Mag-log inGreg froze in place, his arms still slightly open from the hug.The peaceful garden atmosphere shattered instantly as Keisha’s sharp, furious voice rang out through the flowers and lanterns. “How dare you, Greg!”The words dripped with bitterness and raw hurt.Keisha stood there under the soft glow of the garden lights, her small body shaking with anger.Her fists were clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned pale. Tears shimmered in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall, blinking hard to push them back.Her pretty prom dress suddenly looked out of place on her trembling frame as jealousy burned across her face like fire.She looked betrayed, disappointed, and deeply wounded all at once.Amaya pulled away from Greg quickly, her cheeks flushing bright red with embarrassment. She looked down at the ground, her ponytail falling slightly over one shoulder.The sweet, confident girl from moments earlier now seemed small and uncomfortable. “I… I think I need to go back inside,” she
Greg leaned heavily against the rough stone wall in the quiet garden, his small chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath.His heart pounded wildly, like a drum in his ears. Sweat trickled down his forehead despite the cool night breeze.He kept whispering to himself, trying to calm down. Breathe. Just breathe. No one saw me. I’m safe here.His fingers tightened around his mother’s hairpin, the only thing that made him feel even a little bit strong.Shadows from the tall flowers danced around him under the soft lantern lights, but every rustle made him flinch.Then a gentle voice broke through the silence. "Are you okay?”The voice was incredibly soft, almost like a whisper carried by the wind. It came from behind a cluster of tall, blooming bushes heavy with white and purple flowers.Greg whipped around, raising the hairpin in front of him. His eyes widened in shock as a little girl slowly stepped out into the open.She looked about nine years old, with a neat ponytail tied w
Greg pushed open the door to Keisha’s room with the pair of shiny silver shoes in his hands.The mom had stayed downstairs, giving them space. Keisha sat on the edge of her bed in her pink prom dress, arms folded tightly.“Get out of my room,” she said sharply. “I don’t need your help. I’m not Cinderella, and you are definitely not a prince.”Greg stopped in the middle of the room. “You talk like you run the world. Your mom asked me to help you wear these shoes, can you stop acting difficult?”Keisha stood up. “Difficult? Who do you think you are? Let me remind you of your position! You are nothing but a street boy my mom picked up, and I can wear my own shoes....I don’t need a fake boyfriend who looks like he hasn’t seen a comb in weeks.”Greg stepped closer. “And you act like a big woman when you’re just nine. If you want to make Jordan jealous, you need to look perfect. So sit down and let me help.”“I said no!” Keisha snapped. “This is my room. My house. My prom. You don’t order m
Greg’s small body moved on pure instinct.The second the doorbell rang, terror flooded him like ice water.His eyes widened, breath coming in short, panicked gasps. They found me. Dominic. Grandpa. The police. They’re going to take me away, He thought.He darted down the hallway, sneakers squeaking softly on the tiles, looking for any corner, any shadow to disappear into.His heart hammered so hard he felt it in his throat. Sweat beaded on his forehead despite the cool evening air.In his blind rush, he slammed straight into the woman’s body as she came down the stairs with a dress in her hands. She stumbled back slightly, steadying him with both arms.“Baby, is everything okay?” she asked, voice soft and concerned, eyebrows knitting together.Greg looked up at her, his blue eyes huge and glistening with raw fear, his lower lip trembled uncontrollably.His small hands clutched her sleeves tightly. “I think someone is outside and they’re coming for me,” he whispered urgently, voice cra
The woman led Greg through the dimly lit streets, her hand gently resting on his shoulder.She moved with graceful confidence, her long coat swaying as they walked.Greg kept glancing sideways, his small legs hurrying to match her pace.Every shadow made his heart race. He clutched the strap of his makeshift bag tighter, eyes darting like a cornered animal.They arrived at a modest but elegant two-story house on a quiet residential street, warm lights glowed from the windows.The woman unlocked the door and ushered him inside. “Welcome home..for now,” she said softly, her voice like honey.The moment the door clicked shut, Greg’s survival instincts kicked in.He darted to a side table, snatched his mother’s hairpin, the one with the sharp decorative edge she used to wear in her bun, and spun around.Holding it like a tiny dagger, he pointed it straight at her, his little chest puffing out.His stance was wide, knees slightly bent, trying to look menacing. It was equal parts adorable a
The room erupted in a surreal, ethereal glow, as if the very air had ignited with collective shock. Fluorescent lights flickered wildly overhead, casting an otherworldly halo across the chaos. "Cierra! Cierra!" The screams tore through the space like a primal roar, echoing off the walls, a cacophony of horror and disbelief.Bodies pressed forward, hands reaching out in futile desperation.Cierra staggered, her eyes widening in shock as the bullet's impact slammed into her.She dropped to her knees, blood blooming across her chest like a dark rose. As her body pitched forward, Dominic exploded into motion.He surged through the crowd with raw fury, his fellow officers clawing at his trousers, their shouts blending into the pandemonium.He broke free, and headed before the trembling security guard who had pulled the trigger."I'm so sorry!" the man wailed, hands clasped together, tears streaming down his face. "I swear I did not know what came over me! I thought she was about to run off
Cierra's POVI stood there, frozen.Not because I wanted to...but because my body refused to obey me. My feet felt glued to the tiled floor, my fingers numb, my chest tight, as though something unbearably heavy had settled on my lungs. “Hello, ma’am… are you alright?”The voice startled me.I flin
Cierra's POV “I need to tell you something.”The words finally broke free from my chest just as he lifted his glass, taking the last slow sip of wine like he had all the time in the world. He set it down gently, nodded once, and looked at me with that calm, unreadable expression of his.“Sure,” h
Cierra's POV I watched the man who was meant to be my saviour walk away, his back disappearing into the noise and lights of the club. The space he left behind felt louder than the music itself. And just like that, I was alone with the one man I never wanted to see again.I hissed, my fingers cur
Cierra's POV I could feel my chest tightening as Jamal pulled his hands away from me. His eyes bore into mine, heavy with disappointment, disbelief, and some dangerous edge I had never seen before. I sighed, frustrated beyond measure.“Jamal… I’m so sorry,” I muttered, the words barely escaping m







