The world stood still as I locked eyes with Atlas. His blue eyes softened, staring at me with longing.

Daring me to stay, to want —

To persist and exist. I leaned in before freezing.

Gunshots rang through. How were we still okay?

Atlas pulled me in before I could turn. “You have a father who’s willing to go to war for you,” He gestured around and I realised for each wounded soldier, there were two other armed guards.

The shots weren’t from the soldiers, they ...