The sun stood high in the cloudless sky, casting a warm embrace over the town. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the trees that stood guard along the riverbank, creating a nice shade. The air was filled with the shy symphony of chirping birds and the distant murmur of the flowing river.

Theo, Leigh and I found ourselves under the protective hand of an old willow tree, its branches gracefully swaying with the breeze. The soft sunlight played hide-and-seek through the leaves, creating a dance of shadows on the ground beneath us.

Leigh with her vibrant laughter filling the air and Theo with his back against the sturdy trunk of the willow, reading a book and being grumpy because of the noise.

"I needed this," I confessed, closing my eyes and letting the warmth of the day seep into my skin.

Days passed since my mothers funeral, this is the first time I left my grandmother alone, I was a little worried about her.

"We all did. It is good to take a break, let the summer sink in." Theo chuckled.

Leigh chimed in, "Absolutely! We spend so much time chasing shadows; sometimes, we forget how to appreciate the simple joys of a sunny day."

I opened my eyes, taking in the beautiful nature around us. The river sparkled like a ribbon of liquid silver under the sun. Dragonflies performed aerial acrobatics, and butterflies painted the air with their wings.

Theo reached into a picnic basked, taking out a couple of sandwiches and drinks. We shared a quiet meal, the laughter and easy conversation was what I needed, what we all needed. The worries that haunted us seemed to dissolve in the sunlight, at least for a moment.

The peaceful ambiance shattered as Isaac and his gang emerged from the sunlit outskirts, casting an ominous shadow over our idyllic haven. The tension they carried crackled in the air, like the distant rumble of an approaching storm.

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Isaac's eyes were filled with a mixture of resentment and malice, they were locked onto ours.

"Nice try trying to sneak someone inside my group, but a little bird came and told me all about your little plan." Isaac looked proud, that means our little plan worked.

"We don't know what you're talking about." said Theo.

Without another word, Isaac picked up a stone from the riverbank and hurled it towards us. The rock sailed through the air, looking for a target to hit. The impact was swift and jarring, the stone landing close to where Theo had been sitting.

Leigh's expression hardened, her laughter replaced by a steely resolve. Theo's easy smile vanished, replaced by a furrowed brow and a tightening jaw. As the first stone landed, a line had been drawn, and the peaceful riverbank transformed into a battleground.

In response, we gathered rocks in our hands, a reluctant decision forced upon us by Isaac's aggression. The sunlight now felt harsh, revealing the stark reality of the confrontation unfolding under the shade of the willow tree.

Isaac's gang stopped for a second, they looked as confused as we were but it did not take them long to realize what they needed to do. They unleashed a barrage of rocks in our direction without a question asked. The air was filled with the sound of stone whizzing through the air, occasionally a sound of them hitting something. It became a chaotic dance, with each side launching projectiles in a desperate attempt to defend or retaliate.

Shouts and accusations blended with the rhythmic splashes of the river, creating a dissonant symphony of conflict. Isaac, fueled by a dangerous mix of anger and adrenaline, charged toward us. His eyes were ablaze, and his movements were fueled by a relentless determination to settle the score.

As the skirmish escalated, I found myself caught in the crossfire. A stone struck me on the side of my head, blurring my vision. The world around me spun, and the once inviting shade of the willow tree now felt like a cage. The chaos reached its peak, and as I stumbled, the ground rushed up to meet me.

Isaac seized the opportunity, launching himself at me, his fists connecting with my body as I lay defenseless on the ground. His blood mixed with mine, painting the riverbank with a macabre tableau of conflict and pain. The world dimmed, the shouts and struggles becoming distant echoes as the shadows of that fateful summer day enveloped me.