It was a bright summer morning, and after a hearty breakfast, Cynthia was ready for her daily routine. But today, she had something else in mind.
"Mum?" she called, her voice tinged with urgency.
Her mother, busy washing dishes, paused and turned to her only daughter. "Yes, darling?" she asked, meeting Cynthia's eager eyes.
"Can I go hang out with my friends?" Cynthia pleaded, her face full of hope.
Rosemary sighed. "It's too early for that. You need to study first."
"Mama, please," Cynthia begged, her tone filled with longing.
"Your books first," Rosemary insisted.
"Just this once, and I promise I'll study even more," Cynthia bargained.
Rosemary hesitated, then shook her head with a reluctant sigh. "Alright, just this once."
"Thank you, Mama! I love you!" Cynthia exclaimed, rushing in for a hug.
"I love you more. Now go before I change my mind," Rosemary teased.
"You're the best!" Cynthia beamed, dashing toward the door.
Just as she reached for the handle, her mother called out, "Be careful and be home before lunch!"
"Ok Mum!"
Having successfully convinced her mother to let her go out, she set off, excitement bubbling inside her. Her destination—Jane's house.
She pressed the doorbell. The chime echoed, and within moments, the door clicked open.
"Hello, Cynthia!" Jane's father, Mr. Godwin, greeted with his usual warmth.
"Hi, Mr. Godwin," Cynthia responded, scratching her head. "Is Jane around?"
"Oh yes." He smiled, then turned his head and called out, "Jane! You've got company!"
A faint reply came from inside. "Coming!"
Cynthia rocked on her heels as she waited. Soon enough, Jane appeared, her face lighting up at the sight of her friend.
"Cynthia!" she exclaimed. "I was just about to call you!"
Cynthia laughed. "Looks like I saved you the trouble."
Jane turned to her father. "Dad, we're heading to Lillian's."
"Alright, but be back before lunch," Mr. Godwin reminded.
"Will do!" Jane assured as she stepped outside.
The two friends walked at a brisk pace, eager for their next stop.
"So, what's the plan?" Jane asked.
"I just wanted us all to hang out. Nothing planned, just fun!" Cynthia grinned.
Jane nodded. "Sounds good to me."
They arrived at Lillian's house moments later. Cynthia pressed the doorbell. They heard hurried footsteps inside before the door swung open.
"Hey, hey!" Lillian greeted, beaming. "What a surprise!"
"A good one, I hope?" Cynthia teased.
"The best kind!" Lillian laughed. "Come on in."
The three friends settled in the living room, where Lillian grabbed a bowl of chips.
"So, spill," Lillian said, tossing a chip into her mouth. "What's the agenda?"
"Just hanging out," Jane said. "Maybe a walk to the park later?"
"Oh! We could get ice cream too!" Cynthia suggested.
Lillian gasped in delight. "Yes! The new ice cream stand just opened!"
Jane grinned. "Perfect. Let's make it an adventure."
They spent a few more minutes chatting and snacking before finally heading out. The summer air was warm and inviting, and laughter filled the streets as the three strolled toward the park.
On their way, they passed the ice cream stand. The sweet aroma was too tempting to resist.
"Strawberry for me!" Lillian declared.
"Chocolate, always," Cynthia said.
"I'm going with vanilla," Jane added.
They collected their cones and resumed their walk, chatting about school, family, and silly childhood memories.
Time slipped away, and before long, Cynthia glanced at her phone. "Oh no, I need to be home before lunch!"
Jane chuckled. "Run, Cynthia, run!"
Cynthia was about to dash home when Owen, the neighborhood bully, stormed over.
"You guys are so boring," he sneered. "My mum says I shouldn't hang out with poor kids like you."
Cynthia stood up, her small frame bristling with defiance. "Then why are you here?" "Scram!" she shot back, her voice unwavering despite his size.
Owen narrowed his eyes. "Who are you to tell me what to do?" he snarled, stepping closer.
Jane, one of Cynthia's friends, whispered in her ear, "Ignore him, Cynthia. He's just looking for a fight."
But Cynthia wasn't one to back down. "She said you're a mad fool," she declared loudly, her words dripping with mockery.
Owen's face turned red with anger. He lunged at Jane, but Cynthia stepped in, blocking his path. "You want to fight someone?" "Fight me!" she challenged him.
The fight was quick and chaotic. Cynthia ducked and weaved, her fists flying with surprising precision. Owen, used to intimidating weaker kids, wasn't prepared for her speed and determination. He fell to the ground, clutching his stomach.
But as Cynthia relaxed, thinking she had won, Owen grabbed a broken bottle and hurled it at her. "Cynthia, look out!" Lillian screamed.
The bottle hit her forehead with a sickening thud. Pain exploded in Cynthia's head as blood poured down her face. The world spun around her, and she staggered, barely staying on her feet.
Rosemary was in the kitchen when Lillian burst in, panting. "Auntie!" "Cynthia's hurt—she has been stabbed with a broken bottle!" "She's bleeding a lot!" the girl cried.
Rosemary's heart leaped into her throat. "Where is she?" she demanded, following Lillian to the scene.
Cynthia was sitting on the ground, her face pale, her clothes stained with blood. Rosemary knelt beside her, her hands trembling as she tied a cloth around the wound. "We need to get to the hospital," she said, flagging down a passing cab.
The cab slammed to a halt, tires shrieking against the asphalt in defiance. A cloud of dust curled into the humid night air, swirling under the flickering glow of the streetlights. The silence that followed was brief—tense. The door swung open with a metallic groan.
Inside the cab, Rosemary glanced at her daughter. "I've told you not to fight, Cynthia." "Now look at you!" she scolded, her voice a mix of anger and worry.
Cynthia tried to smile, but the pain was overwhelming. She leaned against her mother, her eyelids growing h
The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead as they stepped into the hospital. The air was thick with the scent of antiseptic, but the nurse at the reception barely glanced up. Her voice was flat, dismissive—routine.
"It's not an emergency," she said, not bothering to check. "Go join the queue."
A hesitation hung in the air. A moment stretched between frustration and urgency. The weight of their arrival, of what was at stake, pressed against the indifference.
Rosemary clenched her fists, her frustration mounting. She guided Cynthia to the queue, holding her steady as they waited. The minutes dragged on, each one feeling like an eternity.
Cynthia's vision blurred. The surrounding sounds faded into a dull hum. She tried to stay upright, but her body betrayed her. With a final, shaky breath, she collapsed into her mother's arms.