Under the stars

Chapter 6: Sweet Holidays.

A few months after the tense conversation with his parents, Victor seemed to have found a temporary way to keep the peace. He had enrolled in several prestigious schools—medicine, law, and even engineering—just to meet his parents' expectations. William and Sophie, though still suspicious and unconvinced, seemed to have softened their initial anger at the idea of their son following a more conventional path. But deep down, Victor knew it was all just a façade. He continued to dream of the military, of the sense of accomplishment he imagined he would find in a uniform, and of the possibility of leaving behind the life he had lived until now.

Waiting for responses from the prestigious schools only added tension at home. Sophie clung to the hope that Victor might change his mind over time, while William saw every potential letter as a chance to "save" his son from what he considered a fatal mistake. But Victor had not given up on the idea of enlisting. Every day, he continued to prepare himself physically, training rigorously to maintain and strengthen his body. He ran every morning at dawn, did strength exercises, and mentally trained himself to handle stressful situations.

Not long after the application deadlines passed, the family decided to go on vacation. This year, like many others, they chose to head to the countryside, to the small village where Victor's maternal grandparents, Samuel and Victoria, lived. Victor loved these countryside stays. Far from the deafening noise of Paris and his school responsibilities, he finally felt free, alive. Here, surrounded by his cousins, he could finally lower his guard, release the tension that accompanied him day after day.

As soon as they arrived at Samuel and Victoria’s, a fresh breath of air filled Victor’s lungs. With high school taking up most of his time, he hadn't had the chance to visit them as often as before, but the vast fields, clear skies, and animals wandering peacefully around the farm brought back happy memories, moments when he could be himself without worrying about others' judgment. On the first evening, the whole family gathered around a large dinner table in the family home. Samuel, seated at the head of the table, looked lovingly at his grandchildren, but especially at Victor, now a young man in his eyes.

The conversation soon turned, as it often did, to the future of the younger ones. Victor's cousins, all younger than him, spoke excitedly about their plans for school or work. Victor remained quiet, listening without contributing much, until Samuel turned to him.

"So, Victor, do you know what you want to do yet?"

Victor felt the gaze of the entire family on him, particularly the heavy stares of Sophie and William, who immediately tensed in anticipation of his answer. It felt like this moment marked a point of no return. He took a deep breath, then, in a calm but determined voice, responded:

"I want to join the military. Become a soldier."

Sophie sighed loudly in frustration, while William rolled his eyes, clearly disappointed by this declaration. But before they could say anything, other voices rose around the table. Samuel put down his fork, a proud smile on his lips.

"Well, that's a noble decision, Victor," he said with pride. "It takes courage to make such a choice."

Victoria, seated next to him, nodded in agreement. "We will always be proud of you, no matter what you decide. As long as you're doing what you love, that's all that matters."

The encouragement from his grandparents warmed Victor’s heart. He felt a weight lift off his shoulders. Other family members, his aunt and uncle, exchanged knowing smiles, and even some of his cousins expressed admiration for his choice. This contrasted sharply with his parents’ closed-off attitude, who remained silent, visibly uncomfortable with the direction the conversation had taken.

Later that evening, as the house settled into the quiet of the night, Victor went upstairs and knocked softly on the door of Maëlle’s room, his younger cousin. Maëlle had always held a special place in his heart. Despite their age difference, there had always been a special connection between them. She seemed to understand him without him needing to explain everything, and this bond had only strengthened over the years. Maëlle, only 11, had a maturity well beyond her age and deeply admired her cousin.

"Are you asleep?" Victor asked gently, opening the door slightly.

"No, come in," she replied with a smile, sitting on her bed with a book in her hands.

Victor entered the small room and closed the door behind him, sitting on the edge of the bed. He sighed, visibly relieved to be able to talk freely.

"It was tense tonight," he began. "I knew my parents wouldn’t react well, but I had to say it."

Maëlle looked at him with her big, understanding eyes. She didn’t need to ask him how he felt; she already knew. She put her book aside and moved closer to him, sitting cross-legged on her bed.

"I’m proud of you, you know," she said. "You’re doing what you really want to do. You’re fighting for your dreams, and that’s all that matters. No matter what anyone else thinks."

Victor smiled, touched by her words. "It’s easier said than done. My parents will never support me in this. But here, with all of you, I finally feel free."

They stayed up for hours talking, with Maëlle asking him about his desire to enlist, about his deeper motivations. She listened attentively, offering unconditional support, a kind of understanding Victor had never really found elsewhere. They also reminisced about their childhood in the countryside, the times they played in the fields, their adventures in the nearby forest, and racing with the farm animals. To Maëlle, Victor had always been a role model, someone brave, and she saw strength in his decision, where others saw only danger.

"You have to follow what you love, Victor," she finally said as the night wore on. "Don’t let anyone make you doubt. Not even your parents. You’re stronger than you think."

Victor thanked her silently, moved by her support. He felt understood, accepted, and that made all the difference at this crucial moment in his life.

The next morning, Victor woke up with a sense of lightness, as if the tensions of the previous night had faded away. After a family breakfast, he and Maëlle decided to take a walk through the vast fields of the countryside. The landscape, bathed in the first rays of the sun, offered them a deep sense of peace.

As they walked in silence, Maëlle finally broke the quiet. "So... how’s school going for you? Is it really over, all of that?" she asked, concerned.

Victor took a deep breath before responding. "Yeah, no one bothers me anymore. Since I stood up for myself, they got the message. But, you know, it doesn’t just go away that easily. The memories linger."

Maëlle nodded, understanding. She knew Victor and his past well, and though the physical wounds had healed, the ones in his heart remained.

They walked in silence again for a while, before Victor spoke up. "What helped me was realizing that I wasn’t alone. There were other guys going through the same thing, like that one kid I helped."

Maëlle turned to him, intrigued. "Why did you help him? I mean, it's amazing and shows you’re a good person, but weren’t you scared?"

"I think I saw myself in him. When I saw him lying on the ground, three guys beating him... I don’t know, I just acted without thinking."

Maëlle smiled softly. "That was really brave of you."

Victor shrugged. "Maybe. Or maybe I was just tired of seeing others suffer."

They passed an old oak tree, a memory from their childhood. Victor stopped and smiled. "Do you remember this place? The boys used to climb up there, and we’d spend hours watching the clouds."

Maëlle laughed. "Yes, I remember, it was so peaceful, and for once, they weren’t teasing me."

Victor nodded. "Those were the good days. Everything was simpler."

Maëlle smiled knowingly. "Maybe it’s time to find that simplicity again, don’t you think?"

Victor shrugged. "Maybe so. That’s why I want to enlist in the army. I want something more tangible, something bigger than myself."

Maëlle placed a hand on his arm. "Whatever happens, you know I’ll always be here for you. But be careful... I have to admit, it scares me. You’ll come back often... You promise?"

Victor reassured her with a smile, feeling as if he could finally move forward, supported by those who truly mattered to him.