Fallen Stars

Today was like any other day, but it was my birthday. I was turning 18.

“Yay,” Ad said in my head.

but honestly, I didn’t care when you’re living in a shit hole. I hated the fact that the Phobia came to our world. I wasn’t born when it happened, but I often wondered what a tree and our world once looked like; it’s long gone now.

In our town, everyone is taught how to survive by the time they turn five. We have some pictures of the Phobia so we know what to look out for. When you hit 18, you get a job—even if you don’t want one. Some become farmers, medical professionals, engineers, construction workers, or scavengers. We also have security in this new world.

Hey, my name is Ad. Yeah, I know the name isn’t great, but that’s what I was given. Some people don’t like me for some reason. I have an amazing mom named Zuri. She’s the nicest person in our town. As a doctor, she gets paid enough, but I think she should earn more since she’s the most skilled. Oh, I should also mention I have a brother his name is zak after our late father . He’s 27 and part of our security team as a survivor escort. He helps bring people from the badlands here.

POV Ad;

I was woken by my mother and brother holding a cake and gently saying “Happy birthday” to me. I smiled softly as I sat up, stretching and yawning while looking at them.

“Good morning, Ad! Happy birthday!” Zuri, my mother, said softly, holding the cake she had made.

“Happy birthday, baby sis! You’re 18!” Zak, my annoying but thoughtful big brother, chimed in, beaming with pride.

I would get up smile softly hug my mom before hugging my brother "Thank you guys but you didn't have to do this "i said to them a bit worried knowing that ever money counts.

“Darling, it was your birthday! Don’t worry about the cost; just get dressed and come downstairs. Your friends are down there too!” Zuri said as she left the room with the cake.

“Sis, today is about you, okay? I’ll take you to get your job later today,” Zak said, turning around and leaving. “And you’re in your underwear”

My eyes widened as I quickly covered myself with the blanket once the door closed. I sighed softly and smiled, quickly grabbing some clothes before heading to the bathroom for a shower. I let the water wash over my hair and face, the warm spray helping to wake me up

After leaving the shower, I put on some jeans that my mom had given me. They had a few holes in the legs, but nothing too bad. I slid on a black shirt that hugged my curves, feeling a bit self-conscious but also kind of confident. I put my hair up in a top ponytail, letting my curls bounce lightly in the tail as I made my way downstairs.

When I reached the bottom of the stairs, I spotted my best friends waiting for me. A big smile spread across my lips as their enthusiasm radiated through the room.

"well well well if it isn't the birthday girl come here! 'my tall friend that been with me since i know even he older he a true friend his name is sacred he is 25 years old.

I would quickly run and jump into his arms hugging him smiles as he hugged me swinging me around laughing softly he put me down and i look up at him" what you doing here don't you have work young man "i said crossing my arms at him smiles softly

"i took the day off "he said smile as he look to the side knowing he really didn't tho

Sacred, you dork! You didn’t have to do that. You should be working, but I suppose you’ve been so stressed that you need a day off. Still, it should be at home resting, not here,” I said to him, looking at him with a worried expression

before my brother noticed us. “If you two are done flirting, can we eat the cake? If you don’t hurry, I’ll eat it all myself!” he joked, looking at us with a grin.

I shot Zak a warning glare, and he flinched slightly but smiled back. Sacred put Zak in a headlock and rubbed his knuckles against Zak’s hair. Zak laughed as they roughhoused a bit.

“You two settle down,” Zuri said as she came in with the candlelight and placed it in front of a seat, smiling softly.

I smiled back and took a seat, closing my eyes for a moment. Sacred and Zak settled down, watching as I blew out the candle, a soft smile on my face.

I opened my eyes and smiled softly as my family gathered around me even though it was small it was family . One by one, they hugged me, each embrace filled with warmth and love.

We soon moved on to the kitchen holding the cake sat proudly on the table. The candles blow out, adding a touch of cheer to our otherwise gray world. As we cut the cake, laughter filled the air, and for a moment, I could forget about the harsh realities outside. We shared stories, reminiscing about old times and creating new memories.

The day flew by, and before I knew it, the sun was setting outside, casting a warm glow through the grimy windows. It was a great day—a rare moment of happiness in our lives, and I cherished every second of it.

Sacred left in the middle of the night after we went shopping. Tomorrow, I would go get my job with my brother Zak, but he had a worried look on his face. I walked up to him, curiosity bubbling inside me.

“Hey, why the worried look? Is everything okay?” I asked, leaning against him and resting my head on his arm.

He sighed, a hint of tension in his voice. “I’m okay… I just… I’m worried about what job you’ll get. I don’t want you to end up in the same position I’m in. If anything were to happen to you… I…” His voice trailed off, and I saw his hands clench into fists, a sign that he was holding back a torrent of emotions. I could see how much he cared, a brother’s protectiveness shining through.

“Zak, I’ll be fine. We both know I can handle myself,” I reassured him, wrapping my arms around his waist. “Besides, it’s just a job. I have to find my own path, right?”

He looked down at me, searching my eyes for assurance. “I know, but I can’t shake this feeling…” We stood there in the quiet, waiting for dawn to break, filled with unspoken fears and hopes for what lay ahead.

I gently pressed my forehead against Zak’s, closing my eyes as I felt the warmth of our connection. We had always done this when we were stressed or sad; it brought a sense of calm in the chaos of our lives. Slowly, I could feel him relax, the tension in his shoulders easing just a bit.

I pulled back slightly to look at him, smiling softly. “Zak, even if I end up as a scavenger, escort, or even in the military, I promise I will always come back, okay?” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

He searched my eyes, the worry still lingering. I understood the risks that came with those jobs—outside our town, the world was brutal, and many didn’t make it back. But I wanted him to believe in me, to trust that I could navigate the dangers.

“I know it’s dangerous out there,” I continued, trying to reassure him. “But we’ve trained for this. I’ll be careful, I promise.” Zak nodded slowly, though his expression remained serious. It hurt to see him so worried, but I hoped my words could give him some peace. I just wanted to step into this new chapter of my life with his support, no matter what lay ahead.