The Fall
The morning bell had just rung.
Students filled the hallway.
Laughter echoed between the lockers.
A young girl slowly climbed the staircase.
One careful step at a time.
A prosthetic leg supported her weight.
She carried her backpack tightly.
Trying not to attract attention.
Behind her...
A group of boys exchanged amused glances.
One of them smirked.
"Watch this."
A sudden shove.
The girl's balance disappeared.
She reached for the railing.
Too late.
Her body tumbled down the concrete stairs.
Books flew into the air.
Papers scattered everywhere.
The hallway fell silent.
She landed hard.
Pain shot through her body.
Her prosthetic leg twisted awkwardly beneath her.
She cried out.
Not loudly.
Just enough for everyone to hear.
Several students stopped walking.
No one moved.
The boys looked down from the top of the stairs.
One of them laughed.
"I guess she should've practiced walking."
More laughter followed.
The girl covered her face.
Trying to disappear.
But the worst part...
Wasn't the pain.
May you like
It was knowing...
Everyone had seen.
