THE ONE-MINUTE MIRACLE

Between Christmas and New Year, something strange began happening in Barangay Santo Niño.

- By Zaida Marie A. Tambis

Every night at 11:59 p.m., the world suddenly stopped.The wind froze. Jeepneys hung in place. Even the stars paused their twinkling.

The stillness lasted for exactly one magical minute, which almost no one noticed. Except Janette.

Janette was a young teacher who loved her students but felt exhausted after a long year of lesson plans and deadlines. On the first night of the pause, she was writing on her desk when her pen hung in midair and the ticking clock fell silent. Confused, she walked outside and saw the whole street frozen, except for one person.

Lola Mercy, her elderly neighbor, stepped out of her door. "Ah," she said, "you can move in the stillness too."

Before Janette could reply, a small voice whispered, "Teacher?" It was Sharlie, one of her students, clutching her stuffed toy. She looked nervous. "I've seen this for two nights. I didn't know who to tell."