The life inside her stirred silently.

She knew it was there. She had been through all the stages. Such a fragile thing, yet its realization was met with both hatred and love at the same time, leaving her in a perpetual state of wondering what to do next.

She unconsciously placed a hand on her stomach. The turmoil brewed within her.

She was alone, but she felt uneasy, judged, and helpless.

Whispers of Mallory's past flooded her mind. Her legs twitched in the chair as her last few joyful moments came back in her thoughts.

School had been done for the day. Despite them having stayed later for detention, the sun's fangs bore down on Mallory and the girls. They had done their best to handle it on their way home.

"Hey you," a familiar voice called.

Mallory and the girls turned their heads to see that it was Domenic calling Mallory over to a tree that swayed in the breeze.

She had not expected him to be here. He wore a bright smile on his face. He had waited for her after her detention, sitting with a book in his hands as he passed the time.

Mallory looked at the other girls and they smiled as they left, knowing that she intended to stay.

"Don't stay too long," one of the girls said, as they walked away.

Mallory held her hands together in front of her skirt as she approached Domenic slowly. When she reached him, he took her hand. They sat by the tree watching the leaves blow and the cars pass by. There was silence as they sat side by side, holding hands.

Shalanda was the last student to pass. It was almost dark. Her bags were heavy, and she carried three. She had spent all of her time studying. She aimed to achieve the best grade. Shalanda was no doubt set to make the most of the government's program of free education.

Domenic and Mallory looked at her as she walked by. She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she didn't even notice that they were there.

They smiled at each other. Their hearts had been long content, and they knew what was on the other's mind. They took their leave together as Domenic walked her home. She didn't live that far from Chelston School.

Before she left him, they kissed under the street light.

She walked to her front door giddily, looking back one last time to wave her hand as Domenic left.

***

That, however, was a long time ago, with a different man—a man who had held some sense of ambition; a man she had believed in more than anything. The world had moulded and changed him into something else.

Mallory herself was not untouched. When the days of school were over, they both had worked, what could be only described as, low-end jobs. They had gathered all the money they could and put it together.

Finally, after so long, they were able to leave home and get their own apartment. The world, however, had made new advancements. With the birth of AI, the job cuts had been serious. Mallory lost her job, and could not find another despite her education level. She gave up on it, bitter at those who refused to employ her.

That, however, was only the beginning of trouble.

Mallory had long given her all to stave off the impending wolves. The simultaneous deaths of her parents were the first nail in the coffin. Now beaten, battered, and alone, the walls were finally closing in. She had sat there with her eyes fixed on the bills long after Domenic had left.

Looking for some measure of light, she wore mixed expressions of anger, sadness, and desperation. Nothing but silence inhabited the apartment as she made her decision.

She'd had enough.

Mallory had grown tired. She was sick of waiting for something to happen in order for her circumstances to improve. It all seemed to be nearing the end of the line now. She took the first few steps, drew her pen, and wrote her frustrations onto paper.

Rage overtook her; rage at her inability, rage at Domenic, rage at the world. Rage was the only thing that remained. It pushed her out of the house. She closed the door without looking back, even though she had no direction or purpose.

Anywhere was better than here.