Morning came quietly over Lucid City, spilling pale gold across the streets and through Riah's small apartment window.
Riah Chris stirred awake, her body sore but her heart steady — ready to greet another day.
After a quick shower and a cup of herbal tea, she kissed her mother softly on the forehead, whispering a quiet, "I'll be back soon," before heading out into the city that never truly slept.
By seven thirty, she was at Lucid General Hospital, her hair tied neatly, scrubs pressed, her ever-present gentle smile in place.
She walked down the bright, echoing corridors where the smell of antiseptic mingled with the faint, comforting aroma of fresh fruit from the cafeteria.
The children's ward waited, each little face a story, a struggle, a reason for her relentless kindness.
"Good morning, Miss Riah!" called a small voice, bright and eager.
"Good morning, Marcus!" Riah replied, crouching to meet the six-year-old's wide grin.
Marcus, diagnosed with sleeping disorders, had become especially attached to her.
He called her Miss Sunny, and Riah's heart warmed every time he said it.
"Did you sleep well?" she asked, brushing his hair gently from his forehead.
Marcus shook his head, frowning. "Not really. But you make today better."
Riah laughed softly. "Well, that's my job — to make every day brighter."
Hours passed in a gentle blur of feeding, laughing, cleaning, and comforting.
Riah moved with a rhythm that made the ward feel warmer, safer — a small island of calm for the children.
Her favorite track hummed softly in her mind, a melody that carried her through the hardest moments.
As the morning sun climbed higher, Vanessa "Nessa" Gray popped into her thoughts.
Nessa had been relentless about one thing lately: the children's hospital fundraiser, set to take place the following week.
The hospital, it turned out, was connected to Louis Ray, a prominent philanthropist and businessman — but also a close friend of Lucian Fox, a man whose presence in Lucid was as mysterious as it was commanding.
Nessa's father, meanwhile, had ties to the event, making the fundraiser impossible to ignore.
And Nessa had made it her personal mission to ensure Riah attended.
"Riah," she had texted early that morning:
"Marcus is counting on you. Don't make me drag you there — it'll break his little heart!"
Marcus was indeed part of Nessa's plan.
Whenever she spoke of the fundraiser, her bright little voice would light up.
She didn't understand all the connections between the businessmen, the charity, or the gala's grandeur — she only knew one thing: Miss Sunny would be there.
By midday, Riah had finished tending to the children, filling charts, checking vitals, and calming those who had cried through sleepless nights.
Marcus waved goodbye, clutching a small stuffed bear she had given him, the same bear she promised would guard him through the night.
"See you tomorrow, Miss Sunny!" he called, his voice echoing down the hallway.
Riah waved, a warm smile lifting her tired face.
And yet, even with the children smiling, even with Marcus's small but fierce admiration, Nessa's texts kept tugging at her thoughts:
"I know you don't want to, but for Marcus… for all of them… come. Please?"
By the time Riah left the hospital, the city's mid-afternoon light glinted off the streets and puddles, and she knew it — reluctantly, softly — Nessa had won another battle.
She would attend the fundraiser.
And Marcus, like so many others in that ward, had unknowingly convinced her.
Tomorrow, she would smile for them again — but this time in a world far outside the hospital walls.
A world of silk, laughter, and people who had never known hardship.
A world that would soon bring her face-to-face with someone entirely unlike anyone she had ever met.
Riah's steps echoed on the wet pavement as she made her way home.
The streets of Lucid were lively even in the drizzle, but she was used to keeping to herself, minding her own business.
That's when a sleek, black Range Rover slowed to a stop beside her.
The window rolled down, revealing a man in his mid-thirties, dark hair slicked back, a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"Hey, beautiful," he said smoothly. "Care for a ride?"
Riah didn't even glance at him. She kept walking.
The car continued beside her, rolling forward as though glued to her pace.
"Mr. Range Rover," she said politely, tilting her head and smiling wide — innocent, warm, but with a hint of steel.
"I'm married, and my husband doesn't like me talking to strangers. Could you… please stop following me?"
The man chuckled. "I don't mind stealing you from your hubby. What kind of husband lets his woman walk alone?"
Riah's smile didn't waver, but her patience thinned.
He continued, becoming more insistent, leaning slightly toward her, ignoring her polite refusals.
Finally, she snapped, loud and clear:
"Hey, Mr. Range Rover! I'm not interested! Could you piss off?"
She started walking faster, hoping the confrontation would end.
But the man park his car and chased her, catching her hand and trying to grab her.
Riah froze for a moment — not in fear, but in disbelief.
Then, from the distance of the bus stop where she normally got off, a familiar, fiery voice rang out:
"Oi! Get away from her!"
It was Nessa.
Before Riah could react, Nessa had crossed the street, yanking the man off with raw strength.
The man struggled, but Nessa's temper was fiercer than steel.
One clean punch to his chin, a swift kick to the groin, and he collapsed, groaning.
Nessa grabbed Riah's hand, pulling her away. "Run!" she hissed.
And they did.
Riah laughed, breathless and exhilarated, while Nessa held on like a force of nature, dragging her friend through the streets.
Somewhere far above, from a fifteen-story construction site, a figure watched.
He was ancient, his age counted in hundreds of years, and yet his expression betrayed no emotion only a slight, interesting smirk.
From that height, he observed the two girls one small and seemingly frail, the other fierce and unyielding.
The way the smaller one smiled despite fear, the way the other moved like a storm, piqued his curiosity.
A voice broke the silence.
"Hey Louis" said lucian stepping from the shadows
Louis tilted his head towards lucian saying "I'm hosting a fundraiser for those helpless kind in the hospital you should come it's your hospital anyway I won't do all the work for you and I should be announcing the new owner I'm giving it back to you " said with a smirk
Lucian Fox turned slightly, as though snapping out of a trance, and walked away.
His dark blue eyes lingered briefly on the fleeing girls,
By the time Riah and Nessa reached her apartment, both girls were laughing so hard their stomachs ached.
The tension from the streets, from the black Range Rover and the nuisance of the man, melted away in fits of uncontrollable giggles.
Riah wiped tears from her eyes, still chuckling. "I swear, Nessa… you're insane sometimes."
"And you love it," Nessa shot back with a grin, kicking off her shoes.
Inside, the warm scent of her mother's cooking welcomed them.
Riah's mother was smiling faintly from the kitchen, stirring something sweet in a mixing bowl.
"Chocolate pie," she announced proudly.
Riah grinned, setting her bag down. "Just what I needed," she said softly, embracing her mother before sneaking a taste.
The warmth of the kitchen, the laughter, the love — imperfect but real — filled Riah's chest with comfort she hadn't realized she craved.
After dinner, she showered, slipping into soft pajamas, and let herself sink into her bed.
As the city lights flickered through her window, her mind drifted.
Would she ever meet a man who could love her the way her father did?
A man who would cherish her, protect her, see her beyond the surface?
The thought of her father's voice, his laughter, the way he always made her feel safe, brought a quiet smile to her face.
And with that, exhaustion tugging at her eyelids, she drifted into sleep.
Morning came with pale sunlight streaming through the curtains.
Riah woke, washed, and dressed, ready for another day at the hospital.
Nessa was waiting at her door, bright and energetic as always.
"Ready?" she asked, smirking.
"Ready," Riah replied, slipping her hand into Nessa's as they walked to the bus stop together.
By the time she reached Lucid General Hospital, the children's ward was alive with chatter and laughter.
Riah moved from bed to bed, tending to the little ones with practiced patience and gentle hands.
Her favorite track played softly in her mind, a small comfort amidst the chaos.
"Good morning, Miss Sunny!" called Marcus, a six-year-old with eyes too wide for his face.
He had sleeping disorders, and Riah had become especially close to him.
"You look like you need sunshine today!" he added, grinning.
Riah smiled, crouching to brush his hair back.
"Maybe you're right, Marcus. Let's make today brighter, shall we?"
Hours passed in a gentle blur.
But suddenly, the hospital bells rang urgent, sharp, and demanding.
Marcus's monitor beeped frantically his condition required immediate attention.
Riah's heart clenched.
He was being rushed to the ICU, the helping team stabilize him, he was calmer Riah staying by his side the entire time.
She whispered softly, stroked his hair, and made sure he slept peacefully before she finally stepped back, exhaustion and sadness weighing heavily on her chest.
On her way home, she felt almost teary.
The city seemed quieter now, softer, as if acknowledging her pain.
Her phone buzzed — a text from Nessa:
"How's our Miss Sunny? You survived another day?"
Riah smiled through sniffles, typing back:
"Let's attend the fundraiser. Let's make sure we convince a lot of people… okay?"
Her words came out shaky, almost like a child's plea, but her heart felt lighter knowing Nessa would be by her side.
Tonight, they would plan, they would dream, and tomorrow… maybe, just maybe, the world would see her light the way Marcus already did.
The moment Riah agreed to attend the fundraiser, Nessa nearly squealed in delight.
"Finally! You're going!" she shouted, hopping from one foot to the other like a child on Christmas morning.
Riah laughed softly, shaking her head at her best friend's uncontainable energy.
"I know, I know," Riah said, smiling. "But it's still… a lot, Nessa. I don't know if I should
"Don't think, Ri ri !" Nessa interrupted, her black eyes sparkling with mischief.
"I'm taking care of everything. You just… show up and look divine."
The next day, Nessa went out of her way braving the bustling streets of Lucid, weaving through crowded stores, trying on dozens of dresses before she found the perfect one.
And when she finally held it up, it's was breathtaking she instantly knew it will look good on Riah the sweet long yellow gown, flowing like sunlight captured in silk.
The fabric shimmered subtly, like it had been spun from the very light of the morning sun.
The cut was elegant but daring, soft and smooth suiting for her one and only friend.
Nessa bought bunch of nice luxurious gowns, bags and shoes for herself and Riah before leaving the shop.
She presented this dress she had bought for Riah
I… I can't accept this, Nessa," Riah said softly when Nessa handed her the dress.
"It's… too much. You spent so much. I… I don't deserve this."
Nessa rolled her eyes dramatically, her stubborn spirit shining through.
"Riri stop talking nonsense. You deserve every bit of this. You deserve to feel like the sun. And besides," she added pleading with her voodoo doll eye "it suits you perfectly pretty pretty please Riah for me ok." Just fit it already I bet you'll love it
"Alright alright "riah added
She reluctantly wore the dress and to her surprise it was hugging her curves like it was made for her and just her Riah had never really noticed on herself, accentuating her slender waist and soft hips.
The neckline hinted at her collarbone the gentle train of the dress swayed with a whisper of grace and elegance , revealing her smooth bare back and her slender legs. How graceful it felt the silk flowed over her dark caramel skin.
Her reflection in the mirror took her breath away.
Nessa clapped her hands, eyes wide with pride. "See? I told you. You look like the sun itself decided to walk into a room!"
She accepted the dress with a quiet nod, her fingers brushing the silky fabric.
Riah twirled slowly, watching the light catch the fabric and shimmer across her skin.
A small smile tugged at her lips.
"I… I look different," she whispered softly.
"You look like you," Nessa corrected immediately. "But better. Confident. Unstoppable. Gorgeous."
The next day, the sun rose over Lucid City with a soft glow, as if anticipating the evening to come.
Riah spent her day tending to the children at the hospital, smiling through routine and chaos, until finally, evening arrived.
Back at her apartment,
Riah felt a warmth bloom inside her chest.
Tonight, she wouldn't just be a nurse.
Tonight, she would shine.
Tonight, she would step into a world so far from hospital halls and evening shifts, a world where light and laughter ruled, even if only for a few hours.
And somewhere deep in the city, Marcus's laughter and small voice echoed in her mind, reminding her why she was doing this.
Because tonight wasn't just for her.
It was for the children, for Nessa, for her mother — for everyone who believed in the girl who smiled through storms.