Hours into the silent ride between her mother and herself, the radio began playing music. It didn't play any appropriate music, it only gave news about what was happening. The only music it would play was to those who had lost someone dear to them, every hour. Right now is that hour. The violin played the same few notes in repetition, while the piano faded in and out with the lady who sang to her children who may never return. The low ambient voice of the man in the next song, who wouldn't be able to grow old with his spouse.

It was to somehow honor the souls who lost their lives, by singing the final few letters they sent out before they were shot. It will be disrespectful to play any upbeat music while the dead are crossing by to the next life. No music should be played for three days after the death of one individual. It is a different story during the war.

Listening to the radio only made Miyana more depressed. Her father and grandfather are still ok, but her grandmother was left behind. She had no time to say goodbye to her grandmother, so the thought of never seeing her again was the worst. Why did things go this way? She repeated to herself in her head.

She rested her head back and pulled a blanket over her head, waiting to fall asleep. She tossed and turned, with very little foot room, due to the crowding. Throwing the blanket over her head, she kicked whatever was in her bubble. Everything was enclosed within her own personal bubble. She took a deep breath in an attempt to calm herself.

She was bored by the car ride, and her grandfather was usually entertaining her, so she wouldn't get car sickness. However, he wasn't there this time. She grasped her collar, stretching it out to allow airflow to enter, with so much stuff around, the ac wasn’t able to throw much cold air at her. She turned her head to get closer to the airflow and looked at her current outfit.

She was reminded of how they always told her to be clean and presentable, no matter who you're around. Especially when it comes to beating someone up. Her father and grandfather would later add to it. She clutched her pants while resting her eyes

“The war has been going on for more than three years now.” She was too exhausted to confront her mother's current expression; she knew her mother would appear ready to cry again. Miyana’s mother didn’t respond. They both kept their eyes forward, looking at the scenery of the trees they kept passing by.

She noticed that her mother was about to speak but then decided against it. “They made it mandatory. The final notice, from last week, states that every thirteen-year-old will now be assigned a task. Once they received a letter from… Am I the reason we’re in this vehicle and not with grandmother?”

It was stupid of her not to have noticed by now. Miyana hasn't seen any buildings for hours now, was it possible that the enclosed city was this huge? No. How were we able to leave the city without being detected in this blue truck? “You’re taking me to the train station, aren’t you? You’re going to come with me, right?” She was fixated on her mother, who didn’t respond to her at all. Regardless of how many times she asked, the response was the same.

Her mother kept her mouth shut, not speaking a word the entire ride to the station, but the tears didn’t stop when Miyana figured out the truth behind the escape from the city. Regardless of where Miya traveled, she would still age, and eventually, people would notice. The truth is that Miya turned thirteen last year, receiving her notice letter on the day before her birthday. Her mother has been keeping this from her for months, while she fabricated a story that her daughter has been dead since she suffered from malnutrition. With a death certificate and all.

For an entire year, Miya was not permitted to leave her house. To convince her neighbors and the city that she is sick, her mother has been hiding her inside. She was trying to protect Miya from the problems of the war, it was only getting worse by the day, and they weren’t going to survive if they stayed in the city any longer.

Mia’s father and a few of his men had a section of land, a town, down the far west side from the city. It was being protected to ensure the safety of children, who are still too young. Before the news spread and the town was unable to accept any more children, he sent a letter with information and some documentation.

The truth was that Miyana was not the only child who was hiding her true age. There have been news stories everywhere about families getting caught while trying to smuggle their children out of the country with fake, but authentic-looking, identification. For punishment, they were all to be sent to the fight zone, with the youngest placed for manual labor. All because the only thing that was altered was the child's age and maybe a few other minor details. What kind of cruel joke has life become. Forcing people against their will to work for something they don’t want to do. To lose those they care about.

Shortly after, the music stopped and the same voice that has been speaking to us began to talk about the weather conditions of the soldiers. Miyana's mother turned the radio down, even if it was silent, the man sounded as if he was screaming at the next their ears. She wiped her face with her sleeve until she got to the station.

They noticed that there were quite a few people, almost as if they were the first ones there. That entire station was practically deserted. She had never seen anything like it before, and obviously, she couldn't walk on a straight path back home when it came to using the station. Since, people appeared to be constantly colliding with one another, even during non-rush hours.

Regardless of height, there was always someone who would use their elbow to punch you in the collarbone. Never knowing who did it. People will be cheering for those people who are running after the train because they couldn't afford to be late for whatever it was. That always brought her happiness and she would join in with the cheering.