Sarah walked up the carpeted stairs with fast and determined footsteps.
She found small Lily sitting near the second floor balcony railing.
Lily wore her favorite pink skirt and held a small brown teddy bear.
The open balcony looked down over the hard white marble foyer floor.
Sarah stood over the little girl with a very harsh expression on her face.
Sarah: You need to go to your room right now, Lily.
Lily: Daddy said I could play here until he gets back home.
Sarah: Your daddy is not here to save you from my rules today.
Lily looked up at Sarah with big frightened eyes and backed away slightly.
The small girl felt the cold draft coming from the nearby open window.
Sarah grabbed Lily's small shoulder with a strong and angry grip.
She wanted to force the child away from the main central house area.
Lily pulled back and tried to run toward the upper hallway door.
Lily: Let go of my arm, Sarah, you are hurting me!
Sarah: Stop screaming like a little baby and listen to me right now!
Sarah shoved Lily away toward the decorative wooden railing with sudden force.
Lily stumbled back against the low railing and lost her balance completely.
The small girl let out a loud terrified scream that echoed downstairs.
At that exact second, Mark walked back into the main front foyer below.
He had forgotten his legal file folder sitting on the front hall table.
He looked up instantly and saw the terrible scene unfolding up above.
Lily was slipping backward over the edge of the high internal balcony.
Mark dropped his briefcase and ran across the polished floor with high speed.
His heart hit against his ribs as he saw his little child falling.
Mark: Lily!
Lily: Daddy!
Mark leaped forward with all his strength and extended his arms wide open.
He caught his small daughter securely right before she hit the hard floor.
They slid together safely across the smooth marble surface near the stairs.
Mark pulled Lily tight against his chest while shaking with total fear.