LOGIN"Daniel," she called, her voice sharp with alarm.
He looked up. "What?" he asked.
"Come here," she ordered.
He walked over, and his mother jabbed a finger toward the window. "Look at what she's buying," she h
The faint crack of the seal made Vanessa lift her head.Charity raised the bottle and took a slow sip, allowing the cold liquid to settle comfortably in her throat.She did not rush, nor did she make a show of enjoying it. She simply drank while Vanessa watched, her eyes fixed on the bottle as though it were the only thing left in the world.“Do you remember the last time I was dying from the heat?” Charity asked calmly.Vanessa blinked.“What?”“In my previous life, I was sent out to search for food because you wanted a particular snack. I walked through the heat until my body could barely move. I was so dehydrated that I had to drink filtered urine just to stay alive, and when I finally made it back, I found you sitting comfortably in a cool house, eating chilled fruit with Daniel.”Vanessa’s fingers tightened around the iron bars.She stared at Charity, unable to understand why
Her gaze briefly settled on Daniel’s swollen wrist and Vanessa’s torn clothing, but she showed no surprise and offered no questions.She simply turned back to the workers, checked the final carton on the manifest, and stepped aside as her gate began to close.Daniel watched the heavy metal panels move between them, his empty stomach twisting with resentment as the last glimpse of Charity’s secure driveway disappeared from view.Daniel’s legs finally gave way a few steps from Charity’s gate.He dropped onto the curb, his injured wrist pressed against his chest as he struggled to catch his breath.The journey back had drained whatever strength he had left, and the heat radiating from the asphalt made his already miserable condition worse.Beside him, Vanessa stumbled forward before falling onto her hands and knees.Neither of them had the energy to get up.The armored courier was al
The sharp cracks silenced the square for a brief moment.Several people ducked instinctively, and the crowd faltered just long enough for the soldiers to climb into the truck.The driver immediately accelerated, forcing people to scatter from its path as the vehicle pulled away with most of the remaining supplies still inside.A roar of outrage followed.“Come back!”“You promised us water!”“They’re taking everything!”People chased the departing truck, throwing stones and empty containers after it, but the vehicle continued down the road until the dust and heat haze swallowed it from view.The square was left in miserable disorder.Broken containers littered the pavement, ration packs lay crushed beneath people’s feet, and injured survivors sat or sprawled on the hot ground, crying for help.Some had secured a single bottle or a torn p
The moment the first man fell, the distribution square descended into chaos.People who had spent hours waiting patiently under the scorching sun abandoned all restraint when they realized the water supply would not come close to meeting their needs.Hundreds surged toward the military truck, shoving against one another as they fought to reach the soldiers unloading the supplies.The temporary barriers toppled beneath the pressure, and the few guards attempting to maintain order were quickly overwhelmed by the sheer number of desperate people.“Everybody, step back!” one soldier shouted through a megaphone.“There are supplies for distribution! Maintain order, or the distribution will be stopped!”His warning only made the crowd more frantic.Those at the back could barely see what was happening near the truck, but the sight of people holding bottled water was enough to convince them that they
The morning sun was already punishing, and the two-mile journey seemed longer with every step.Daniel wore a thin shirt that clung to his back with sweat, while Vanessa covered her head with a scarf and carried an empty bottle in her bag.Neither spoke much because their mouths were dry, and even their breathing felt like work.Whenever they passed someone walking in the opposite direction, Vanessa stopped to ask whether the relief truck had arrived.Most people gave hurried answers before continuing toward the avenue, unwilling to waste energy on conversation.“Please tell me there will be enough for everyone,” Vanessa said as they walked.Daniel wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. “The government wouldn’t announce a relief effort if they had nothing to distribute.”He spoke confidently, but his confidence was mostly an attempt to reassure himself.He had no idea
Vanessa could not tear her eyes away from Charity’s balcony.The bowl of shaved ice sat comfortably in Charity’s lap, and every time she lifted her spoon, Vanessa felt as though the woman were deliberately rubbing her suffering in her face.The soft lights, the cooling mist, and the fresh mango slices were luxuries Vanessa had never thought twice about when she lived comfortably on Charity’s money.Now, even a mouthful of clean water was difficult to obtain, yet Charity had enough resources to waste water on cooling the air around her balcony.The contrast was unbearable.“Look at her,” Vanessa muttered, her fingernails digging into the window frame.“She’s enjoying herself while we’re practically dying across the street.”Daniel remained beside her, his face dark with resentment.He had spent the entire evening imagining ways to make Charity regret a







