One day in October, five people sat around the table in the dining room to celebrate Margaret’s sixth birthday. It should have been a special day but the specialty would be elevated to another undesirable level.8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡxF6eBAt8ke 維尼
The scent of happiness diffused around the room. Well, that how she perceived it. Everybody looked so innocent to the unwelcome incoming incident.8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡaftvDxpEHG 維尼
In front of the mountains of cakes was the girl with the curly blonde hair and deep green eyes. That was Margaret. The Stephens shared the same type of golden locks and green eye shades of jade gemstone.8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rKYpFXLeQ 維尼
This is the best day ever, thought she. Children always love party, sweets, and gifts, Margaret was no different. Her parents knew how to satisfy their children. Dad and Mom bought her the new released doll house that every girl in the school might have no chance to own it yet and Margaret would be the first one who showed them who was the real boss. The little girl imagined how her friends surrounding just to take a look at the new toy, still forgot that it was impossible to bring the dollhouse to the school. The most significant fact was the school would not allow her doing it. But the girl was so proud to be the first owner of this toy and forgot this rule. Molly, the big sister, brought her Princess necklace which was very lovely on her princess's costumes that her parents had bought for her last week. The only one who did not have to give her anything was Little Mary, her one-year-younger sister.8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡIx2O1oYnrA 維尼
About a meter away from the dining table, the clear voice of a woman sounded from the television in the wooden frame with the antenna standing on top.8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70CWT9sWbM 維尼
“Good evening, welcome to Cecilia’s Talk. During this dinner, I’m sure you cannot even just sit still because our guest today is Dr. Claster Deans, the Associate Professor of the law school of Hemsworth who heated up the current political situation. Hello, Dr. Deans.”8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaEElAt8Ro 維尼
“Hi, lovely Cecilia.”8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡufzePdIdp9 維尼
“Let’s talk about your article on the 122nd issue of Hemsworth Journals, on page 22-25. (She showed the journal to the spectators.) You declared your opposition against the Surveillance and Control of the Risks to Humankind Act 2966. Many people admired your work so much and how brave you are to speak it out. Me too. (“Thank you!” Dr. Deans said with pride.) Dear my fans in this live show and the home spectators, this article becomes the talk of the town as it has been published. (Her melodic voice totally attracted Margaret’s attention.) Dr. Deans, you’re saying that this law is against our liberation and human rights…”8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡ519wl3Yo16 維尼
“Dad, turn the TV off. We’re going to sing the song for little Meg,” Molly, aged sixteen, requested (with the reproachful look). Instead of following her order, her father just turned the volume down. He loved to watch the show and often claimed that Cecilia, the TV host, was “smart girl! She’s my classmate.”8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSqZ4fgCOU 維尼
And even six-year-old girl knew that Mom did not like how he demonstrated his adoration to the woman in TV. Moreover, Molly loved to jab her parents by making the joke that Cecilia was his first crush and Mother would be upset.8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzoqhhJMR0 維尼
Margaret licked the sauce on the corner of her mouth, still hearing the voice from the TV.8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0omUmSXr1I 維尼
“…well, we must consider the word to call these people carefully. ‘The Risk’, why do we call them the Risk? They are the same as us but gained or already have some special skill that the science today still looks for the answer. Yeah, that’s the reason why the laws have been enforced, the unexplainable situation. The question is what makes them special? I won’t talk about any religious belief or any side effect from chemical effects that may cause the mutation or even about the change in the DNA. It’s too imaginative but possible as well. 8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVChMLRbzJ 維尼
My point is how we value them. We might not found the answer yet but it’s not the reason we dehumanize these people. The fact is there are many people who are talented or own special skill in something and it’s not bizarre or scary. Why do we regard them as the threat to mankind? Why are we treating them like a fearful disease when they’re not? It’s like you are very skillful in painting or singing, or think about some odd ability we always see on TV shows or the circus. Perhaps, this is how we evolve as humans. According to the history, human keeps evolving physically and mentally. Think about it. Or not, why consider it’s just a very unique gift.”8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwgCBqx0LV 維尼
“…Happy Birthdaaay-tooooo-youu,” they nearly ended the song together, except her father who still glanced at the TV screen with eager interest so he hummed the song like an old vacuum cleaner.8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0264oRG3V3 維尼
“So you think that they are not sick people. There are the same as us? They deserve the human right as same as normal people.”8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡct3NUemNjn 維尼
“Of course, they are the same and own the right to….”8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDQNqpFk5k 維尼
While her father returned the attention to her, Margaret took a quick look at the television to check if he did turn off but amazingly, the screen turned off itself.8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7q8tOWNKfS 維尼
“Make a wish Meg and be careful of your wish.” The girl stopped watching the TV and peered at the cake before her face. “If you wish to have no school tomorrow, it will not be granted for sure. God loves good children and good children love school,” said Molly making everyone laugh.8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJfBLwQ9sA 維尼
What kind of the wish was she thinking of? To be like this forever, with daddy, mommy, Molly, and Mary, yes, I wish everything will be as good as today. The girl made the wish and blew the candles. Unfortunately, Margaret’s wish could not be true. Never. The black shadow had stood at the front door. The end of her happiness came too soon.8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3vHn1P4k6 維尼
As she made the wish, the bell rang. Mom frowned.8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9t1mNiTE7U 維尼
“Oh, they cease the broadcast already.” Dad cried.8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bP6YX3ghu 維尼
“No surprise. Darling, you have to find your new favorite channel. Say goodbye to your Cecilia. She’s doom.” Mom told him merrily without a single regret but satisfaction and she walked to the front door.8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBV7lSN66W 維尼
The little girl smiled at the cake and moved her index finger at the bottom cream then licked her finger.8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KvU4l1pyU 維尼
“Hey, that’s not nice.”8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbQm1ztmpH 維尼
She made her eyes pleading with the big sister.8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFbUAjqJl7 維尼
“No, I’m not Daddy. Where’re you going?”8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0GrdhO7QK 維尼
They lifted their head to look at Mr. Stephen. “It’s quiet. I go check your mom.”8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnJRK0Md9M 維尼
Margaret waited for a minute then jumped out of the chair. The age of curiosity, the girl ran to the hallway and hid the tiny body behind the giant ceramic jar.8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡWuTS3OlHWs 維尼
Two police in navy blue uniform were talking with her parents.8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡiR5c916VLX 維尼
“Please, ma’am. Let we talk with Molly Stephen.” the first cop politely begged.8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5w5v2vlO4K 維尼
Molly? What did she do?8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡUskxDB0KN5 維尼
“No. I won’t let you take her.”8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1CFHgxhUR 維尼
“This is the warrant under the law that we all know which law is and we don’t have to explain it. Please let us in, Ma’am,” he said in the monotone but a little bit haste too.8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡckIoz3smom 維尼
“I’m sorry but Molly has no sign to become the Risk. She was hospitalized to the hospital when she was eight because of pneumonia. Please check her medical history before accusing my dear daughter.”8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHjAXkU1tz 維尼
The risk? What is it?8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGCTrfx6w5 維尼
Margaret ran to the dining room and asked her sister. “What did you do? Why the police come to the house?”8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCZoXIi0FT 維尼
“What’re you talking about?” Molly ignored and stole her father’s french-fries. At this age, girls pretended to keep the daily low-fat diet but always surrendered to the seduction of delicious fried food when they thought no one was watching.8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OGX3f9Kla 維尼
“But…” Then she saw Mary was going to unwrap her gift. “No! Mary. Get away from it! It’s not yours!”8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmVvvNQmtH 維尼
The youngest sister yelped when hearing the thunder shout, in an instant panic, she ran back to her seat.8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLcvwI0RqI 維尼
“Don’t mess with my toy!”8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjXOZ8fBdj 維尼
“I want to play!” Mary voiced back. 8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhTWJOUSFt 維尼
“Hey! Shut up both of you. Meg, you should know how to share. She’s your sister.”8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFnxpi0WkU 維尼
“She will have it when it’s her turn.”8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVXedotpxV 維尼
Before the three sisters could yell at each other for more, the parent returned.8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZA2i12kqY 維尼
“Molly, do you have anything to tell us?” the sudden question alarmed the girl whose fingers still dip a French-fries into cheese sauce.8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhEULNRkU4 維尼
Seeing french-fries on Molly’s arms falling onto the table, Margaret made the face of doubt. Suddenly, she felt like all the lights in the room turned dimmer but actually, they were still as bright as they were. Margaret saw her big sister had the question mark on her face.8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwd0tRsMEl 維尼
“What’re you talking about?”8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAN0kHzi78 維尼
“I told you! The police come.” 8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AHD6R01lz 維尼
“Be quiet Margaret. Yes, they come and are waiting for you outside,” explained Momma. “They talked about that law.”8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNEmOIe0jK 維尼
“Which la…” Molly’s face abruptly painted white while her mouth started terribly shaking. The girl jumped out the chair to a corner of the room. “I-I-I didn’t do anything. It just happened. I don’t know how I could do it but…help me. I don’t want to go.” Her sister pleaded. The sudden change of their gestures dazed the other two little girls, especially Margaret who was able to understand the situation better than Little Mary but still not comprehended the whole thing.8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3EUWHYt1A 維尼
“Tell me, baby, tell me what happened!” Mom urged.8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡanPlPT5HDX 維尼
“A car…it was a car slid to my direction and…I stopped it. I-I don’t know how I did it but it stopped…just stopped. Okay? I did nothing! Maybe the driver pushed the brake!”8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDzi3xPAHF 維尼
“Please come with us, Ms. Stephen”8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fwTQ0uLcb 維尼
No one knew when the police officers stepped inside their house without willing permission. But now they stood in the dining room. Margaret glared at the intruders who were the officials. All she understood was they would take her sister away on her birthday and she could not allow it.8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡthqnbZHuA7 維尼
That’s very rude!8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLq0VudtX6 維尼
“We have the warrant, the special one. And if you don’t come with us, we must take some force.”8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUzowSokMS 維尼
“Don’t threaten us!” Mom screamed in anger. She ran and barred her arms around Molly in the act of the true protector. Dad tried to calm the situation down; he warned Mom, “Don’t be silly, Agatha. Please, we have kids here. Let us talk to our girl first. Meg, Mary, go to your rooms. NOW!”8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡafLESnNgGG 維尼
Two little girls heard his shouting and were shocked again so they ran to the stairways quickly. Her father normally had never raised his voice like this. Margaret stamped her feet on every step just to show them that they made her angry.8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYnllIoDyv 維尼
“We have no time. Come here, MOLLY. Be a good girl.”8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zgGOSiwEa 維尼
Who went the rooms? No one. Margaret and Mary sat behind the balcony and when their father looked up, they crouched on the floor to hide his gaze. They listened to their mother and sister who were disputing with the cops. They heard Molly tearfully shouting not to go, yelling that they would kill her. Margaret and Mary began to cry due to the fear provoked by the adults’ heating argument and violent words. They did not want their sister to be killed or taken.8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WLpyudr6P 維尼
And they heard the noises as if they started fighting. Then Mother screamed. The girls dared not to watch so they wrapped each other’s arms and closed their eyes. Margaret prayed to God, to everything that could stop the violence in their house. Margaret wished her birthday party back.8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgG6Nortbz 維尼
“Stop it, girl”8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1bM2Fv8d1 維尼
“Molly, please don’t do this. You make it worse.”8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡEt3Z4oRPy9 維尼
Molly screamed in her deepest fear. “I caaan’t. I don’t know.”8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FG6UiPS3w 維尼
Father screamed out loud begging, “Please. Don’t do this. I can calm her. There are little kids here, SIR! PLEASE”8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0CGFD3SqW 維尼
“Move away Ma’am. She is the threat to us.”8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLIKN6YaO6 維尼
“No, she’s my baby and you can’t take her…”8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1h1SUFrwds 維尼
There was only one gunshot that ended all chaos; the one shot that destroyed everything. Margaret arms released her sister and hurriedly rushed to see what happened while Mary tailed behind. She still did not know what exactly happened and why her birthday was ruined. In front of the girl, her father screamed in terror and knelt on the floor, desperately wiping. The cruel police stood in silence and they looked at the two girls with eyes widened.8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5TfKP3Cdl 維尼
In front of Margaret, her dear mother and sister collapse on the ground. The blonde woman died with her eyes open. On top of her back, the teenage girl’s body shook, her mouth saying, “Mom?—Mom.” Molly’s green eyes met her and suddenly Margaret initially realized that her sister was not there anymore. It was just an empty body without the sign of life. The moment she understood how the soul departed from flesh and bones. Those bright green eyes gradually turned lifeless, the same way the light turned off.8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQmZamMXdk 維尼
God doesn’t exist and if they do, God is the cruel God. 8964 copyright protection302ＰＥＮＡＮＡQj9fOJ9ryK 維尼
And this was their last birthday celebration.306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNZihZsRZD
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306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UiUZrhIMa
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306Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnNSR21Ei8
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