One Minute: a short story by Nelani Skantharajah

Yesterday there was a young girl named Hope, who lived in the heart of Dead City. Hope was a rain drop of bright, illuminating light in a sea of fearful clouds. The soul completely ignored the deep aura of darkness she was surrounded by. Hope remained satisfied with anything that came her way . Hope was the entertainer for her family. She laughed, danced, played, sang, drew, wrote but what she did the best was believe.
 
  
At one o'clock hope was shot and killed to death.
 
  
  Today there is no longer a girl named Hope, who lives in the heart of Dead City. Hope is no longer a rain drop of bright illuminating light in a sea of fearful clouds. The soul who completely ignored the deep aura of darkness she was surrounded by disappeared. There is no longer a soul who can remain satisfied with anything that comes her way. Hope cannot be the entertainer for her family. She no longer can laugh, dance, play, sing, draw, write and what she did the best, believe.
 
  
             One minute was all it took to loose a life, but that one minute was all that changed another life. Anyone can leave you at anytime.

(NOTE: Nelani entered this story in the Young Writers of Canada Writing Competition this year. It will be publishes in the 2010 anthology of short stories entitled: Grandmother's Attic.)