was finally revealed " I said
"Me too," she replied.
After that I viewed it, my respect for Mrs Roselyn doubled by two. She was no indeed a hero. Someone who would go at any length for the people they care about. She was not just courageous and brave, but also selfless, wise and unrelenting.
Mrs Roselyn had shown me that sometimes heroes did not wear capes. They weren't also void of fear. They were just ordinary humans who did miracle things.
