A note for the thief

Dear Uncle,

I dont know you, and you dont know me. The moment that we shared, its only a fraction of seconds; but enough to leave a lasting memory in my mind.

I saw you coming, but never did it cross my mind that you would be the one who will take my phone away from me. Never have I thought of you as someone who would commit such an ugly act. I only see you as some random chinese uncle in ragged cloth, on a red bike on his way to start his day.

I only see you as an ordinary person, though one struggling with life, in your own way.
But you disappointed me.
You destroyed my hopes in humanity, you shattered my faith in any ordinary stranger.

I guess I can only sum it up as a lesson in life, and you are the teacher.

I remember your face. I remember the clothes you are in. I remember the colour of your motorcycle. I remember you are wearing a white helmet, and I remember how you made me feel.

...

The only comfort I can find is that maybe you are just a very poor person who needed some cash to get through the chinese new year. Maybe you needed that extra cash to buy that one pants which will put a smile on your son's face. Or maybe it is all you needed to pay off your long-overdue rent that you need to resolve else you and your whole family will be chased out in this festive season. Or maybe, you needed the cash to pay for a debt for someone you cared deeply about.

Maybe you need the money more than me.

Maybe God has his way of blessing others through these kind of tragedy.

These are all I can think about to keep myself calm, and perhaps resign to my fate.

Then I remembered, the look on your face.

It's cold. It's hard. It's like I am staring at a wall.

Maybe its your first rodeo, but your face told me so much more.

I can't see any remorse on your face.

Maybe, you are used to do this. Maybe, this is your way of life.

...

Ever since that day I keep wondering what are you doing with my phone.

Would you be finally bringing a warm meal to the table for your family, making this the happiest CNY ever for your family, a sweet memory for your wife and kids.

Or, would your blood be drown in alcohol, as you abuses your wife and kids just because you lost all your money from another round of gambling?

Owh God please let it be the first one.

...

I am sorry.

Maybe the world had treated you harshly.

That's why you ended up where you are.

And that's why you needed to take something from me

I am sorry the world hasnt been fair for you,
but it doesn't justify what you do.
what you took away from me in a split second,
costs me a few months to recover,
and not to mention the memories, that wont come back forever.

So I hope it's worth it.
I believe in Karma,
and I believe in life after death.

I really hope for your sake that what you've done is worth it.