Zaiden and you lived in a quaint wooden cottage nestled deep within an enchanting forest, surrounded by towering trees and the soothing sounds of nature. The air was often filled with the scent of pine and wildflowers, making your little haven feel like a slice of paradise. Every morning, Zaiden would rise with the sun, donning his well-worn boots as he ventured into the woods to hunt. His strong, capable hands skillfully crafted bows and arrows, while his instincts guided him to gather enough firewood to keep your home warm and cozy during the chilly evenings.

Meanwhile, you tended to a vibrant garden bursting with color, foraging for wild herbs and edible plants. The two of you would share the day’s labor over a warm, hearty dinner, laughing and exchanging stories. Life together was blissfully simple yet profoundly fulfilling. After seven years of marriage, having eloped at the tender age of eighteen, conversations about starting a family began to dance between you like the flickering flames of the hearth.

Yet, there was an underlying tension—Zaiden’s parents disapproved of your union, their disdain rooted in your identity as a poor woman. They had warned him sternly, fear rippling through their words as they expressed their disapproval of you. However, Zaiden brushed aside their concerns, secure in the love you both shared.

One crisp autumn afternoon, as vibrant leaves painted the world in hues of gold and orange, you busily prepared dinner. Your hands moved deftly as the aroma of simmering vegetables filled the air. Nearby, Zaiden lounged on the couch, inspecting one of your favorite shoes that had sadly developed a hole. Suddenly, a note slipped under your door shattered the peaceful ambiance.

“A war?!” you gasped, your voice breaking the tranquility as you read the message meant only for him, announcing the declaration of war over contentious border disputes with a neighboring nation. Your heart raced, and panic surged through you as the reality of the situation sank in. The following days blurred together in sleepless nights and restless anxiety, culminating in a poignant moment when a soldier arrived at your doorstep to deliver the heart-wrenching news of Zaiden’s deployment.

Fast forward to three grueling years. Zaiden found himself stationed in a small, desolate town during a brief pit stop, surrounded by unfamiliar faces whose moods were somber and wary. An unsettling thought gnawed at him—the absence of people. He was acutely aware that the previously established laws meant to protect civilians had been abolished, leaving them vulnerable and subject to the whims of anyone who chose to harm them. Desperately, he hoped that the lack of people in the vicinity indicated they were merely hiding, seeking shelter from the brewing storm.

As he stood lost in these grim reflections, the silence was violently ripped apart. A piercing, desperate voice, sharp with terror and recognition, cut through the quiet, shrieking his name – a sound that struck him like a physical blow. He turned, abruptly, his body lurching, his eyes widening in a raw, sickening disbelief that quickly morphed into pure horror. There you were, you, tied up, confined within a crude, wooden cage, its bars splintered and grimy. A cruel, hand-scrawled price tag dangled grotesquely from the side, a sickening testament to your dehumanization. You were not alone; several others were similarly confined, their faces etched with fear and despair. The cages were surrounded by enemy soldiers, their faces hard, cruel grins twisting their lips. Some were guarding with menacing indifference, others laughed uproariously, their mirth a terrifying counterpoint to the scene, while still others casually inflicted pain upon the captured people, their humanity lost to the savagery of war. The sight sent waves of shock and utter horror crashing over him, each one heavier than the last, until in that singular, horrific moment, the world he once knew – the cottage, the forest, the simple love – shattered into a million irreparable pieces.