PART 2: THE SACRIFICE IN THE SUN
Hours later, the sun beat down without mercy, turning the highway pavement into a shimmering oven.
Bella carried her heavy plastic crate on her head, her throat parched, weaving between idling luxury cars and dusty buses stuck in gridlock.
By late afternoon, she had managed to sell every single bottle except for one—the final bottle that represented the few coins needed to buy her mother’s evening medicine.
A sleek black sedan rolled its tinted window down slightly, revealing a man sweating profusely, his pale face twisted in exhaustion and extreme heat distress.
“Please, miss… water,” he rasped, reaching into his empty pockets only to realize his wallet was completely missing. “I don’t have cash on me right now…”
Other street vendors jeered from the pavement, warning Bella to walk away and save her last chance at earning a meal.
Bella looked at the man’s desperate eyes, then at her final bottle, knowing the heavy cost of her decision.
Without hesitation, she popped the cap open and handed the cold bottle directly to the stranded stranger.
(The identity of the stranger is about to be revealed! Click “Next Page” to continue reading…)
