Never Too Late

by Tracy Ma

It started one day with an argument at the factory.

I don’t recall what the argument was about, but I suppose it was because of a mix of frustration, heat, and dust. People were complaining about low wages and the poor condition of the factory. I couldn’t take it anymore, so I escaped.

I took a seat on a nearby bench and tried to redirect my thoughts. The thought that occupied my mind was a memory—a childhood memory. I found myself retracing a familiar path for a while until I reached a forest. Not just any forest, but the one where my best friend and I used to play in all the time. The sight that greeted me was not what I remembered.

Everything had changed.

As I stood on a small mound of bricks, I took in the transformed environment. Where once stood a thriving forest, now stood only slim, scattered trees too worthless to cut down. Their leaves, instead of bright green, seemed pale yellow, struggling to survive in this desolate environment. The forest floor, once carpeted in moss, was now covered with “biodegradable” bags that society thought had no impact. The places that had soil were marked by deep tracks left by heavy equipment.

The air once carried a scent of fresh flowers and pine needles, a sign of beauty that had no longer been known to the world. Now, however, the aroma was replaced by a sharp smell of chemical residues. It stung my nose and itched my throat with each breath I took. Wherever I went, I saw no signs of wildlife. Maybe they were too scared and ran away, or there was simply none left. I noticed how the colours of the ecosystem changed; from vibrant greens to a more depressed, damaged look. Even the sky was no longer the same blue I remembered. Other than the constant hum of heavy machinery, it was eerily quiet. I left the “forest” and walked over to the river.

There I stood, trying to see my reflection through the oil-coated water. Back then, my best friend and I would launch our little boats in this river and watch it go down the river—back when the water wasn’t clogged with industrial waste.

I missed those times, but I knew it was impossible to return to the past.

We can’t undo what we’ve done. Humanity has gone too far; we can’t go back.

I looked at the barren land one last time before returning home.

I woke up to the sound of blaring horns and idling cars.

I rubbed my eyes and prepared for another day of exhausting work with a cup of instant coffee in hand.

I couldn’t stop thinking about the memories my best friend and I had at the river and forest. It was the first time I’d thought about things other than paying bills.

My routine continued instinctively: shower, dress, grab breakfast, and put on a mask. Outside, the city buzzed with activity.

I started to notice things.

The sidewalks were crowded with people and unattended, overfilled trash bins. The roads were filled with idling cars and trucks. The air was thick with the smell of gasoline and smoke.

I went back to the forest.

This was the norm. I was used to it, but somewhere in me, I didn’t like it. I didn’t want my life to be like this. I wanted cleaner streets, breathable air, and a sense of connection to nature that was increasingly unreal. But the size of the city made change feel discouraging, almost impossible.

No one cared anymore. I haven’t seen an environmental campaign in decades.

I looked along the riverbanks and caught myself staring at a clump of greenery, barely clinging to life. Nearby, I saw another patch. And another. And another until I was looking at a small patch of greenery. In the middle, saplings started to take root.

I was amazed at nature’s resilience in this barren environment.

Bees buzzed from flower to flower, ants gathering bits of waste to build a nest, and butterflies fluttered in the air, their wings full of colour.

I began by picking up the trash along the riverbank, one piece at a time. It wasn't much, but it was a start.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months.

Slowly, others noticed and joined in. Some cleaned up, while others planted trees. Our actions started to make a difference. The river began to clear up, and the saplings grew taller. The air felt a little fresher, and the sky a bit bluer.

The community came together, each person doing their part to clean up. We planted trees and organised clean-ups.

The forest began to come back to life. The ecosystem healed, and wildlife returned.

We have proven that it's never too late to make a difference.

We can't undo the past, but we can shape the future.