Since the blockade, the train has not made any further stops that morning. Everybody assumed that this was for the best. However, after passing the last three stations that night and early morning, the windows were covered and shuttered to minimize listening to the screams and pleas of those who didn't have time to get aboard.

It's a disgrace to abandon innocent children. Miya pondered. Turning, she fastened her mother's shawl, which had begun falling whilst she was sleeping. She snatched her book from her satchel and she flipped the pages close to her face., she couldn't help but overhear the children who are residing in the cabin with her. She pricked her ears away from the book as they continued to discuss the storyline and other realms, as her mother told.

She held her tongue, despite how much she wanted to join in and discuss their favored version of the story. Her most preferred thing to do has constantly been to tell her mother's old childhood stories. However, it was prudent not to express anything to them. She rationalized that keeping her distance was a far better option. Getting too close to someone can only end up hurting her when they sever ties with one another.

The following stop was the train's final day for everyone on board, including the freight that was supposed to have gotten delivered to the provinces hours earlier but couldn't because of the blockade. The train slowed to a halt in the middle of the mountain, and the once-packed cabin of numerous children began to silence as this was scheduled to be their intended destination. It is officially limited to four passengers.

“The train will have to return to sector one, near the station where we left our vehicle, to transport some more freight from the town where we'll be alighting.” Her mother continued. “These citizens won't be capable of continuing to the next station, this is the closet shortcut the crew can drop them at. So that's the conductor's only option.”

The uneasiness in the atmosphere was apparent; even the youngest child onboard could comprehend it. The passengers and crew that boarded the train at exactly the same time as Miyana and her mother seemed to be agitated and anxious. Concerned about the individuals who will have to hike a huge distance to the next town after passing through the mountains. What makes matters worse is that the vast majority of those there are children and toddlers.

Looking at her mother, she noticed her doing her common habit, grabbing everything she could find and fidgeting over it, due to her anxious behavior. She hasn't done that in a while. Seeing it happen again out of nowhere made Miyana and the other children uneasy, as it became evident that their lives aboard the train were coming to an end.

Everyone had been feeling overwhelmed. They blamed the length of time they were confined inside the cabin. The mother wasn't sure if that was the source of her concerns. She decided that if she didn't talk to Miyana soon, things would only become worse for both of them once they approached their destination.

She looked at Miya then out the window behind her, letting go of her earrings. It was shortly after midday, and the sun and sky were both vividly lighted. Everything she wants to say to her only child has been put together in a handwritten letter. Getting help from her mother and drafting the letter the night they slipped away was the most difficult thing she had ever done.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

No parent should ever inform their child that they will be unable to stay with them. It was quite evident. With the limited number of soldiers and resources attainable at the moment, they have little chance of winning this invasion.

According to what her husband revealed to her that night, before the hangman ropes, the attackers didn't care about their ethnicity. That only promoted them to attack, shooting anyone they saw, that wasn't their own. The predicament was just increasing the likelihood that this would be the final time they'll see one another.

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She presented her compact designer bag, reaching over her daughter's head and retrieving a small purple ribbon-wrapped black box from within. The blissful, fortunate smile that came from her child's face brought her to tears. She watched Miya as she delicately felt the silky, glistening ribbon between her fingers. The innocent expression had been overtaken with a grimace she wouldn't typically make before unwrapping a present.

Pulling the ribbon gradually and sliding the top off exposed brown paper, including crushed newspaper. “I'm hoping you like it. With what has been occurring, it's going to cost a fortune. They disable cellphone towers in order to impair civilians' communications in case intruders use the towers against us, so we'll only use these specialized gizmos. And the letter…”

The words didn't want to come out of her lips, since she knew speaking them out loud would just confirm their separation. “Your grandmother gave it to you.” She exhaled deeply.

The moment she prayed would never come was here. She began to explain that she and a few others were recruited to transport resources from units in various zones, necessitating a challenge to allow her to arrive home. She must also be returning with the resources as soon as she leaves Miya off in town.

Attempting to explain every word to Miya just made her voice sound compressed, as driblets of tears and mucous descended her face. Miya gazed blankly at the letter and phone in her palm. There were no words or tears to be seen or heard. “Please read the letter when you have eventually found a place to call home.” She choked the words out.

She returned to fiddling with her ring, saying nothing more to each other. This was the day they both dreaded and wished would never arrive. They both silently prayed it was nothing more than a nightmare from which they would soon awaken. Her mother drew Miya closer, embracing her, while the other children stared silently, understanding the same sorrow they were experiencing at the moment.

She has lost her house, her parents, and today her daughter. The aching in her chest was something that might never go away. She was at a loss for what to do. She hoped she could just try to escape to a secure location, but she didn't know where to go.

Her husband went to great lengths to obtain and fabricate counterfeit documents in an attempt to shelter Miya on the children's protection list. Hiding her legitimate age, so she wouldn't have to participate in this warfare.

She reverted her attention to Miya, who was flushed all over, after hearing snuffling sounds. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she fought the need to cry. She embraces her closer, displaying no desire to let go of her child. They sat with their arms wrapped around one other for the whole of their remaining time on the train. Before they have to go their own ways.