24 ON THE KNIFE'S EDGE : A NEAR-DEATH ESCAPE

A simmering rage bubbled up inside Emily as she walked up to the stage, seized the microphone from Melissa's hand, and spat out, "you're nothing but a jealous, conniving wretch!"

"I asked a simple question," Melissa said nonchalantly.

Emily, her face tight with anger, retorted, "My life is my own, and has no concern for meddlesome fools such as yourself. Stay out of my business," she tossed the microphone back to Melissa and stormed off the stage.

Melissa, her composure momentarily shaken, opened her mouth to continue, but before she could utter a word, a voice rose up from the crowd.

"You, Melissa, are a foolish girl, meddling in matters that do not concern you. Mind your own business!"

Cheers erupted from the crowd, their approval deafening as Melissa stood alone on the stage, her face flushed with embarrassment. The crowd, spurred on by the bold declaration, began to jeer at Melissa, hurling insults at her like stones.

"Yes, everyone doesn't have to be a proud bitch like you, who parade their boyfriend everywhere," one cried.

"Mind your own business, you jealous fool!" Another one cried.

"Don't be such a proud bitch!" Another taunted.

The insults rained down on Melissa, who stood alone on the stage, her face contorting in humiliation.

The crowd's laughter was like daggers in her heart as they shouted, "Fool! Bitch! Proud girl!" The taunts continued, and Melissa felt as though she had been stripped bare, her pride and dignity in tatters.

What was intended as a moment of triumph for Melissa had transformed into a devastating defeat. Her malicious plot to humiliate Emily had been turned on its head, and now it was Melissa who found herself in the crosshairs of public scorn.

A brave young woman marched onto the stage, snatched the microphone from Melissa's grasp, and delivered a blistering rebuke.

"Emily is one of the finest students to grace this institution, earning accolades and honors that have brought great renown to our school. She is a beacon of excellence, a shinning example of what we aspire to be. She is the best graduating student of your set, she has achieved a lot in her name. Now what have you achieved in your name?" She questioned and Melissa said nothing.

"You've achieved nothing, yet you dare to poke your nose into someone's private life!" The girl declared. "You're just a jealous loser."

The crowd erupted into loud boos and jeers, and began hurling objects at Melissa.

"Don't listen to this selfish, jealous girl!" The girl commanded. "Keep celebrating, everyone. We all deserve the best."

With the crowd cheering her, the girl left the stage. In the end, Melissa fled the stage, defeated and disgraced.

The school's lecturers were impressed and proud of the student who stepped in to defend Emily and diffuse the situation. Melissa's attempt to humiliate Emily had backfired, and her own humiliation was a fitting punishment for her spiteful behaviour. No further action was necessary.

After the alteration on stage, Emily sought comfort from her parents, eventually finding them in the throng of celebrating faces.

As she approached them, her disappointment palpable, she exclaimed, "So he's not here."

Her mother, realizing she was referring to Robert, tried to placate her. "We're sorry he couldn't make it."

But Emily was not to be consoled. "That's always his excuse! He's never there," Emily continued, her voice rising with each word, "always making up some excuse or the other."

She paused for a moment, her frustration clearly etched on her face. "If he was here, I wouldn't have been humiliated."

"It's all settled now," Emily's father said. "I know, thanks to that student."

But Emily's voice shook with anger as she replied, "That wasn't the point! It was humiliating! And my finacé couldn't even bother to show up. Do you know how that makes me look? I hate all of you."

With that, she whirled away from her stunned parents, who tried to call after her, but to no avail.

Emily's brisk footsteps were abruptly interrupted as a familiar hand grasped hers, causing her to pivot towards its source. The hand belonged to none other than Frederick, whose presence brought a momentary respite from her turmoil.

"Emily, calm down," he spoke, releasing his grip and giving her a reassuring smile.

"Today is supposed to be a happy day," Emily sighed, recounting the earlier events.

Frederick's eyes grew sympathetic as he nodded. "I saw what Melissa tried to do. But today is your day, do don't let her ruin it."

Emily let Frederick's words sink in, her heart steadying and her mood lifting. "You're right," she responded, a new found sense of calmness washing over her.

"About your financé...," He started, only to be cut off by Emily's sudden sharpness.

"Don't talk about him," she retorted.

Frederick, seeing the turmoil rise in her again, retreated with an apologetic, "but..." Yet Emily was resolute, "Don't say anything. Thanks."

"Okay," Frederick said, acknowledging the end of the conversation.

"I'll go now, my friends need me," Emily said, taking her leave with a final wave.

She turned to meet up with her awaiting friends, Lucy and Camilla, who were beckoning to her from a distance with enthusiastic waves of their own.

Arriving at her friend's side, Lucy quickly sought to soothe Emily's lingering frustration.

"Emily, don't worry. We'll deal with Melissa," she vowed, a look of fierce determination on her face.

With a small, reassuring smile, Emily replied, "It's okay. I'm better now." Her composure regained.

"Are you sure?" Camilla asked and Emily nodded.

"Yeah, okay guys, I'll need to grab something from the dressing room," Emily informed them.

"Okay, don't take too long," Camilla replied and Emily nodded leaving them there.

In the relative seclusion of the dressing room, Emily paused before the mirror. Gazing upon her reflection, her eyes lingered on the glistening ring adoring her hand.

"You'll go through this," she encouraged herself as she smiled.

As Emily's eyes fell upon the familiar sight of her makeup kit, she recalled the favour she had done earlier for the eager students who had earlier begged for her assistance.

After packing up the remnants of her supplies, she stood looking at herself in the mirror when she felt someone push her to the side.

The unexpected shove sent Emily's mind reeling, but before her thoughts could even register the confusion of the moment, the world around her erupted into chaos.

A piercing scream pierced the air like a wailing siren, by that time she was on the floor due to the push.

When she looked up, she saw a man, writhing in agony, who had been impaled by a knife that had pierced through his hand to the other side, blood was gushing out. It was a terrible sight.

Emily's gaze shifted upward, seeing Melissa standing in shock and only one thought came to her mind. "I would have been stabbed."