The glowing tunnel was everything a kid’s brain loves: bright, magical, full of promise.
Everyone ran toward it, laughing and daring each other to go first. Adrenaline and excitement were driving the story.
Wei’s body stayed still.
His eyes weren’t on the tunnel. They were on the threads along the wall. Beautiful… and trembling.
Once Wei noticed that his stomach felt like it did before bad news. Not danger you can see – danger your nervous system whispers about.
Sometimes safety doesn’t look like the prettiest option. It feels like the one your body stops arguing with.
“I think this one’s wrong,” he said quietly. At first, no one wanted to listen. Then a faint cracking echoed from deep inside the tunnel, like something important giving way.
They chose a different path. Later, no one could prove what might have happened. But Wei’s brain was clear.
