The parade hadn’t even begun, and the street was already a mess of folding chairs, spilled juice boxes, and restless kids. Excitement hung in the air, mingling with the aroma of popcorn and cotton candy. I was keeping an eagle eye on Marcus, my little brother, who had a knack for disappearing at the most inconvenient times. I turned away for one second to adjust my camera — and just like that, Marcus was gone.
My heart plummeted like a lead balloon. My eyes darted through the sea of faces, searching frantically for his curly head of hair. Panic gripped me as I screamed his name over the cacophony of the crowd. Each second felt like an eternity as I imagined the worst. I rushed through clusters of giggling children and distracted parents, my mind racing.
