“You sure about this?” Mervin asks.

“Yes,” I nod. “I’ve never been more sure in my life. Social media got me into this; it’s time it got me out.”

I click the ‘submit’ button on my keyboard. Post sent.

“We are the good guys,” I say.

My three best friends nod. We watch as the screen lights up and beeps with alerts and reactions to the post I had just uploaded.

The Time Machine

If I had a time machine, I would go back. Not to last week when everything was fine. I would go back to the Grade 10 me. The one who was trying to figure out who he was. The one who got influenced by modern TV, singers, rappers and the way the people around him spoke. I would go back and tell him to stay true to himself. That putting people down is easy. But being a good guy, being a good human being, is about more than being easy. It’s damn hard.

We hear songs on the radio that disrespect women and we laugh and sing along. This isn’t the way it should be. I admit I was one of those people who said things without thinking of the consequences. But recent events have opened my eyes to the truth. What we say is very important. If we do it wrong, the future generation will think it’s okay to speak and behave this way too.

When I first started to write this post, it was an apology to someone who is dear to me. It turned out to be a lesson in disguise and I hope that everyone out there understands. And it’s because I don’t have a time machine so I can’t go back and undo all those things. I can’t change the past. But what I can change is the future – and that’s what I intend on doing.

From here on out, I will strive to be a better person.

How about you?

“This is beautiful, bro,” Kent says, with tears in his eyes.

“Thanks,” I say proudly. “It came from the heart.”

And I really meant it.

A few months later …

“Hey, JT!”

I’m on my way to the ice-cream cart guy when I turn to see a group of kids calling out to me.

“Hi, guys,” I say, walking over.

“I love your new single!” one of them gushes.

“Wow, thanks! I worked really hard on it and it’s always nice to hear good things.”

“Is it true that it was inspired by love?”

“Yeah,” I admit. “Love for the world, for my fellow people … for the girl I’m seeing.”

They giggle.

“I want to be just like you when I grow up!” another says.

“You know, you shouldn’t try to be anyone other than who you are, kid. Don’t try and imitate or copy what you see on TV. Always stay true to who you are.”

They thank me and we take a few selfies before I go back to getting the ice-cream. Then I take it and walk back to meet Myrah on the beach.

“Your fan club?” she jokes.

“Ha ha. They just wanted some pictures.”

She links her fingers with mine. “Have I told you lately how glad I am to have you in my life, cousin?”

“Oh, no,” I laugh. “Don’t even joke about that. That bartender still shoots daggers at me. If only looks could kill.”

“Well, you did lie to the guy that we’re cousins. He was traumatised after he caught us making out.”

Myrah and I walk on the beach, eating our ice-cream and watching the sunset. I think of new song lyrics to write for my next single. The guys and I are planning to release a full-length album within the next year.

Khanyi has moved on – thank God not with Joseph – and she is quite happy with her new guy. She even forgave me for the list after she saw my post.

Myrah also forgave me after the post.

Mervin finally got a job as a cook in the restaurant that he used to wait tables at. Kent’s still repeating his semester. And he seems in no rush with it! Vusi is now the manager of On The Rocks.

Social media is always there with its nastiness and evils. But it has its good sides too and we’ve come to live with it.

I exhale and release all my negative energy and thoughts. It’s not always easy being good, but it sure is worth it. And hey, Fernando ends up with Estefania.

The only thing we never figured out was what that furry thing running around my apartment was. And I’ll never have to find out because my apartment is always clean now!

God, how I love my life. And this is just the beginning!

*****

Tell us: How easy is it for you to admit you’ve done wrong and apologise ‘from the heart’? Do you agree that a heartfelt apology can change a situation around?