The Fading Summer

Chapter One: Facing the Music

<Matthew>

                {picture of Matthew}
  "New Athens newly sworn in City Governor Branson Braddock has announced a restructuring of the city's government starting next month. These new changes would include City Ministries with Ministers appointed by the City Governor and approved by the New Athens City Council. The founding of several programs aimed at civilian cooperation and obedience. And one of the most surprising, the suburbs of New Athens falling under its jurisdiction and authority. This news has brought unrest to several districts located near the outskirts of the city. The Security Coalition restored peace to the old mill district, but the industrial canal district is under severe unrest resembling urban battles at times. The City Governor has reassured the city that the situation will be resolved soon. Latest reports state that the Virginia controlled USAS Commonwealth is en route to the city to help with putting out the riots. Even the President himself addressed the riots afflicting the region as 'a result of division and secessionist ideas'. Rumors have spread that the President will send in special armed forces if necessary to unite the nation and stamp out secessionism. The vote for Virginia's secession is scheduled for this spring."
  Matt Braddock turned off his phone. All the news was about the chaos ruining America, and the signs of a major economic depression hitting the economy of the country. For most teenagers, they were so immune to the absolute instability of their country that they simple ignored the issue hoping that the adults would figure out all the issues. But for Matt, that was simply not the case. His whole life revolved around his father's politics. "Behave yourself, son." He would always say. "One wrong step and you ruin our image." "Get dressed nicely, son. You need to show your best image at the party." "I can't let you have social media, son. One post, and you ruin my career." Always rules and regulations for the sake of the House of Braddock's gold and shining image. And to top it, the politics of the region burdened him constantly. Fear that his father and family will be assassinated by extremist groups. Fear of mass rioting destroying the city and his family. Fear of the President ordering father's and his family's arrest. The whole country's tensions effected him deeply. But he had to hide his fear and emotions. He had to build walls around himself to keep people from seeing how fragile he truly was.

''Matt.'' Janice, the estate maid knocked softly at the bedroom door. ''Time to get ready for school.'' Matt sighed and dragged himself off the bed. This was worse than anything else his father forced upon him. Being a student at Jefferson High. Being not only the school's spectacle, but also for the whole city of New Athens to see the Mayor's very son in a public school surrounded by the city's tension filled students.

With sluggish motions, Matt got dressed in his suit and tie. It was his duty to show dominance and authority with his outfit. Everything must show leadership.

After he got dressed, Matt applied basic amounts of makeup to cover his tired eyes and stressed skin. He had to display to the citizens that he was perfect and flawless. One slip, and the media would pounce on him like a starving tiger ready to devour any gossip available. The stress was constant. He had insomnia, depression, anxiety, you name it. He held in his panic attacks like a constant cough that disturbs people around you. He held it in till he could go to the restroom or to his bedroom and curl up into a ball and cry his eyes out. The only thing he wanted was a normal life, but he would never have a normal life. He was a prisoner of his own image. Forever isolated behind a fragile mask.

=•=
Janice drove Matthew to the school in her car: 2016 Chevy Cruze. The aging vehicle would draw less attention to Matt when he drove up to the school, but there was still going to be an audience awaiting him. Matt absently minded stared out the window. Pure exhaustion filled his body. The constant image. The immense expectation and pressure. And the scary reality of his failure could entail all just smothered him. He didn't know who he was before he was put in the spotlight. He didn't know what he enjoyed or what he liked. He was just an image. And images aren't supposed to think. He was a ghost of a human being.

  "Are you alright, Matthew?" Janice's voice barely registered in his mind. He mustered energy for his automatic response, "I'm blessed and thankful for what I am and what I've been given." Janice sighed and continued driving. He was a lost cause to those who truly knew him like Janice.

  The car pulled up to the three story newly built high school. Glass and curving steel created an open air and harmonious feeling to those who saw and entered it. But to Matt, it was a lavishly built prison.

  He opened the door and slung his book bag over his shoulder. Then he stepped onto the sidewalk. The unusually cold morning air hit his lungs. Shouts. Bright flashes. The media spotted him. Black suited cameramen and reporters closed in on the white suited Matt. He kept a neutral face and authoratative posture. A barrage of questions flew out of their mouths pecking at his ears. Their bright camera flashes stung his eyes. The constant bumping into his muscular bodyguards jabbed at his bruises he self inflicted. Everything was overwhelming his senses. He wanted to scream. He wanted to tear his hair out and howl in an empty wilderness. But he kept his pose. He became truly cold.