A little boy named Ethan glimpsed her from his bedroom window that night. He rubbed his eyes, certain it was a dream. There, under the streetlamp, Sahara paused, her gaze lifting toward the sky. Ethan whispered to his stuffed bear, “She looks sad.” He never told his parents.
The zoo director faced the press. “We are working with local authorities. The animal is dangerous only if threatened.” His words were crisp, rehearsed, and designed to calm. Yet panic grew. Protests flared online about zoo negligence, about wild creatures behind bars. Some demanded Sahara’s capture, others whispered she deserved freedom.