Danny’s heart raced like a drumbeat as he sprinted down the narrow alley that led to his usual subway station. The morning sun had barely begun to rise, casting a golden hue over the city, but for Danny, it felt as if the world was already moving too fast. Today was not just any day; it was the day of his Primary School Exam for English, and he had to be there.

He skidded to a halt. His breath hitched in his throat as he reached the station. It was a place usually bustling with commuters, but this morning it was eerily quiet. The flickering lights above him seemed to whisper warnings, and as he checked the digital board, his stomach sank. “"”Service Disrupted Due to Power Outage."

“No, no, no!” he mumbled, running a hand through his messy hair. The exam was starting in less than an hour, and he could already envision the disappointed faces of his teachers and the sympathetic pats on the back from his friends if he failed to show up. He had studied so hard, scribbling notes in every spare moment, dreaming of the day he’d finally conquer English with its tricky grammar and vocabulary.

He glanced at his watch—a ticking reminder of the seconds slipping away. He needed a plan, and fast. Danny took a deep breath, the crisp morning air filling his lungs with determination. He raced back to the street, where the rumble of engines and the chatter of pedestrians filled the air. He spotted a bus stop just a few yards away, its sign swaying slightly in the breeze.

Without hesitation, Danny sprinted towards it, praying that a bus would arrive in time. He arrived just as a bus pulled up, the doors hissing open like a breath of hope. He climbed aboard, a wave of relief washing over him as he slipped a coin into the fare box.

“Where to?” the driver grunted, barely looking up.

“Central High School!” Danny blurted, desperation lacing his voice.

The bus jolted forward, and Danny gripped the metal pole tightly, feeling the vehicle lurch through the streets. Each stop felt like an eternity, and he counted the blocks, willing the bus to go faster. He watched the city zoom past—the vibrant murals on the walls, the familiar cafes where he and his friends would hang out after school, the old bookstore that smelled of adventure. Time was slipping away, a thief in the night.

Danny’s mind raced with thoughts of the exam. What if he missed it? What if he forgot everything he had studied? His palms grew clammy as he remembered the practice essays he had poured his heart into, the stories he had crafted with care. He couldn’t let a power outage derail his dreams.

As they approached a major intersection, the bus lurched to a stop. “Traffic!” the driver announced, irritation creeping into his voice. Danny’s heart sank. The minutes ticked by, and he could feel the weight of anxiety clawing at his chest.

He glanced outside, spotting a group of students in their crisp uniforms, chatting and laughing as they walked towards the school. They looked so calm, so collected. A wave of panic surged through him. He had to get off this bus.

“Excuse me!” Danny shouted, standing up. “I need to get off!”

The driver raised an eyebrow but complied, opening the doors. Danny leaped out, not waiting for the bus to fully stop. He scanned the street, his mind calculating the quickest route. The school was just a few blocks away, but he would need to hustle.

Danny took off, weaving through pedestrians like a sprinter on a track, dodging the obstacles of the city. He could feel the weight of his backpack pulling him back, but he forced himself onward. With every stride, he envisioned himself seated at his desk, the exam paper in front of him, his pen flying across the page.

As he turned the final corner, the school came into view, its red bricks warm in the sunlight. Students were filing in, a line of anxious but eager faces. Danny’s pulse quickened; he was almost there. He dashed up the steps, his footfalls echoing in the quiet morning.

“Danny!” a voice called. He turned to see Miss Thompson, his English teacher, standing by the door, her brow furrowed in concern. “You made it!”

“I’m here! I’m here!” he gasped, barely able to catch his breath.

“Good, the exam hasn’t started yet. Just in time!” She smiled, her relief washing over him like a warm wave.

Danny slipped inside, his heart still pounding but now with a sense of triumph. He settled into his seat, the familiar scent of paper and ink enveloping him. As he looked down at the exam paper, the words sprang to life in his mind, each sentence a pathway to his dreams.

In that moment, everything else faded away—the subway, the bus, the traffic. It was just him, the paper, and the promise of what he could achieve. With a deep breath, he picked up his pen and began to write, ready to conquer the challenge before him.