The Final Choice :
In the chaos of the "haunting," Mei Lin cornered Shen. He panicked and tried to swallow both candies at once. Before he could, Mei Lin lunged and knocked them from his hand. They rolled toward a sewer grate. Mei Lin had a split second to choose: save the magic for herself or let it go forever. She thought of her mother's hug and the peace she felt being her true self. She watched as the pink and blue sweets tumbled into the darkness.
The ancient shopkeeper appeared one last time, leaning against a lamp post. "You didn't need the sugar to be special, Little Empress," he chuckled before fading into the neon mist. Mei Lin walked home, no longer a "Prank Empress" or a "Magic Child," but a woman who finally felt comfortable in her own skin.
The End
Akifa,
The Author.