New Jainamorne, one of Ternalia's four main cities. A metropolis famous for its countless bars and casinos, where humans have completely tamed nature. The few blocks of parks are scattered throughout the city and are suffocated by the maze of skyscrapers that reach beyond the clouds and house millions of inhabitants. The rain falls relentlessly, draining every passerby in the cold, silent night. From the balcony on the fourteenth floor of an old building, a young adult looks out over the gray landscape.

In her left hand, she holds a mug filled with chamomile, mint, and cinnamon tea. A blend she learned from her former job as a dishwasher in a bar that unfortunately closed due to credit problems. Near her bare feet was a slightly twisted basket, and inside it was a piece of paper crumpled into a small ball.

"Another rejection, huh? My savings are almost gone..." She takes a sip of tea as she watches the rain fall on the gray landscape. "Your art doesn't meet our company's standards. We appreciate your interest and wish you good luck, blah blah blah."

Tired of working as a shoe store clerk, Carmelia quit her job and took the risk of sending her portfolio to design and advertising companies. She landed a few temporary contracts that helped her stay afloat, but her luck hasn't been the same these past two months. Rejection after rejection, she wouldn't want to look for a permanent job again, but if the situation doesn't improve, this is the only way for her.

Thunder splits the sky and disappears behind the towering skyscrapers, a sublime sight that brings both fascination and sadness to her. Life was so much easier when she was young. Well, not so easy, but it was simple. She didn't have to worry about money; she could play for hours with her friends until dusk, and when she returned home, dinner would be ready for her. The food was simple but delicious. Now she was free, one of the greatest perks of living alone, but all the pressures of adulthood left her with a knot in her stomach.

A loud, irritating sound brought her back to reality; it was a familiar ringtone on her cell phone. There was only one person she attributed that melody to: her mother, a person who had become an irritating presence in her life for years. Reluctantly, she answered.

"What do you want, Mom..." Her voice betrayed the discomfort and displeasure she felt in speaking to her.

"Where are your manners?! Is that how you talk to your mother!?" Carmelia's eyes rolled up in her head; her mother's irritated voice was exactly as she remembered it, and it was always in any conversation with her.

"Say what you want, Mom..."

"You don't talk to me for months, you haven't answered my calls in two weeks, and you're still rude to me. I didn't raise you that way, kid."

"Because you always say the same things, no matter how much time passes. Are you going to tell me what you want, or am I going to have to hang up on you?"

"Rude, I didn't raise you that way. Since you don't want to talk, I'll just tell you what I came to say. Do you remember your Aunt Augusta?"

"Yes, it's been a while since I spoke to her. In fact, I don't think I've spoken to her since I left home."

"Ran away, you mean..."

"Ran away is the best term, since we're going to say things the way they should be said, but what about her?"

"Well, she passed away last month, and the hearing with the lawyers who are handling her will has been scheduled."

That news was like an ice cube being shoved down her throat and falling violently into her stomach. The sweet memories she had of her visits at home, always smiling and bringing positivity that was rare in the family. The feeling of sadness and loss quickly turned to anger; only now had she been informed of her aunt's passing.

"What do you mean, she passed away last month?! Why didn't you tell me sooner?!" Her voice rose deliberately, the anger she felt uncontainable.

"Don't yell at me, young man! I'm your mother, and you owe me respect!"

Young man, a word that hurt deeply every time it was uttered. One of the many reasons she left home: the disrespect, the harassment, the insults. But now that's a thing of the past, and the important thing is to learn more about her beloved aunt's death.

"I won't even start about everything you did wrong, just tell me why, after a month, you called to tell me about her death."

"If you listened to me, you wouldn't have so many problems, but why wouldn't you listen to me? You know everything and always..."

"I'm going to hang up, Mom..."

"No, no, wait. I was contacted by the lawyers handling your aunt's will. They wanted to inform you that you are one of the beneficiaries of the will and that your presence is required. If you don't show up for the scheduled hearing, let me see here..." For a few moments, she could hear her mother through searching sheets of paper.

"Oh yes, in two weeks, on the eighteenth. The hearing will be at the Carlile Central Courthouse."

"Carlile?! That's three days away!" Even by bus, the trip will be long and costly, something she doesn't want to go through right now.

"Yes, don't get mad at me, I'm just the messenger. I could have reached you before, but you're not answering. I'll give you the address of the courthouse. Do you have paper to write it down?" Wasting no time, she jotted down the information. Carlile is a large metropolis, but it has a well-organized transportation system, so getting to the courthouse won't be difficult. Her thoughts were interrupted again by her mother's voice.

"If you want, I can ask your father to take you there. Just tell me your address and we'll come pick you up." Her eyes rolled back; the last thing she wanted was to see her father again.

"I don't want any of that trash. I know how to get there myself; you don't need to worry."

"Don't talk about your father like that!" her mother said, exasperated over the phone. "He knows what's best for you!"

"Of course, of course, the best thing for me is to be a completely different person than I am and an office slave like him."

"You ungrateful man! We've taken care of you for so long..." With a simple tap on the phone screen, the voice fell silent. It was always like this, full of disrespect and cruel words, always siding with the husband who didn't respect her. Dealing with her mother was an endless headache.

"She'll never change..." For a while, she sat on the bed and watched the rain fall harder. At that moment, she remembered one of her Aunt Augusta's visits. It was a sunny afternoon, a very warm day. She was lying in bed reading a fantasy book, one of her favorites at the time, the story of a peasant girl who, after the massacre of her village, managed to survive against many obstacles and even learned to wield a sword. Just as she was reaching the climax of the story, four soft knocks on the door distracted her.

"Honey, am I bothering you?" Her aunt's voice was a relief to her at that moment; she was still grounded for an argument with her father.

"Aunt Augusta! Please come in!" She coughs the book aside on the bed and runs to her aunt for a tight hug, her chubby arms warm and full of love for her.

"How is my favorite niece?" Augusta plants several kisses on the top of her head. "I brought you some products I made at the ranch. I hope you still like them."

"I love them, Auntie! And I, well, I don't know how I am..." The joyful smile from the meeting quickly fades. "My father started talking about sending me to a religious school again, that I'm ruining the family, etc."

"Don't listen to what he says! You are you! You shouldn't change for anything or anyone, only you can decide who you are, and those who don't like it can go to hell." Her words made her smile. Aunt Augusta had never gotten along very well with Carmelia's father, especially after the many fights they'd had over his fanaticism.

"Remember, dear, when you feel alone and with nowhere to go, know that I'm always with open arms for you." She ruffles her niece's hair with her hand.

"I miss you so much, Auntie..." A tear runs down her face, she curls up in bed, and ends up falling asleep there anyway.

The days passed quickly for her. Thanks to some connections, she secured some part-time jobs and raised enough money to travel to Carlile in time for the court hearing. It wasn't difficult to find the building; it was gigantic. One of the receptionists told her where the hearing was to be held, and there she encountered people she didn't want to meet. Some relatives she didn't know, so she didn't mind. However, others were acquaintances from her past, and she despised them. Fortunately, they didn't need to speak to each other, but the judgmental looks were enough to make her feel bad.

The lawyers kept the session brief, carefully recounting her Aunt Augusta's final wishes. Some, still affected by the news, simply expressed gratitude for the memory, while others were outraged at receiving only words of reprimand and meager compensation. At the end of the will, Carmelia still didn't know what she would receive. That's when one of the lawyers concluded the reading by asking everyone present, except her, to leave the room. When she was alone with them, an envelope was handed to her.

"Miss Carmelia. In this envelope are your aunt's wishes, directly to you. When you finish reading and understanding the message she left you, we need to discuss something else." She held the envelope tenderly and opened it without delay.

My dear niece.

If you're reading this, I'm afraid I can no longer hug you like I used to. I know how hard life was for you and how much I regret not taking you home when you had one of your many fights with your father. You didn't deserve to live with an idiot like him, and unfortunately, my sister became just like that idiot.

When I learned you'd run away from home and that no one knew where you were, my heart sank, and I feared the worst. When I learned years later from my sister that you'd contacted her to let her know you were still alive, I was immensely happy. Unfortunately, I had already heard about my illness, and my husband, worried that your family would cause me more stress, wouldn't let me go look for you.

However, this letter is my final gesture to try to make up for my absence when you needed it most. Everything is fine with your uncle; he won't complain about anything, as he has accepted the situation himself. I just want to tell you that I love you very much and that you are a wonderful person who certainly deserves a chance at happiness.

I hope this gift of mine gives you that opportunity; my lawyers will tell you all the details.

With much love, your Aunt Augusta, who has always been very proud of you.

When she finished reading, her face was covered in tears. Since the day she decided to run away from home, her life has been difficult. She had the freedom she so desperately desired, but it was not at all pleasant. One of the lawyers offered her a handkerchief, which she gratefully accepted. That was when he informed her.

"Miss Carmelia, following your Aunt Augusta's legal wishes, she left you the deed to the ranch in Halley River. As of today, you are the new owner, but some steps need to be taken to make this happen."

She was in shock. A ranch all to herself, the ranch where her aunt had lived all these years. What could await her?