In that instant, time seemed to slow down. The room was filled with gasps and screams, but I was consumed by a singular focus: Maya. My precious daughter, cradled in my arms, looked up at me with wide, innocent eyes that shone with confusion and fear. Her small arms clung to my neck, her heart beating rapidly against my chest. I had to protect her, no matter the cost.
As the statue collided with my head, a sharp, searing pain coursed through my skull, but my grip on Maya only tightened. I stumbled backward, losing balance, and crashed into the wall. The impact jarred every bone in my body, but I refused to loosen my hold on her. My world tilted on its axis, and everything around me became a blur. The noise of the room faded into a distant hum, overshadowed by the urgent need to shield my daughter from further harm.
