After knocking me down, the woman quickly apologized, her teary eyes reflecting an expression of sincere regret. As she tried to explain, I felt a mixture of emotions flooding my chest: fear, confusion, and a pang of compassion.

"I'm sorry, Violet," her words were almost whispers, filled with anguish. "I didn't want to scare you. I just... we really need you, Violet... it's our last chance."

Her eager gaze met mine, revealing the vulnerability behind her mask of determination. For a moment, I was speechless, struggling to process what had just happened. But upon seeing the sincerity in her eyes, a sense of calm began to infiltrate my being.

"It's okay," I murmured, my voice soft and reassuring. "It was just a scare, don't worry."

As I tried to compose myself, the woman remained by my side, her calm presence bringing some calm to the whirlwind of emotions that enveloped me. It was as if, despite all the confusion around us, there was a kind of mutual understanding established between us, both of us aware that we carried some kind of fear and confusion.

"Understand, Violet," she began, her voice cracking with the weight of emotion. "We are tired of losses, of struggles without hope of victory. Every fall, every sacrifice, has left deep scars in our hearts. But we can no longer afford to suffer any more casualties, not now. This is our last chance to make the difference, of protecting what is most precious to us. If we don't act now, if we don't fight until our last breath, the city and all of us will crumble, sink into the darkness of hopelessness."

She paused for a moment, searching the depths of her soul for words that would express the full urgency and magnitude of the situation. Her teary eyes met mine, conveying an anguish that echoed in my own being.

"We're not just fighting for ourselves, Violet," he continued, his voice echoing with a mix of determination and fragility. "We are fighting for those we love, for those who have lost hope, for those who have no voice. We need you, Violet. Desperately."

At the woman's emotional words, an overwhelming feeling of responsibility and duty came over me. It was as if a gigantic weight was sitting on my shoulders, pressing me with the gravity of the situation.

For a moment, I felt paralyzed, unable to articulate a response given the magnitude of what was being asked. The idea of ​​being their last hope, the only barrier between the community and the abyss of doom, was overwhelming.

In the middle of that conversation, something lit up inside me, a strange feeling of being truly needed, of actually being able to do something that mattered. It was as if, for the first time in all the anguish and despair, someone was looking at me and saying, "You can make a difference."

It was as if I was finally emerging from the darkness and seeing a ray of light. For so long, I felt helpless, like my arms were tied by the cruel city we live in. But now, there was a real opportunity for change, a chance to do something meaningful.

Even with all the doubts and uncertainties hanging over me, when I looked into that woman's eyes, I felt a spark of determination light up inside me. I wanted to see where it would take us. I wanted to make a difference.

I took a deep breath, gathering all the courage I could muster, and looked into the woman's eyes. "I'm in," I murmured, my voice shaky but steady. "We'll do whatever it takes to protect our community. But... there's also my sister, Zoey. If something happens to me, she'll be alone."

With a reassuring smile, she stood up and extended her hand to me. "I said we can't afford to lose anyone else. We're going to take you back to your sister." Her voice was soft, but carried with it an unwavering determination.

"My name is Jade, by the way"

At first I hesitated, pondering what this meant for me and my sister. But, after a moment of reflection, I realized that I couldn't let this opportunity slip away.

"Violet, Violet Valentine," I replied, accepting Jade's hand. "However, I think you already know that."

As I pronounced my name, a whirlwind of emotions coursed through my being. One part of me felt a twinge of excitement at the unknown, while another was filled with doubt and fear.

In a quick thought, like a line of internal dialogue, came the realization: "For some reason, I feel like I'm about to do the biggest shit of my life."

Despite this latent uncertainty, I couldn't help but raise a smile at Jade.