That evening I left work quite late, my boss had pushed me to my limits once again, always eager to exploit my dedication and crush my spirit. The relentless grind left me drained, but it was something I had grown used to.
The clock had already struck noon, and the unforgiving sun beat down mercilessly in the midst of that scorching summer. I had no means of transportation my car had been reduced to an unrecognizable wreck a while back. Miraculously, I had escaped without a scratch, but my beloved car lay in pieces at the repair shop, where it seemed destined to stay for a while longer, as they had a backlog of work.
The walk home should have taken a mere 30 minutes if I were running – but let's just say my stamina wasn't exactly Olympic-level. On foot, it stretched into a gruelling hour-long journey under the scalding sun.
Close to my workplace stood a small shop, owned by my dearest friend, Mike. He had been my rock during the darkest times of my life, always there for me. Whenever I passed by, I couldn't resist going in, not just for the sweets, but for the comforting presence of a friend. You see, I became an only child at 7 and parentless at 19 everything went wrong after that.
Now, I live a decent life, but when my mom passed, I was utterly devastated. I withdrew from the world, losing touch with most of my friends. Mike, however, never gave up on me. He played a pivotal role in helping me get back on my feet. He convinced me to reenroll in university, pushing me toward a brighter future. Mike was not just my closest friend; he was the only friend I needed.
I inherited a considerable sum, but Ive always hesitated to use it. I feared that by spending it, I might forget them. What would I have left to remember them by? Nothing tangible, I know. It might sound strange – money isn't the typical way to remember one's parents. But to me, it represented their lifelong dedication and sacrifice to provide me with a better life. They were the cornerstone of my existence, and I couldn't bear to part with that symbolic connection.
I entered the shop, my sweet tooth acting up once again. I needed something sweet, even though the doctor had repeatedly warned me to cut down on my sugar intake, predicting future problems. But I couldn't help myself.
As I scanned the shelves, I bypassed the beverages and salty snacks, focusing solely on my craving for some sweet, sweet candy. That's when Mike spotted me.
(He wore an angry expression, his gaze piercing like a thousand knives.)
"Antonyyyyyy!!!!!!! Don't you dare!!!!" He scolded me with exasperation in his voice. "We've told you a million times to stop indulging in so many sweets. Are you a kid? You know the doctor warned you that you're pushing your limits. Knock it off!"
"But... but you know I have a sweet tooth."
"Sweet tooth, my ass."
"Just one, Mikey, pleaseeeee, you're my friend, right? I'll eat it slowly; I won't finish it in a single day."
"THAT'S WHAT YOU SAID LAST TIME!!!!"
"Pleaseeee!!!"
"FINE, DO WHATEVER YOU WANT, BUT DON'T FORGET THIS IS THE LAST TIME!!!!!"
"Thanksssssss."
His face seemed to calm down, most of the anger dissipating.
"How are you, Mikey?"
His face lit up with joy.
"My son finally graduated."
"When was that? Why didn't you tell me something so important?!!!!!!??"
"Well, uhm, I forgot. Sorry."
His face wore a regretful smile.
"Okay, forget it. What does he want to do? Has he thought about it?"
He looked preoccupied.
"He's unsure and agitated. He wants to try applying for computer engineering, but he's scared. He doesn't know if he'll be able to do it or not."
"Tell him he shouldn't be scared. He's a smart boy; he can do it. Don't think about failing, just press on, and he'll be fine."
Mike seemed to lighten up, his preoccupation fading.
"Thanks a lot. I'll tell him. I'm sure it will cheer him up."
I passed him the bag of sweets.
"The bag will be 50 dollars, please."
Mike grinned slyly, and Antony was so shocked his jaw nearly hit the floor.
"Wtf, that's a scam."
"Well, my Antony, this is to ensure you don't buy them anymore. If you buy healthy things, I'll give them for free."
He had a smug look on his face.
"Greedy bastard, take it."
He turned to walk away.
"Thank you for the patronage!!!"
Antony left the shop, hearing Mike's laughter. He started to laugh as well, opening the sweet bag and taking out two candies. He couldn't resist the allure of that sweet, sweet, godly nectar.
He set out for home as the sun began its descent, casting a warm, golden hue on the now less crowded streets.
Approaching a crosswalk, he paused as the traffic light glowed red.
Then, he noticed a little girl walking toward him. With her sparkling blue eyes, chestnut hair, and a one-piece dress in the same shade as her sparkling eyes, she was an embodiment of cuteness that could melt anyone's heart.
"Hello, mister. I'm Annie. What's your name?" Her voice was like a cheerful melody, instantly lifting his spirits.
"Hello, Annie. I'm Antony."
"Can I help you with something?"
Annie blushed, her face lighting up with a question she seemed hesitant to ask.
"You can tell me anything; don't be shy," Antony reassured her.
Annie's face brightened further. "Mister, can I have one, pleaseeee?"
Antony was taken aback by the request. His conscience nudged him to give her the entire bag, realizing it wasn't the healthiest choice for him anyway. After a moment's hesitation, he relented.
"Okay, Annie, why not? I shouldn't eat them anyway. Take them all; it'll free me from this sweet burden."
For a brief moment, Annie's face lit up as if a thousand suns had burst into radiance, but soon, a hint of sadness crept in.
"Why can't you eat them, mister?"
Annie's genuine concern touched Antony deeply. This little angel was sad because of his problems and genuinely interested in understanding his predicament. For him, it was a heartwarming conversation with a newfound friend, even if she was a little girl.
"Well, little Annie, here's a piece of advice: you shouldn't always listen to your sweet tooth too much. I listened too much to mine, and now I have problems. My sweet tooth was too powerful, and it overpowered me."
Annie burst into laughter. "Mister, you're very funny."
Antony handed her the bag of sweets, and she was about to begin crossing the crosswalk.
She paused, turned back for a moment, deep in thought, and then spoke again.
"Mister, can you promise me something?"
"Of course, I can."
"Please don't eat too many sweets."
"Okay, sweetie, I won't. It's a promise."
With a warm smile, Annie waved at him and continued crossing the street.
"GODBYE, MISTER! IT WAS FUN MEETING YOU!!!!!!!!"
In the distance, Antony spotted a speeding car. His heart raced as adrenaline surged through him. Acting on pure instinct, he dashed toward Annie, his heart pounding. With a final leap, he shielded her in his arms just in time. Relief washed over him, he had reached her in time, and she was safe. But then the impact came, and his breath was cut short. Pain overwhelmed him, rendering him unable to scream. Every part of his body ached as he felt the fall and the excruciating pain.
He began to burn up, his bones shattered, and he couldn't even open his eyes. He desperately wanted to know if Annie was okay, but his strength was fading fast. He still held her in his arms but couldn't move.
Amidst the pain, he heard screams growing louder.
"WHO THE... TAUGHT YOU HOW TO DRIVE!!!!!!!!!"
One of the bystanders screamed at the driver, further increasing Antony's pounding headache. He wished the man would stop shouting but couldn't find the strength to speak.
Another passerby chimed in, "We might be able to save them; call an ambulance. DON'T LET THE BASTARD ESCAPE; PIN HIM DOWN!!!!"
"Serves him right; she was clearly in front of the car. He didn't even try to stop."
"He's in bad shape; he tried to shield her, but she's just a child. Her body couldn't withstand the force of the impact."
Antony was perplexed. He had saved her; she should be fine. What had gone wrong? Even if he hadn't completely stopped the impact, she shouldn't be in bad shape.
"Annie!! ANNIEEE!!!!!!!"
A woman's voice, presumably Annie's mother, filled Antony's ears. He wished he could apologize for not saving her, but he couldn't speak.
As the voices and pain began to fade, Antony managed to open his eyes, only to find himself engulfed in pitch-black darkness.