Vaulx-en-Velin, March 29, 2030 - 9:45 PM
Rose turns off the TV after the litany of bad news. She lets out a deep sigh of frustration before sitting heavily in a wooden chair. Her gaze, lost in the void, betrays her dark thoughts: her family, her little brother, and this world that has become increasingly violent and chaotic.
—"Rose?"
Her mother's concerned voice pulls her from her thoughts. She then meets the questioning gaze of Lyris, who seems to already sense part of the truth.
—"Everything's fine, don't worry! I just got back, and it's not tomorrow or next week that I'll be heading back to the front," Rose says with a forced smile, trying to hide her doubts.
Lyris, with a dark look, isn't fooled. He shrugs before speaking, slightly bitter:
—"Why didn't you do like everyone else... seriously?"
Without waiting for an answer, he clears the table, visibly irritated, before retreating to his room, locking himself in the solitude he's imposed on himself for years
Their mother, her eyes tired, pretends to roll up her sleeves to deal with the dishes, but Rose gently interrupts her, placing her hand on her arm.
—"Let him be, Mom. He doesn't have our patience or self-control... And you know his temperament. I understand how he feels. Earlier..."
Rose stops, hesitant, before continuing.
Their mother's face freezes, helpless. She knows that her daughter, beautiful, strong, and determined, has inherited the same stubbornness as her brother. Still, this decision weighs heavily on her heart.
—"I know..."