Sarah’s pain knew no end. And so did Sophie, when she got to know about her mother. The Sun had set in the west for the whole world that day.! People showed their grief and support on TV and social media. People who knew nobody in the attack also had a tear to spare. It wasn’t a natural calamity.. It was neither political nor religious. It was something else.

It wasn’t over for the officials at Edna Falls yet. Mary, Ross and other agents walked slowly. Through all the rubble and bodies of children, there wasn’t a single soul who walked out with their eyes dry! It was a heartbreaking sight. A lot of people had gathered around the fence, they all started applauding the Mayor including the press. Some looked devastated, sitting on the ground as they waited patiently to see their children. Two extremes of emotions in one place, all of the world’s heart was there.

All the agents and the cops gathered around. Mary thanked Assistant Director Ross Payton, “I would like to show our gratitude to the FBI from the bottom of my heart. Without your help, a lot of other kids..” she stopped. Ross replied, “No Thanks needed Madam Jones. It was an honor working for a Mayor who does anything for the people.”
The Police chief said, “I agree, Ma’am. It was truly an honour..”
Mary acknowledged, “Thank you boys, each and every one of you.. you did good. Let’s send off the FBI and we have some cleanup to do.. Does anyone wants to rest?”
“No Ma’am!” They all said at once.

Ross sent everyone off in the chopper and returned. Mary asked, “Aren’t you leaving?”
Ross said, “I guess I’ll stay..”
Mary replied, “As you wish, Mr. Payton” and went to see Sarah. Ross saw the girl coverd in a blanket, Sophie, and put his hand on her shoulder. She had tears in her eyes and was holding her mother’s pendant. She had no one. “You can call me for anything, Sophie.” said Ross. She nodded.

When Mary came back, Ross remarked, “That was quick.. How’s she holding up?”
“It’s bad..” she said, “I couldn’t even imagine..”
They both sat down on the grass, just beside the basketball ground. It was Mary’s favorite place when she was in school. It was evening and the sky was orange. Bodies of kids were being shifted on stretchers, one by one.. It never seemed to stop. The parents gathered at the gate, anticipating their child with no idea of how to deal with it. Some bawled, some didn’t..

“He was just a kid..” Mary spoke, “One gun and so many children are gone.. Believers, Non believers, Races, Creeds.. all alike.. I wanted to be the Mayor so that I could do something.. Not to be helpless like this when innocent lifes are lost.”
Ross didn’t speak anything, he would occasionally look at her and nod.
“You are FBI right.. How do you sleep after a night like this?” she asked.
He looked at her and immediately looked at the ground and said, “I don’t..”
Mary didn’t know what to say. They sat there looking at the people.

“Madam.. There’s something..” one of the officers called her. “Coming..” she said. Both stood up and walked. “What is it?” she asked.
“Paperwork ma’am, we need some signatures.” he said.
Ross excused her, “Go on, I’ll be around.”
Mary asked her team, “How many kids?”
“Uh.. forty two.. Madam” was the reply. “The press wants a word..”

While this was going on, the internet world was in a chaos. City News started reporting, “While the Aim High International school massacre has come to an end, the death toll has reached forty two. The Mayor, Miss Mary Jones confirmed this just now and we can see the bodies being handed over to the parents as we speak. It’s such a disturbing sight to see, Alyssa” said reporter John Hugh.
John was one of the best reporters but he was sacked when the chief editor had changed.

Alyssa agreed, “Indeed John, this is the worst that could happen. Imagine sending your child to school with hopes of getting an education and something like this happens.. Safety should be of prime importance, Caroline.”

Caroline had two of the best, sitting with her. “Yes indeed. And I guess we should spare a thought for Cody too. He was shot in the head today.”

John intervened, “I guess it’s time we stop creating heroes out of monsters, Caroline. Killing fourty two children is not the work of any human.”

Caroline jumped, ” Well yes, and that was what I was trying to tell this afternoon, John. He was a mentally deranged person according to his doctor.”

Alyssa blasted, “For the last time, ADHD is not mental derangement. They can understand right from wrong. And many of mentally handicapped children wouldn’t even know to slap you back, in case you ever slap one. That is the level of mental subnormality that exists, they cannot button their own shirts, let alone handling a gun.”

Caroline reasoned, “Well, schizophrenics have killed people..”
“Well, was he a schizophrenic?” John asked right away. But, Caroline didn’t want to give up..
“If the shooter was a girl, we would be having a different conversation altogether, isn’t it? With feminists applauding her bravery and accepting her mental illness as the cause. She would be sent to therapy, not shot in the head..”

Alyssa and John were flabbergasted, Alyssa took this one, “Only an idiot can link a school shooting with feminism, Caroline. If it was a girl with a gun, we would still be having the same conversation. Mental illnesses doesn’t change it’s definition based on genders! People comment about feminism without the knowledge of the essence and meaning behind it. I would tell you, but you wouldn’t understand, Caroline. You might as well start walking out. Because, feminism is saving women from monsters and not saving a monster!”

John spoke, “We have been receiving reports of the Students Association of America, having a nation wide “March”. This is to urge the govt. to start implementing strict gun laws, Alyssa.”

Alyssa continued, “Just like we have been saying, John. Gun control is the answer. It’s good that the future voters of our country has taken a decision for their tomorrow and I guess it is going to be one of the best things to ever happen in coming days.”

“Oh, Yes..” he said, “What is overwhelming, is that a lot of different countries are showing positive support for this movement. People are trending this with a hashtag Gun Control. I guess this is how the world changes feom now on.”

Alyssa said, “It’s for the best, John. And also, the people who has lost their lives today, many will be having the ceremonies according to their customs tomorrow. This will be a show of support to all the families for their loss.”

The next morning, people started turning up at different burials. Known and unknown, they had just come. Students took to the roads and forced the issue of Gun Control into the lawmakers’ heads. Any number of tweets, prayers and sorry for the losses, weren’t enough. Most of the major cities around the world showed their solidarity that day. People walked with candles, slogans and pictures of kids in their hands. The officials were forced to act.

Meanwhile, at the city burial ground, Mary was with Sarah. She saw Ross had come to help with Sophie. The Baumans, Fosters, Trumans.. everyone were there. There was Lilly lance too. The ceremonies happened and people stayed till the end. Mary came upto Ross and said, “It must be hard for Sophie, to lay down her mother at this age. Thanks for being there for her, I almost had forgotten about her.”
Ross replied, “She’s a good kid, Ma’am. They all are..”
“You can loose the Ma’am.. Don’t you think?” she asked.
“I kinda like it..” he said.

As they were about to leave, Sophie walked upto Lilly Lance, who was standing with her husband and nobody else had turned up for them. Sophie said, “I wanted to say I forgive your son, Mrs Lance. I know you loved him but not enough to show him right from wrong, apparently. That’s okay, I don’t want to keep it in my heart forever. I forgive your son.”
Lilly hugged her and said, “Thank you, dear.. Thank you..” she was crying.

Sophie walked back to Ross and Sarah called her, she came. Sarah said with a heavy heart, “Would you mind staying at my house, Sophie.? Just for a few days.. Only if you wish, that is..”
Sophie’s eyes swelled as she nodded, “Yes..” Sarah squeezed her, holding her tight.
Ross said to Mary, “What now..?”
“Run some errands..” and you? she asked, “Paperwork” he replied.

One year had passed, a lot of things had changed. Gun control laws were implemented. Mary had resigned from the post of Mayor. City News had organized a one year anniversary of the school shooting and many had come.

Alyssa spoke, “It feels like yesterday. But I am glad that we have zero shootings in the whole country, since the Gun Control laws were implemented. It’s wonderful to have people around when we go through tough times and we all have each other.”

Sophie came up, “I felt like a pet fish being released into the ocean all of a sudden. But my new mom didn’t let that happen to me. I always thought that Why did god take away my mother and leave me? Or why take away Maggie and leave her mother behind.. Why couldn’t he let Maggie live and take me instead? Atleast one family would have been happy. But I realized something. We have each other.. Our hearts mend each other’s, that’s how we live., that’s how we learn to love..!”

Everyone spoke their hearts out, some had moved on while the others couldn’t let go. Life continued in Eden Falls. Ross and Mary were there too. Ross sat next to Mary and casually remarked, “I kinda miss the Mayor. It would have been great to have someone as strong..”
Mary replied, “I couldn’t go back.. moreover, I teach martial arts to kids and I’m content with it..”
Ross kept his card on the table, got up and said “Well, if You ever consider working for us..” and walked away.

… The End …