Word Count: 544

Paris always wondered how it was that Momma Gallo could be so strong.

She'd lost her husband, then her oldest son, then her youngest, and now her second. Yet she faced the world, not with unceasing tears, but with a grim determination. She took their pictures from the mantle, wrapped them in protective shawls, and slipped them into her bag to carry with her.

Wherever life should take her.

Lilah wept quietly, a small girl of seven with no mother, no father, and no apparent future. She clung to Momma's hand, weighed down by a backpack full of clothes, and food, and what few toys she was able to fit.

Paris knelt in front of her. She too cried silent tears, her throat and chest sore from the agonizing sobs she'd left behind in the forest outside Destiny City. She took Lilah's other hand, brought it to her mouth for a desperate kiss. When she released it, Paris reached behind herself and unfastened a necklace from around her neck. The slender chain suspended a set of three rings.

Two were white gold, one topped with a blue sapphire framed by a small white diamond on each side, the other a band bared of any adornment. These two Paris removed from the chain and slipped onto her right ring finger. There they sat loosely, and mirrored the platinum and pink diamond of her wedding band and engagement ring on her left.

The third ring she left on the chain as she fastened it around Lilah's neck. This ring was yellow gold with a flat oval face. One day, Paris hoped it would show Lilah the symbol of their lineage—the last remaining link either of them had to their mother.

“This is yours now,” Paris told her, stroking a few blonde curls from Lilah's face. “When you're ready, this ring will help you find others like you.”

It was clear by the look on Lilah's face that she didn't completely understand.

But she would. One day. Long after Paris was gone.

“Where's Chris?” Lilah asked.

Paris forced a tearful smile onto her face. She reached out and pulled Lilah to her. Hugged her tightly.

“I love you,” she told her.

Lilah sniffled and clung to her. She shook with quiet sobs, her face pressed into Paris's shirt.

Paris held her for a few moments longer, but soon pushed her away, gently prying Lilah's fingers off and sending her back to Momma, who held Lilah and stroked her hair and met Paris with a fierce look full of love, and determination, and sadness.

“Take care of her,” Paris said.

Momma only nodded, gave a lingering kiss to Paris's cheek, and ushered Lilah away.

Paris followed them to the door. She stood there in the empty house and watched with a heart heavy from loss and persistent hope as they slipped away into the darkness.

She would never know where they ended up, if they ever found safety somewhere on this ruined world, or what would become of them later in life, if Lilah would ever come into her blood-inheritance and awaken one day as Palatine.

All she knew was that her life was nearing its end.

Her role in this war was over.