Birthday Candles, Then Gunfire

The first scream tore the afternoon open. Colorful balloons shook like they knew what was coming, while parents dove to the ground, arms outstretched, desperate to cover tiny bodies before the next shot. Music died mid-note. Frosting, once smeared in laughter, now streaked across pavement like a bad joke. Neighbors froze, unsure which way safety lay, as sirens wailed too la… Continues…