That night, Ezekiel dreamed again.
The battlefield returned like it always did.
Smoke.
Gunfire.
Screaming.
The air burned with the smell of metal and blood.
And Nathaniel.
He was there again, just as he had been in Ezekiel's last memory of him, reaching out, his hands slipping away.
"No… Nathaniel…!"
Ezekiel woke with a sharp gasp.
"Nathaniel!"
His chest rose and fell quickly as he tried to breathe. For a moment he didn't know where he was.
Then the silence of the room slowly settled around him.
Home.
The war was over.
At least outside his mind.
He ran a hand through his hair and sat up in bed.
The room was dark and still.
Ezekiel stood and walked to the table, pouring himself a glass of water. The cold liquid helped steady his breathing.
As he turned toward the window, something outside caught his attention.
Through the curtain he could see the garden.
And Lily.
The boy was outside, moving happily among the flowers.
He wasn't working.
He was spinning in small circles, laughing quietly to himself.
Every now and then he jumped in excitement, like a child who had just received the greatest gift in the world.
Ezekiel shook his head slightly.
"Still so cheerful," he murmured.
"He really is a Lily."
Before he could think any further, a knock sounded at the door.
"Ezekiel," Jeremy's voice called.
"It's already midday. Come eat. We're worried about you."
"I'm fine," Ezekiel replied.
"I'm coming."
Downstairs, Lucas was already at the table.
He was eating happily, crumbs on his lips as he talked.
Jeremy sat beside him, listening with quiet amusement.
Lucas kept talking while chewing.
Jeremy sighed and reached over, wiping the food from Lucas's mouth with his thumb.
"You still eat like a kid," Jeremy said calmly.
"You'll never grow up."
Then he casually ate the crumb himself.
Lucas stared at him.
"Ew!" he laughed. "That's disgusting!"
He shoved a napkin toward him.
"Wipe your face."
They were still laughing when Ezekiel entered the room.
Lucas brightened immediately.
"Brother!" he said.
"Come eat."
Ezekiel joined them at the table.
For a moment, the three brothers sat together quietly.
Then Jeremy asked,
"So… what's your next step?"
Ezekiel stared at the table.
"I don't know," he said honestly.
"I'm just tired."
"I don't know where I'm going next. I just want to rest. I want to breathe for a while."
The room fell silent.
They understood.
Better than anyone.
The weight of their father's name.
The expectations.
The pressure of being Swares sons.
It was heavy for all of them.
Lucas suddenly raised his hand.
"I'm still hungry," he said dramatically.
"Can someone bring cake?"
Jeremy laughed quietly.
Lucas froze.
"Wait… you can smile?" he said.
"I've never seen that before."
Jeremy rolled his eyes.
"Don't you have class?"
"In the afternoon," Lucas replied lazily.
Ezekiel glanced toward Jeremy.
"You still haven't told her, have you?"
Jeremy stiffened.
"It's not right," he said firmly.
"It's a sin. It can't happen."
Ezekiel raised an eyebrow.
Lucas looked between them.
"Wait, wait — what are you two talking about?"
"Do you have feelings?"
"For who?"
Jeremy pointed at his plate.
"Eat your food."
"And go to class."
Lucas pouted but obeyed.
Just like that, the moment passed.
Meanwhile, Lily stood in front of a mirror in his small room.
He adjusted his shirt again.
And again.
And again.
He wanted to look neat.
Perfect.
His uncle knocked.
"Ready?"
Lily nodded quickly.
When Lily stepped through the school gates, he stopped walking.
He stared.
Students everywhere.
Voices.
Laughter.
The noise of life.
For a moment he simply stood there, overwhelmed.
Then he smiled.
And suddenly tears filled his eyes.
"I've never felt this happy before," he said, laughing and crying at the same time.
His uncle shook his head.
"You're too emotional."
"No wonder they used to call you Lily."
Lily wiped his face quickly.
"I know, Uncle."
"But this feels like a dream."
"I promise I won't let you down."
"I know you won't."
After finishing the paperwork, Lily walked outside.
He felt lighter than he ever had.
That was when he bumped into someone.
"Oh— sorry!" Lily said quickly.
"I was just really happy."
The boy laughed.
"Relax, bruv. You're good."
"I'm Lily."
"Ruckus."
They started talking immediately.
Ruckus joked that the school was terrible.
Lily argued that it was wonderful.
Soon they discovered they were the same age.
Both nineteen.
Both turning twenty soon.
And in the same class.
Ruckus introduced him to his friends — Graves, Pannier, and Bridget.
They talked about football.
Video games.
Life.
And somehow Lily already felt like he belonged.
Later they went to eat together.
"I don't have much money," Lily admitted.
Ruckus waved a hand.
"We've got you."
And just like that…
Lily had real friends.
That evening, Lily walked home smiling to himself.
A car suddenly stopped in front of him.
"Hey— sorry!"
The driver stepped out.
It was Ezekiel.
Lily froze.
"Are you Lily?" Ezekiel asked.
"Yes, sir."
"It's been a long time."
"Where are you going?"
"Home."
"So am I."
"Get in."
They drove quietly.
"How old are you now?" Ezekiel asked.
"Nineteen."
"Wow," Ezekiel said softly.
"A lot's changed."
"How was school?"
"I just got enrolled today."
"It was… good."
Ezekiel nodded.
"If you ever need anything… for old time's sake, you can call me."
"Thank you, sir."
The rest of the drive was silent.
At the post office, Lily asked him to stop.
He thanked Ezekiel again and ran the rest of the way home.
Still smiling.
Still hopeful.
Later that night, Lucas stood outside a café with his friends.
Then he heard a familiar voice.
"Lucas… my boy."
He froze.
One of his friends whispered,
"That's your mother."
Lucas's expression hardened.
"No."
"I'll meet you later."
He walked toward her slowly.
"What are you doing here?" he asked coldly.
"I just wanted to see my son."
"You're not my mother," Lucas said sharply.
"My mother left me."
"My son died the day you abandoned me."
"I don't want your money," she said softly.
"I just want you."
"Leave."
"Go."
"I may have lost you once," she cried.
"But I won't lose you again."
"I love you."
"GO!" Lucas shouted.
She walked away.
Lucas collapsed onto the pavement.
Years of pain crashed down all at once.
And he broke.
Not far away, Lily saw him.
Without thinking, he ran over.
"Hey," Lily said gently.
"It's okay."
"I'm here."
He helped Lucas stand and led him to a quiet restaurant nearby.
Lucas wiped his eyes.
"I'm fine."
"You don't have to pretend," Lily said softly.
"We were friends once."
Lucas looked at him.
"You're right."
"You're not a stranger."
Then he smiled faintly.
"When's your birthday?"
"In a month."
"Then don't worry about anything until then."
Lucas paid the bill and stood.
"Go home safe."
As Lily watched him leave, something strange stirred in his chest.
Happiness.
Fear.
Hope.
Because something important had just begun.
And none of them knew it yet.