It was 2:00 AM.
Everyone was asleep.
But I… was wide awake.
The glow of my phone lit up the dark room.
Endless scrolling. Videos. Messages. Noise.
Nothing meaningful.
I paused for a moment and stared at the screen.
Then a strange thought crossed my mind—
"What am I doing with my life?"
A heavy emptiness settled in my chest.
I had everything… friends, entertainment, distractions.
Yet somehow, I felt nothing.
No peace.
Just silence inside.
Then suddenly—
From the nearby mosque, the call to prayer echoed through the night.
"Allahu Akbar… Allahu Akbar…"
My body froze.
It had been so long…
How long since I last prayed?
Days?
Weeks?
…Or months?
I couldn't even remember.
I slowly sat up.
A quiet fear crept into my heart.
"What if I die today?"
The question hit me like a storm.
My chest tightened.
Tears filled my eyes.
Was I ready?
No.
Not even close.
My life was full of mistakes.
Sins… distractions… chasing a world that would never stay.
And for Allah?
What had I done?
Nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
I lowered my head in shame.
Then another thought came—
"Is it too late for me?"
I didn't know the answer.
But deep inside, a voice whispered—
"As long as you are breathing… it is never too late."
My hands trembled as I stood up.
Step by step, I walked toward the place of ablution.
For the first time in a long time…
I wanted to return.