A Brother's Responsibility

Ethan sat on the porch, the sun beginning to set and casting a soft golden glow over the yard. He was deep in a book, but every now and then, his eyes would wander to his little sister, Luna, who was running around the yard, her wild curls bouncing with every step.

“Catch, Ethan!” Luna called out, her face lighting up with a mischievous grin as she tossed the ball toward him.

Ethan couldn’t help but laugh. “You’ve gotten fast, haven’t you?” he said, hopping up to kick the ball back to her.

The sound of their mom, Clara, humming from the kitchen was a comforting background noise, the smell of dinner filling the air. Their dad, James, came in from work, his boots tapping against the wooden floor.

“You two are trouble,” James said with a warm smile, leaning in the doorway and watching the siblings play. “Look at you both, tearing up the yard.”

Ethan gave Luna a playful shove. “Hey, don’t make me look slow,” he teased.

They all sat down to dinner, the kind of quiet evening where everything felt just right. The warmth, the laughter, the simple happiness of being together—it felt like it could last forever.

But then, as Ethan stood up to join Luna again, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, expecting a random message, but instead, the screen froze him in place. “The war has begun. Stay alert.”

His stomach dropped, the peaceful evening suddenly feeling like a distant memory.