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.copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡz88DX9Za48
The scent of happiness diffused around the room. Well, that how she perceived it. Everybody looked so innocent to the unwelcome incoming incident.copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFMRd73fQV
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.copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FUTb17ngc
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.copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡKy6H15Vsy9
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.copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNcBWGjQEv
“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.”copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWuHja7jsP
“Hi, lovely Cecilia.”copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3hsfK6FIs
“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…”copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXBFBGpVPK
“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.”copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrWOnjOGt6
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.copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKlTIJtOqy
Margaret licked the sauce on the corner of her mouth, still hearing the voice from the TV.copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9YGJsPU88
“…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. copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5tXUmjbQ2
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.”copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡCn4u81rJHc
“…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.copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0x1O0CaGwc
“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.”copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16yhYxxyeE
“Of course, they are the same and own the right to….”copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTHibHbUcl
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.copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJZ4WAYK2k
“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.copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRqzdEZRVO
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.copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEAYDq2HcY
As she made the wish, the bell rang. Mom frowned.copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0DfCokWfo
“Oh, they cease the broadcast already.” Dad cried.copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyzMe3VSoo
“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.copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAq10d68QS
The little girl smiled at the cake and moved her index finger at the bottom cream then licked her finger.copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bSwLZUpuA
“Hey, that’s not nice.”copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLqjVm6mah
She made her eyes pleading with the big sister.copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡALzVP2MPTb
“No, I’m not Daddy. Where’re you going?”copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhEABE3JlH
They lifted their head to look at Mr. Stephen. “It’s quiet. I go check your mom.”copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1WkWDWKwC
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.copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Ie92jcZMX
Two police in navy blue uniform were talking with her parents.copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZZKJ309mA
“Please, ma’am. Let we talk with Molly Stephen.” the first cop politely begged.copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHZhbfsgRJ
Molly? What did she do?copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVF5I81U3h
“No. I won’t let you take her.”copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfcbknVNWX
“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.copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡdW5pRK097A
“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.”copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcqVaFFA1I
The risk? What is it?copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡkijkRfSlm8
Margaret ran to the dining room and asked her sister. “What did you do? Why the police come to the house?”copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTooS22aYQ
“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.copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlYkgUvEFu
“But…” Then she saw Mary was going to unwrap her gift. “No! Mary. Get away from it! It’s not yours!”copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdAEtZlb1f
The youngest sister yelped when hearing the thunder shout, in an instant panic, she ran back to her seat.copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRH0Ocb15p
“Don’t mess with my toy!”copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3h0Y8Pl6g
“I want to play!” Mary voiced back. copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡr56a0VFrB8
“Hey! Shut up both of you. Meg, you should know how to share. She’s your sister.”copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gA1P3Wvjn
“She will have it when it’s her turn.”copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5ws3JI2uH
Before the three sisters could yell at each other for more, the parent returned.copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡUiW92eTWnF
“Molly, do you have anything to tell us?” the sudden question alarmed the girl whose fingers still dip a French-fries into cheese sauce.copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡyx94Jmw940
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.copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbtAMVv3Lq
“What’re you talking about?”copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvWED4h6N7
“I told you! The police come.” copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡYiHAy0EIlV
“Be quiet Margaret. Yes, they come and are waiting for you outside,” explained Momma. “They talked about that law.”copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4m2cULkgCK
“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.copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FtD1nlhhu
“Tell me, baby, tell me what happened!” Mom urged.copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZF1HTpRTL
“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!”copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3gNkUnh7T
“Please come with us, Ms. Stephen”copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3JQAwxLUt
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.copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡgasuIs7zkc
That’s very rude!copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9da8LyhK4
“We have the warrant, the special one. And if you don’t come with us, we must take some force.”copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnO7tduAIf
“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!”copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPVJC6IZLj
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.copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rBx4gasdB
“We have no time. Come here, MOLLY. Be a good girl.”copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJ1KNkMUdZ
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.copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WcKU16eZx
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.copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡzz6SbUlujS
“Stop it, girl”copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRZyKKu4dh
“Molly, please don’t do this. You make it worse.”copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46rVJQ2g1o
Molly screamed in her deepest fear. “I caaan’t. I don’t know.”copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡYK234wrKVp
Father screamed out loud begging, “Please. Don’t do this. I can calm her. There are little kids here, SIR! PLEASE”copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4kVXX1soS
“Move away Ma’am. She is the threat to us.”copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEgp1vLXZm
“No, she’s my baby and you can’t take her…”copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡvROAC3MCB6
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.copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSyxPHdHRi
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.copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOo5rHqezg
God doesn’t exist and if they do, God is the cruel God. copyright protection205ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6WI34XoOx
And this was their last birthday celebration.209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsNkFRTxHs
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209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJocnyfMBG
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209Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UZe7Zilff
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