The siblings grew an inseparable bond over the years, they spent the rest of their childhood in a foster home until Ethan was old enough to buy them a small apartment. They attended the same High School and were both, unfortunately, badly bullied throughout their time there, but they always had each other's shoulder to cry on whenever times got too tough. Their lives seemed like a big cliche at that point. Ethan never took off his dear mother's locket and was, for no identified reason, very overprotective over it.
25th September 2002
An early autumn's haze submerged the town. After a short stroll down the beach, Ethan and Clarity headed to Starbucks for their usual, an iced latte for him and a plain mocha for her. They sat down on the sticky leather seats and gazed at the wet abyss of the sea through the translucent window.
"Do you remember that night?" Ethan asked
"What night?" Clarity replied
"The night we lost everything"
"Oh, and no.. not at all, why?"
"Well, I was reflecting over it a few nights ago and I was a little confused"
"How come?
"I remember a baby crying, I assumed it was you but the more I think about it, it couldn't have been you, because from what I remember you were so confused you fell silent after we escaped"
"Hmm, maybe you just don't really remember it that much?"
"Maybe.."
Most cafe trips consisted of conversations as short as these ones, as time wasn't a given quality to delve into anything broader than a single point and an array of responses. Most of the time the following walk to school wouldn't even be remembered.
"Well, here we go again." Clarity said, sighing.
"Don't worry, you've been through it many times and I'm always here for you if it gets bad," Ethan reassures her, even though he goes through the same 6 hours of unneeded stress on a daily basis.
"I don't know what I'd do without you." Clarity replies, hugging her older brother tightly.
The two hug for a long time and part ways, ready to get through another hellish day of school.