Rise and Fall and Rise Again

ch 1The Beginning of Something

“We were just kids. Life felt simple back then.”

The sun was brutal that afternoon, its heat pressing down on the cracked pavement of the school courtyard. Sweat trickled down the back of my neck as I stood with Ren and Jian near the old basketball hoop. The net was long gone — replaced by a dangling piece of rope — but that never stopped us from playing.

"Last shot wins," Ren declared, bouncing the scuffed basketball off the ground.

"That’s what you said five shots ago," Jian muttered, wiping his forehead. His brown hair was plastered to his skin.

Ren grinned. "That’s because I haven’t won yet."

I laughed, stepping forward. "Alright then, let’s settle it."

Ren passed me the ball, and I dribbled toward the hoop. Jian cut in front of me, arms wide, but I spun to the side, launching the ball into the air. It bounced off the backboard and swished through the rope.

"Yes!" I threw my hands up.

Jian sighed. "I don’t know why I even try anymore."

"Because losing builds character," Ren said smugly, walking up and throwing an arm around my shoulder. "Tianze’s too good. Maybe we should start charging him to play."

"Yeah, like he has money," Jian snorted.

I shoved them off playfully. "Come on, let’s get something to drink before the next class."

We walked toward the convenience store just outside the school gates. Kids were scattered around the street — some laughing, some fighting, some running after a stray dog. The city wasn’t pretty — cracked roads, peeling posters on the walls, and the faint smell of sewage — but it was home.

Ren walked up to the counter and slammed a few coins down. "Three sodas."

"We can’t afford—" Jian started.

"Relax," Ren said, handing me one. "Consider it an investment in friendship."

We sat on the curb, watching the traffic roll by. Cars honked, scooters zipped through narrow gaps, and street vendors shouted out deals.

"You think life will always be like this?" Jian asked suddenly.

Ren raised an eyebrow. "What, hot and miserable?"

"No." Jian’s gaze darkened. "I mean… you think we’ll still be hanging out in ten years?"

"Of course," Ren said without hesitation. "We’ll be rich and famous by then. Tianze will probably own half the city."

I laughed. "I’d settle for not having to think about money all the time."

Jian sighed. "Yeah…"

I didn’t realize then how right he was to worry.

---

After School

The sun was lower when we left the store. I walked home alone, Ren and Jian splitting off toward their own houses. Our apartment was on the fifth floor of an old building. The elevator hadn’t worked in years, so I climbed the stairs two at a time.

Inside, my mother was chopping vegetables at the small kitchen counter. My sister, Xiaoyu, was sitting on the floor with her homework.

"You’re late," my mother said without looking up.

"I stayed to play basketball."

She clicked her tongue. "You spend too much time playing."

I sat down on the floor next to Xiaoyu. "Did you finish your homework?"

She stuck her tongue out. "I’m working on it!"

My mother slid a plate of stir-fried vegetables and rice in front of me. "Eat."

I didn’t argue. Food was food. We weren’t in a position to complain.

"I might be late tomorrow," my mother said.

"Why?"

"I’m picking up another shift."

I frowned. "That’s your third shift this week."

"We need the money."

I didn’t say anything. My father worked at a factory, but the pay was barely enough to cover rent and food. My mother’s part-time job kept us from falling behind.

After dinner, I sat by the window, looking out over the city. The buildings were old and gray, stacked closely together like a pile of stones. The streetlights flickered unevenly.

Jian’s words echoed in my head.

You think life will always be like this?

I didn’t know. But I knew I didn’t want it to stay this way.

---

The Incident

The next day started out normal. Morning classes dragged on. Jian fell asleep in history class, and Ren nearly got detention for talking back to the teacher. We were eating lunch behind the school when we heard shouting.

"What’s going on?" Jian sat up.

A crowd had gathered near the back wall of the school. Curious, we walked over.

Two older students had cornered a younger boy against the wall. The kid was maybe ten — his face pale, his arms trembling.

"You think you can walk past us without paying, huh?" One of the older kids shoved him.

I stepped forward. "Leave him alone."

The taller bully’s eyes narrowed. "Who the hell are you?"

"Just someone who hates cowards."

Ren and Jian flanked me.

"Walk away," Jian said calmly.

The bully’s lip curled. "You want to make this your problem?"

Ren smiled thinly. "It already is."

The bully stepped toward Ren — and Ren punched him straight across the face. The kid stumbled back, clutching his nose.