mj ) Shayla Pushes Dinisha Into the Water
THE BOAT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
The water was completely still.
Dinisha was nowhere to be seen.
Shayla stood frozen on the boat, staring at the dark water below.
Then she heard a voice behind her.
“You should have thought twice before pushing me.”
Dinisha was nowhere to be seen.
Shayla stood frozen on the boat, staring at the dark water below.
Then she heard a voice behind her.
“You should have thought twice before pushing me.”
EARLIER THAT DAY
The afternoon had started peacefully.
Anthony was standing near the living room when Shayla approached him.
ANTHONY
“What’s wrong?”
SHAYLA
“I’m just having a difficult time right now.”
Anthony reached into his pocket and pulled out several dollar bills.
ANTHONY
“Take this.”
SHAYLA
“Anthony, no. I can’t take your money.”
ANTHONY
“It’s okay. You need help. Just take it.”
Shayla slowly accepted the money.
SHAYLA
“Thank you.”
But someone else had been watching.
Dinisha stood several feet away. Her eyes were fixed on the dollars in Shayla’s hand.
She said nothing. She simply turned around and walked away.
THE ARGUMENT
DINISHA
“Why did you give Shayla money?”
ANTHONY
“She needed help.”
DINISHA
“And you thought giving her dollars was the answer?”
ANTHONY
“Dinisha, it wasn’t a big deal.”
DINISHA
“It is a big deal when you keep helping her.”
Outside the room, Shayla had quietly approached.
She heard every word.
THE FAKE SMILE
Shayla wiped the emotion from her face.
Then she forced a smile and entered the room as if nothing had happened.
SHAYLA
“Hey, guys.”
SHAYLA
“Why does everyone look so serious?”
SHAYLA
“Well, let’s forget about that. Why don’t we all go out for a while?”
ANTHONY
“I can’t. I have some work to do.”
SHAYLA
“Okay. Then Dinisha and I can go.”
Dinisha hesitated before finally agreeing.
THE BOAT
Later that afternoon, Shayla and Dinisha arrived at the dock.
A small boat was waiting for them.
The sun was beginning to set. The water looked beautiful and peaceful.
The boat moved farther from the shore.
SHAYLA
“Can I ask you something?”
DINISHA
“Sure.”
SHAYLA
“What were you saying to Anthony about me?”
Dinisha froze.
DINISHA
“What?”
SHAYLA
“I heard you.”
THE CONFRONTATION
DINISHA
“You misunderstood.”
SHAYLA
“No. I understood perfectly.”
SHAYLA
“You were trying to turn Anthony against me.”
DINISHA
“That isn’t true.”
SHAYLA
“You told him I was using him.”
DINISHA
“I never said that.”
SHAYLA
“You didn’t have to.”
The peaceful atmosphere suddenly disappeared.
SHAYLA
“Anthony and I have a relationship that you don’t understand.”
DINISHA
“There’s nothing between you and Anthony.”
THE PUSH
The shoreline was now far away.
Dinisha stepped backward.
DINISHA
“Shayla, whatever you’re thinking, don’t do it.”
SHAYLA
“You should have stayed away from Anthony.”
Shayla suddenly pushed Dinisha.
Dinisha lost her balance.
SPLASH!
Dinisha disappeared beneath the water.
SHAYLA
“Dinisha?”
Nothing.
THE SECRET
Shayla looked around the empty boat.
Suddenly, Anthony’s phone began vibrating.
A message appeared on the screen.
“I KNOW WHAT YOU DID.”
Another message appeared.
“LOOK BEHIND YOU.”
Shayla slowly turned around.
Someone was sitting in the driver’s seat.
The figure slowly turned toward her.
And then Shayla realized who it was.
TO BE CONTINUED
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