Volition

1

Ynna stared down at the cold chicken sopas in front of her, trying to muster up some enthusiasm for her first meal at the House of Hope. The broth was tepid, the macaroni limp, and the bits of chicken floating listlessly in the bowl seemed almost apologetic. She sighed, poking at the soup with her spoon, wondering if it would taste any better if it were warm.

It had been an hour since she arrived at the House of Hope, and she was still trying to process her new surroundings. The facility was stark, with harsh fluorescent lighting and walls painted a bland shade of green that did little to alleviate the sterile atmosphere.

She lifted the spoon to her lips and took a sip, noting that its handle was made out of rubber, grimacing at the coldness. She just wanted a moment of peace to eat her meal, but the room was filled with noise. Across from her, a boy she assumed to be around her age with an irritatingly loud voice and a foreign accent she could not quite place was talking nonstop. Chenli, she had overheard one of their "houseparents" call him.

Chenli had a fast, almost frenetic energy, and he spoke without any apparent need for pauses or breath. With a lean build, black glasses perched on his nose, and styled black hair, Chenli looked like someone who might be better suited to a tech startup than a detention center.

"So, you know, I was thinking about how weird this place is, right? Like, the food? This shit's terrible. But it's better than where I was before. And the rules? Don't even get me started, like, they took all my piercings because they were quote, unquote sharp! I mean, who came up with them? It's like they were designed to make you go crazy. And did you see the courtyard? It's not too bad, actually. I should probably check that place later."

Ynna clenched her jaw, fighting the urge to tell him to shut up. She really just wanted to enjoy her meal in peace, even if the sopas was barely edible. She looked around the room, noticing the other kids engrossed in a card game at a nearby table. They seemed to be taking it very seriously, their brows furrowed in concentration.

Chenli, oblivious to her disinterest, continued talking. "I was also thinking about how this place could use some more light and air conditioning. I can't live with just electric fans. Like, who thought that was a good idea? And don't you think the beds are too hard? I swear, my back is already hurting. Oh, and what about the schedule? Have you seen it? It's crazy. Like, what do you mean lights-off at 10? So, anyway, who are you?"

"Ynna," she muttered, hoping that answering him would make him stop talking.

"Ynna! That's a cool name. I'm Chenli, by the way. Did you just get here? I just got here too. Still trying to figure things out, you know? But I think we could make it work. I mean, it's probably not all bad." 

Ynna nodded absently, not really listening. She could not help but feel a pang of annoyance at how easily Chenli seemed to accept this place. Maybe it was better than where he had come from, but to her, it was just another prison with a prettier name. She focused on her sopas, trying to block out his voice.

As she stirred her soup, trying to find some semblance of warmth in it, she heard the soft click of heels approaching. She looked up to see one of their "houseparents" walking toward their table. The woman had a kind face, with soft features and gentle eyes that seemed to exude warmth and understanding. Her smile was welcoming, and her voice, when she spoke, was soothing.

"Hello, Ynna, Chenli. How are you both settling in?" she asked, her tone genuinely concerned. Ynna grips her spoon a little tighter, wondering how much she is paid to speak in that tone.

Don't think like that. She loosens her grip.

Chenli, ever the chatterbox, immediately launched into a response. "Oh, hey! Ma'am Sarmiento. I was just telling Ynna here about how weird this place is. I mean, it's so sad? There's no air conditioning, the food is terrible, and the beds are like sleeping on rocks. And the rules? Don't even get me started. They're absolutely insane. Do they even think about what we need? The government has all this fucking money and yet—"