The smell of fried bacon and greasy French fries filled the bright 1950s diner. Bright red vinyl booths lined the walls while jukebox music played softly in the background. Down the center aisle, sixteen-year-old Lily carefully guided her wheelchair, balancing a heavy tray of bacon cheeseburgers and milkshakes on her lap.
Lily: Excuse me, coming through.
Customer: Careful there, sweetie.
Lily: Thank you, I've got it under control.
Lily smiled warmly, keeping her grip steady on the silver handles of her wheels. She had worked hard for months to build up her arm strength, determined to help her uncle around the diner during summer rush hours. But as she rounded the corner near the counter, a tall shadow blocked her path.
Jimmy: Well, look what we have here, boys.
Lily: Jimmy, please move out of the way. I'm carrying hot food.
Jimmy: Or what? You're gonna run me over with your little stunt chair?
Jimmy adjusted his black leather jacket, his red hair slicked back in a greasy pompadour. He smirked as his two friends leaned against a booth, laughing loudly. Lily squeezed the handles of her wheelchair, her cheeks burning red in front of the packed room.
Lily: I'm just trying to do my job. Move aside.
Jimmy: You don't belong in a place like this. You belong in a hospital.
Lily: Stop it, Jimmy!
Without warning, Jimmy kicked the front wheel of her chair hard. He grabbed the side armrest and violently tipped the entire wheelchair sideways over the polished checkered floor.
Lily gasped as the chair flipped completely onto its side. The heavy metal tray crashed onto the linoleum, sending milkshakes splashing across her clothes and hot food scattering everywhere. The harsh metallic bang echoed through the diner as several plates shattered on impact.
Customer 1: Hey! What is wrong with you?!
Customer 2: Somebody help her!
Jimmy: NOBODY WANTS YOU HERE! STAY DOWN ON THE FLOOR!
Jimmy stood tall over Lily as she lay on the cold tiles, pointing his finger aggressively down at her face. The diner fell into a shocked, frozen silence as Lily held her scraped arm, tears of pain and humiliation filling her eyes. But before Jimmy could take another step, the glass front windows of the diner shattered into thousands of tiny flying pieces.