Joy adjusted the heavy bundle on her head and followed the narrow path behind the old woman.
Each step felt like fire running through her neck and shoulders.
The road was no longer smooth. Stones pressed into her bare feet. Dry leaves cracked under her weight. Sweat rolled down her face, but she kept going.
“Are we close, Mama?” Joy asked softly, trying to hide her pain.
The old woman walked slowly ahead, her back still bent.
“We are almost there, my daughter… just a little more.”
Joy nodded, even though her legs were already trembling.
Meanwhile, Tracy rushed into the school compound.
She was just in time.
Students were already lined up. The morning assembly had started.
Tracy quickly joined her class, trying to act normal, but her chest was still rising from the run.
Madame Rose stood in front, her sharp eyes scanning the students.
“Where is Joy?” she asked suddenly.
Tracy hesitated for a second.
Then she shrugged carelessly.
“I don’t know, ma. She decided to follow one useless old woman instead of coming to school.”
A murmur spread among the students.
Madame Rose frowned deeply.
“Follow an old woman? For what?”
“To carry firewood,” Tracy said, rolling her eyes. “She likes doing nonsense.”
Some students laughed quietly.
But Madame Rose didn’t.
Instead, her face hardened.
“We will deal with her when she comes.”
Joy was breathing heavily now.
Her legs almost gave way as they finally reached a small compound hidden behind tall trees.
It didn’t look like a normal house.
The compound was quiet… too quiet.
No children.
No animals.
Just silence.
Joy carefully bent down and dropped the firewood.
She exhaled deeply, holding her waist.
“Mama… we are here…”
But when she lifted her head—
She froze.
The old woman was no longer bent.
No longer trembling.
She stood straight.
Strong.
Her eyes… were different.
Sharp. Bright. Powerful.
Joy’s heart skipped.
“Mama…?” she whispered.
The old woman smiled slowly.
“You have a good heart, Joy.”
Joy stepped back, confused. “What… what is happening?”
Before she could understand—
A sudden wind blew through the compound.
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