Star Union - Red

R-8

"Clang Clang Clang" the town bell was ringing my mom swept up the stairs to awake me but then realized I was awake. She hadn't slept either, I could tell by the dark circles under her eyes. I got up out of my bed and held her hand. The last time the bell rang it was to tell us unit Y-7 was discovered by the enemy and there were no survivors. One of the people in Y-7 was my sister Wendy. We were pitied upon and everyone wanted to pull us in to get closer but all I wanted was to be alone. My mom moved in with my aunt for a while, but I stayed at our house. I lost my sister I didn't want to lose the house where I shared my memories with her too.

After about a month my mom had moved back in, it was hard to adjust to living with one another again. I know she wanted to get close to me again but didn't know how. She had a lot of sleepless nights after Wendy. I was 15 when I lost her. I'm 16 and a half now.

My mom whispers to me "We have to go now." I just nod. We get up and go downstairs and put our shoes on. When we get to the town center it was nearly full. I see my aunt is already here my mom goes over to her and they whisper to each other. I read their lips. " Is this about the war?" My mom asks. My aunt turns to her and nods. "What's going on?" my mother said My aunt whispers back " I'm not for sure but I think they need more soldiers." My mother gasps and quickly looks at me. She turns back to my aunt. "What can we do?" " Nothing." My aunt replies. Right on cue the town councilor steps onto the platform and calls out.

"People of R-8 we have gathered here for two important reasons." "The first one to address is that we have won Mt. Umbrey but during battle we lost an amount of soldiers so each town is to give the 16 year olds thru 18 year olds up to the soldier academy in Port Roy. They need them in three days." There was an outburst in the crowd then people shouting fighting and people just standing there stunned. My mother ,aunt, and my cousins came rushing towards me and my mother said "What do we do?" I was shocked so I calmly stared at her and slowly say "You do nothing. I'm going to Port Roy."

My eyes started to water and I started to cry which turned into sobs and finally turned into full on body sobs. My family stared at me in confusion because I don't cry. Not when dad left, not when the war started, not when Wendy was drafted, and not when she died. My family just stood there as I turn around and sprint in the opposite way. When I finally stopped running I realized where I was. I was at Wendy's tree.

The tree she would climb to pick apples from and where we played as children. It felt as if she was there and that she was watching over me. That she was stroking my hair, that she was telling me everything would be okay." She came here too when she was drafted. I climbed the tree and sat on of its top branches and I soon fell asleep. When I woke up it was early morning the sun just rising. I take the long walk home and walk inside. When I got in the house I found out that my aunt had stayed the night. I tip-toe past her and go up the stairs. I start packing my bag.

☑ multi tool knife

☑ water container

☑ foldable tent

☑ sleeping bag

☑ matches

☑ clothes

When I was done my mom came up the stairs and she came over and gave me a hug. She started to cry. "I'm sorry sweetheart I'm so sorry that you have to go to the academy I tried to convince the councilor that I needed you here but he said that our town had already reached the maximum for staying behind, most of the children staying behind are his and his brother's children." "Selfish so selfish." she muttered. I hug her and tell her everything will be okay. Then she looks at me and shouts " You come home to me Sophia Red Aster you are going to come home!" She cries very hard then and I wanted to comfort her but I didn't know how. My aunt came up the stairs and took my mother's hand and looked at me. "Be safe." That night we sat together and we talked about our good times together. We all laughed and cried at the same time. When it became very late my aunt and cousins went home and my mom and I sat together and watched the fire die out. 

             The next day when I woke up I was still next to my mom she was sleeping still she looked a lot younger when she slept. Then the bell rang it was the signal that the 16-18 year olds had to go and be at the academy. My mother awoke with a start looked at me and the truth finally settled in. She started to cry and brush my face and tell me that everything would be okay and that I would get to come home to her soon and that we would have this big party. I stopped listening and just stood their hugging my mom trying to get her scent in my brain so I would remember it  and I tried to memorize her face. "I got to go now." I whisper on the verge off tears. She held me tighter and then let go "I know." she said. She starts sobbing even harder. You'll come home I know you will." I step back and grab my bag. I smile at her and let my tears come out.  I go out the door and walk toward town where all the other teens are. All of them sad and angry and confused. A train pulls into take us away from home away from R-8.