Suzan Walgreen

Suzan’s POV

"After an exciting night of trick-or-treating with my brother's best friends—Jack, Beth, and Simon—I was ready to head home. As I rummaged through my bag for a piece of candy, hoping to savor the last moments of the night, Simon’s voice cut through the cool air like a blade, sending a chill down my spine."

“Hey, what do you say we visit the witch’s cabin?” he asked, flashing that mischievous grin I hated. “I heard she’s more active on Halloween. If you knock three times on her front door and one of her windows shatters, that means she’s home. Wouldn’t that make tonight way more interesting?”

My blood ran cold at the mention of the cabin. I was only eleven, and the rumors about that house had been enough to make my nightmares feel real.

“I think we should just head home. It’s getting late,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.

Simon scoffed, rolling his eyes. “Oh, come on, Suzan. You’re such a buzzkill. People have gone there before, and nothing happened. We’re just going to check it out. What’s the worst that could happen?”

“But what if something does happen? I’m just a kid! I came out here to collect candy and go home, not get caught up in some stupid dare.”

Simon smirked, ignoring my fear. “I guarantee nothing will happen. And if it does, we’ll leave. Simple as that.”

“Simon, I said no.” I stood firm, but my stomach churned with dread. “You guys can go ahead. I’m going home.”

Before I could turn away, Simon yanked my candy bag from my hand, his fingers cruelly tight around the strap.

“I bet you’d do it for candy. We came out here to help you trick-or-treat because you were too chicken to go alone, and your brother was too embarrassed to take you. And this is how you pay us back? You’re such a wimp.”

“I’m not a wimp, and I don’t need your stupid candy!” I shouted, my voice cracking with frustration. Blinking back tears, I turned and ran down the street, my feet pounding against the pavement. By the time I reached home, my chest ached from holding in sobs. I wiped my face quickly as I saw my mom on the porch, happily passing out candy to trick-or-treaters.

As I stepped onto the porch, my mom turned to me with a warm smile. “You okay, sweetie?” she asked, her voice full of concern as she handed out the last pieces of candy to a group of excited kids.

I nodded, quickly wiping my eyes. “Yeah, I’m fine,” I lied, forcing a smile. But deep down, my stomach was still in knots. I didn’t want to deal with Jack, Beth, and Simon anymore. I hated how they made me feel small, like I was nothing but a burden. Why couldn’t they just leave me alone?

I sat on the porch, the tears threatening to spill again. My mom noticed me right away and walked over with concern in her eyes. “Hey, honey, what’s wrong?” she asked, sitting down next to me.

I tried to force a smile, but it felt like a lie. “I lost your bag,” I whispered, my voice trembling.

She placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. “Aww! That’s okay. I can stitch you another one,” she said, her voice soothing, as if that would make everything better.

“I also lost all my candy,” I mumbled, the weight of the night hitting me all at once.

She paused, looking at me with softness in her eyes. “Hmm, how about we go get more candy? We’re running low anyway, and while we’re at it, you can pick out whatever you want.” She slowly wiped the tears from my face with her sleeve, her touch tender and warm. Holding my hand, she smiled at me. “Come on, let’s go.”

With her by my side, I felt a little lighter, and together, we walked to the store.

As we walked to the store, the cool night air helped clear my head, but the knot in my stomach still lingered. My mom squeezed my hand, and I leaned into her, feeling a sense of comfort in her presence. She didn’t rush me to talk, but I knew she was waiting for me to open up when I was ready.

When we arrived at the store, the bright lights and shelves stocked with candy seemed to lift my spirits a little. My mom led me to the candy aisle, and I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to pick.

“Anything you want, honey,” she said, her voice light, like this was just another fun trip. “You’ve had a tough night.”

I nodded, still feeling a little overwhelmed, but something about the colorful wrappers and familiar candy made the tension inside me ease, if only for a moment. I started picking out a few favorites—gummy bears, chocolate bars, and lollipops. It felt good to have the freedom to choose without any judgment or pressure.

My mom grabbed a bag of caramel candies and smiled at me. “I think I’ll treat myself too. I’ve earned it,” she joked, and for the first time that night, I actually chuckled.

After we’d gathered everything we wanted, we made our way to the checkout. As we waited in line, my mom noticed the other kids in the store, all their faces lit up with excitement after their trick-or-treating adventures. She gave me a soft smile.

“Hey,” she said, “you know, you don’t need anyone else’s approval to enjoy Halloween. You’re special just the way you are.”

I looked up at her, feeling a little more at peace. “Thanks, Mom,” I murmured. “I just... I don’t know why they treat me like that. I didn’t ask for any of it.”

“I know, sweetheart. Some people don’t realize how important kindness is. But don’t ever forget that you’re enough.”

As we left the store and walked back home, the weight in my chest seemed a little lighter. Maybe it wasn’t just the candy, or the fact that I didn’t have to face Simon and the others tonight. Maybe it was just the simple comfort of knowing I wasn’t alone.