Conviction

\kən-ˈvik-shən\ Noun: A strong persuasion or belief; The state of being convinced

Allow me to recite a small incident from the days of yore. This one is straight out of my 1998 Diary:

x - o - x - o

It happened during our Std 8^th half yearly exams. It was the Mathematics paper. I and my best girl (I'll just call her J), had been allotted the same room and J was sitting diagonally across me in the adjacent column.

Now as you can see we were sitting quite close. I finished my paper (comparatively) pretty early. I was revising the sheets when J signalled she needs some help. I never cheated in exams... and now I was in a dilemma... because if I liked someone it was her. But I wanted her to do it all by herself.
I didn't help her! 

Ultimately, she went and submitted the paper before time, even before me. I'll remember her dejected, sad expression for ever. But my act made me realize one thing: I cared for J in 1992. I might've hurt her, and I didn't feel too great on my act, but now I realize how much it means... I'm glad I cared for her. That's why I didn't help her. But that helped both of us become better persons!

x - o - x - o

Postscript: 

1. J & I remain best of friends today. She has gone on to become a Post Graduate Doctor in Radiology and also an absolute gem of a person.
2. After the Std 8^th results were declared, she thanked me for not helping her. She bagged the second rank in class. The topper of that exam just wrote this blog.