

RUMMAGE
Brian's day starts in a rush, a forgotten date, and a desperate dash to apologize with flowers. But a sudden, brutal accident leaves him fighting for life and answers. Meanwhile, Jerika, a brilliant scientist, battles for recognition in a male-dominated field, only to face betrayal from her past. Two lives, seemingly disparate, are entangled by a mysterious project and a truth that refuses to stay buried. Will Brian wake up to reveal the secrets, or will Jerika's fight expose a conspiracy that could cost her everything?The blaring alarm and insistent phone shattered Brian's sleep, his groggy 'Heelo' met with an angry female voice demanding to know the date. He shot upright, a jolt of pain in his back as the calendar on his phone screamed 'late!'. "I am so... so sorry! I'll be there!" he stammered, fumbling the receiver before scrambling out of bed.
His ankle screamed in protest as he tripped, a bad omen for an already rushed day. No time for breakfast, just a desperate limp towards his car. The city, it seemed, had conspired against him, every traffic light turning red. Then, a flower shop. A sudden impulse, a bought bouquet, and the sweet scent of lilies filled his nostrils, promising forgiveness.
But time was a cruel mistress. He glanced at his watch, the panic returning. He practically ran, clutching the flowers, a reckless dash across the street. It happened in an instant, a blur of metal and pain. The world spun, then faded to black. He was hit.
The car sped away. Blood bloomed on the asphalt, crimsoning the scattered petals of his apology. His vision blurred, the red trail reaching for the closest lily. Devastation, then darkness.
