Under the streetlight, a 20-year-old girl wandered alone, her silhouette a stark contrast to the warm summer night. Her once radiant face was now marked by the exhaustion and despair of repeated failure. Puffy eyes, swollen from countless tears shed over the past few weeks, told the story of her struggles.

She wore a simple, loose-fitting dress, its light fabric flattering gently in the evening breeze. The dress, once her favorite, now seemed to hang on her, reflecting the weight she had lost due to stress and sleepless nights. Her hair, which she usually kept neatly tied, was now loose and slightly tangled, framing her tired face.

"Why?" she whispered to herself, the word echoing in her mind like a mantra. "Why did this happen to me? Was it my fault?" The questions swirled in her head, a relentless vortex of self-doubt and anguish.

She thought back to her childhood, the memories of her parents' vicious arguments and cruel fights still seared into her mind. The times she spent in the hospital, the pain and fear that had gripped her tiny body. The corrupt leaders who ruled her country, their greed and neglect suffocating it's people-all were too much to take in for her.

"Where is my fault?" she cried out, her voice shattering the stillness of night. "Is it my fault I was born into this family, this country! Is it my fault I couldn't see the future! I couldn't know things would turn out like this!"

She shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "I did what I thought was right at that time. I did what I could."

Her shoulders slumped, body trembling with sobs. She felt lost and alone, consumed by the weight of her own helplessness. The darkness seemed to close in around her, and for a moment, she wondered if she'd ever find her way out.

Her feet carried her to the river bank as if drawn by an unseen force. She sat down, gazing up at the moon, lost in thought.
She stared blankly at the result card in her hands.

Four attempts, four failures. Her dream, being a doctor, the only career she had ever considered, was slipping further and further away. She felt like she was trapped in a maze with no escape.

At 20-years-old, she was supposed to be on the cusp of adulthood, but instead, she felt so lost and aimless with no clear path forward.

She stared at the river water, her mind racing with questions. "What should I do now? Should I be happy that I still have a way, or should I be sad that I lost my dream?"

She sighed and looked at the moon. "There are many students who don't even have another way except their broken dream. I'm still lucky, but what's the good in that? I still wasted three years before that."

She paused, her gaze drifting deeper into the water. "Maybe I should just focus on the present on what I could control. Maybe I should find a new dream, a new passion. But, what if I fail again? What if I'm not good enough?"

As she looked back to those three years, she couldn't help but wonder if she should label them as a disastrous failure or a crucible of growth. On the surface, it seemed like a wasted period-no degree, no career prospects, no clear directions.

But as she reflected on her struggles, the setbacks, and the moments of sheer desperation, she realised that those years have taught her more about life than any classroom ever had.

She learned a little about resilience, adaptability, and the importance of relationships and community. She learned that success is not the destination but a journey and that every detour and dead end is an opportunity to learn and grow.

Those three years had been a masterclass in humility, in perseverance, and in the art of embracing the uncertainty. She spoke to herself as if trying to be assured. "Were they a failure or the greatest teacher I'd ever had?"

She rose from the ground and started pacing along the river bank with steady steps. "I'd always thought that this was what I meant to be, but now it seems like an unattainable fantasy." She looked up in the sky, the twinkling stars brought a genuine smile on her face.

She breathed deeply, her voice calm. "I guess, sometimes, it's better to move forward even if it means leaving behind a beautiful imagination."

She was so immersed into her thoughts when suddenly, a loud sob pierced the night air, making her heart skip a beat. She turned towards the sound, her eyes scanning the darkness. Fear crept up her spine as she wondered if she was alone with a ghost.

But as she looked closer, she saw a figure shrouded in shadows, standing at the water's edge. The silhouette was unmistakable, and sobs grew louder, more desperate.

Her initial fears gave way to horror as she realised what was happening.
She leaped to her feet, her voice ringing out across the water.

"Hey!? What are you doing!? Suicide is a huge sin! Think of your parents, at least! Hey! Are you listening to me!? Stop!"

Her words hung in the air, a desperate plea to snatch the stranger back from the brink. Her eyes were fixed on the figure, her heart pounding in her chest. As she waited for a response, any response that would indicate the stranger was still within reach.

A/N: I'd love to hear your thoughts!

1. Who is the mysterious stranger, and what's their story?

2. Will the girl be able to save them, or will fate have other plans?