Scarlet city stood silhouetted by the rising sun, it's tall buildings like dark monoliths, silently imposing themselves across the horizon. The distant orange sun illuminated a patchwork of clouds, giving the sky a deep coral candecance, only interrupted by the streaking lines of planes far above. Kira and Sam strolled through a small park, aimlessly meandering around the empty paths that criss-crossed the frosty grass. The small public park was quiet, but not entirely detached from the hum of disant traffic as the city slowly made its way to work, school or people’s other daily tasks. A distant rumble hinted at the comings and goings of trains, the only louder sounds being the occasional car that made its way down a nearby suburban street. Most of the tantalisingly reclusive park was still in shadow, the slowly rising sun having not reached more than the rusty tops of a smattering of playground structures and public recreational exercise contraptions installed a few years ago.<br/>Eventually the siblings came to a slight rise in the path, on top of which a bench stood off to the right, facing towards the upcoming dawn sun. The small knoll was just high enough to give the feeling of having an uninterrupted view of the distant buildings, some of them now slowing starting to also be illuminated by the bright interior lights of offices or the glow of white collar workers booting up their computers while they groggily sipped a coffee from their favourite big brand name. Sam would normally be one of them if he hadn’t insisted on staying home to mind her again. This time she welcomed his company.<br/>The two sat down on the bench, neither particularly caring about the morning dew that coated its top. Kira ran her fingers over the coarse surface of the seat, it’s neglected surface was coarse and the varnish was inevitably flaking off. Kira huddled closer to her brother against the chill, her burns only slightly tingling as she moved thanks to the prescribed pain killers. Sam tenderly placed his arm around her shoulder, just as a lump settled in Kira’s throat and the beginnings of tears formed in her light blue eyes, which now reflected an enchanting pallet of sunrise colours. As they sat in silence, reminiscing on the memories of their parents on this very bench, a single tear spilled from her eye and made its way down Kira’s right cheek. Unbidden, Kira’s thoughts sank into the familiar depths of grief, filling her with the dull ache of regret and sorrow. Her mother and father had always had such high hopes for Kira, despite her near compulsive habits of conducting herself poorly in school and, more often than not, at home. It seemed so cruel and cliched to Kira, that only now after their presence was ripped from her life, did she truly appreciate them the way she ought to have since the second she first opened her eyes. As though reading her guilt stricken mind, Sam softly spoke up, wrenching her attention away from dejection and heartbreak.<br/><span style="color: #0080FF">“They would be proud-,”</span>he said, his voice choking for a split second before wrestled back control within a moment.<span style="color: #0080FF">“They would be happy now that you’re going after something.”</span>He looked at her with glowing pride in his eyes.<span style="color: #0080FF">“Well, in between multiple mental breakdowns because of what you’re going after...”</span>He said, a slight droll grin appearing on his lips. Kira couldn’t help but smile and cringe at his, as usual, terribly timed humour.<br/><span style="color: #00BF00">“You’re so stupid.”</span>She said, matter of factly, the choking feeling in her throat dissipating as he chucked and nodded his agreement. Kira’s tears dried and for a time she enjoyed the view, the brisk morning air, and the presence of her older brother.<br/>They walked on after a while, following the seemingly ancient family tradition of first picnicking on the bench, before walking to the playground where Sam and their father would humour Kira’s insatiable appetite for playing games when she was much younger, both doing their best to match her enthusiasm.<br/>Now as they walked past the haphazardly placed swings, slides, see-saws and climbers, an idea struck Kira. She broke off the path and lightly jogged towards the monkey bars, her loose sweatpants and soft hoodie not bothering her burns, the worst of which were also bandaged. Sam followed, a quizzical look playing over his face. Kira stopped under the bars, looked up and jumped up to grab onto one. She firmed her grip on the wet metal, inhaled until her rib twinged despite the pills, and pulled herself up towards it. She did not get very far. Her arms barely bent and face reddening with exertion, she let go and landed back on the ground, jarring her body and grimacing in pain.<br/><span style="color: #00BF00">“That could have gone better.”</span>She said dryly as Sam unhelpfully began snickering despite himself.<br/><span style="color: #0080FF">“Yeah well I guess that’s what you get when you passionately despise exercise since you were old enough to realise what it is.”</span>He pointed out, grinning as Kira grumpily strode passed him towards the path.<span style="color: #0080FF">“We’re going to have to work on, well, a lot.”</span>He said, before turning and following his little sister.<br/><span style="color: #00BF00">“I need a coffee!”</span>Kira announced, suddenly remembering how tired she was and looking forward to spending another day on the couch under a heap of blankets.