A free woman reconnects with her brother

The next few days were like walking on the edge of a dagger. No one said anything argumentative, everyone was waiting to see how things would develop. Astrid started to go on walks with Ben and he didn't seem to mind the guards that were ordered to watch them, but he avoided talking about anything important. Instead, they reconnected, shared memories about their family, and just exchanged pleasantries. It felt good to talk with her brother, but the distance between them was evident. Life pulled them apart and no matter how hard they try to ignore it, they are now strangers to one another.

"Mars would always complain that you take my side. Even though he was the youngest." Astrid remembers her most annoying brother fondly. Death has the power of erasing sins from the memory.

"When I grew up, I was expected to be the one that they all leaned on. Teach them, protect them. Because, you know, I was the oldest. But I would look at them and think... I was their age too and no one protected m