Chapter Text
The evening news flickered on the flatscreen, but no one was really watching it anymore. Their eyes were glued to the same headlines, full of bogus facts, misleading statistics, and blatant denial. It was enough to make Lucas grind his teeth, his hands fidgeting with the sleeve of his bright blue jacket.
“Still at it, huh?” His voice was hoarse, barely more than a mutter. He tugged his sunglasses down briefly to rub his eyes. He couldn’t bring himself to look at the screen anymore. It was the same garbage over and over. Anyone with half a brain knew climate change was real. But no one seemed to care.
Myra kicked her feet up on the wooden coffee table, exhaling a breath heavy with frustration. “You’d think someone would get it by now. But here we are.” She shoved a hand through her long, glossy blonde hair, letting out a sigh like the weight of the world was pressing on her. “We’re screwed, aren’t we?”
Philomena, sitting cross-legged on the floor, tapped her pencil against her sketchpad, the sound sharp in the silence. She glanced up, her lips tight with a mix of exhaustion and determination. “It’s exhausting, watching them ignore this like it’s some kind of joke.” Her blue eyes sharpened. “But I’m not just gonna sit here. We’re running out of time to fix this. What if we did something? I mean, something big.”
The words landed like a spark in dry wood, igniting something in the room. Nona, who’d been staring at the TV, looked away and met her sister’s gaze. “Yeah, we should. People need to hear us. Really hear us.”
Lucas sat up straighter, the frustration that had been simmering inside him finally bubbling to the surface. “What if we—what if we held a demonstration? A big one. Something they can’t ignore.”
The idea sounded crazy, but the more he thought about it, the more it felt right. Earth Day was just around the corner. It was the perfect opportunity.
Myra raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching into that familiar half-smile that usually meant she was about to dive headfirst into something big. “A demonstration, huh? Is that what you're thinking?” She leaned forward, her fingers tapping against the table. “That could actually work. It’s Earth Day. We could make it a thing—a real thing.”
Philomena’s eyes lit up, her fingers already sketching out ideas on her pad. “We could make shirts—something bold. Something that’ll get people’s attention.” She tapped her pencil again, each movement more purposeful than the last. “Not just a slogan, but a statement.”
“And posters,” Nona added, her voice firm, like she was already drafting the words in her head. “With real facts. We’ll make sure people understand what’s at stake.”
Lucas nodded, his pulse quickening. This wasn’t just about them anymore. It was bigger than their small group in the living room. This was about making everyone see—really see. “I’ll talk to the park. We can get a permit. I’ll make the speeches, but we need to make it interactive too. Fun, educational.”
Philomena smiled, her eyes glowing with excitement. “I’ll design the shirts. And I’ll make sure they’re amazing. People won’t just wear them; they’ll want to.”
Nona jumped up from her seat, already grabbing the nearest notebook. “I’ll write the pamphlets. We’ll get the word out—everywhere we can.”
Myra’s grin grew wider, a spark of mischief in her eyes. “I’ll organize the concert. Music brings people together like nothing else. We’ll get some local bands to donate their time—”
“We’ll make sure everyone knows,” Lucas interrupted, a sense of determination settling in his chest. “We can make this huge.”
Earth Day arrived faster than anyone had expected. The park was buzzing with energy. Kids ran through stalls, parents wandered by with drinks in hand, and the smell of food from local vendors filled the air. But today wasn’t just another Saturday crowd. The signs, the shirts, the energy—it all felt different. People were here for a purpose.
Philomena’s shirts were everywhere—bright and bold, with the slogan splashed across the fabric in vibrant colors: "We only have one planet to live on. Show Mother Nature some respect." The tie-dye patterns, with their fragmented, abstract design, captured the urgency of their message.
Lucas’s nerves tightened as he stood near the stage. His heart pounded too fast, too loud. He had prepared and practiced, but standing here—now—felt so much more significant. His hands shook slightly.
“You good?” Myra asked, leaning against the side of the stage. Her voice was low but filled with concern.
“I’m fine,” Lucas replied, though his voice wavered just a little. “Just... don’t let them walk away. This is everything.”
“Hey.” Myra stepped closer, her eyes soft for a moment. “You’ve got this. We’ve got this. Together.”
The speeches began. Lucas was first, his voice faltering at first, then growing steadier as he spoke. He talked about his generation—how their future was at stake, how they couldn’t afford to wait any longer. His eyes scanned the crowd, watching as faces turned toward him, some even nodding in agreement.
Nona followed, her voice strong and unwavering. “We don’t have time to wait for someone else to fix it. If we don’t act now, we’ll lose everything. We have to fight for our future.”
The crowd murmured, their attention rapt, with some pulling out their phones to capture the moment. The weight of it all settled over Lucas like a heavy blanket. But then, just when it felt like the pressure might crush him, the music began.
Myra’s concert kicked off with the first band, a group of local musicians who understood why they were there. The crowd cheered, the energy shifting to something lighter, but still intense with purpose.
As the sun set, the park was alive—music, speeches, people from all walks of life, coming together to support the planet. Donations poured in, inching them closer to their goal with every minute.
By the time the event ended, Lucas stood amidst the crowd, watching as it began to thin. But the moment wasn’t over. This day—it wasn’t the end. It was just the beginning.
“Can you believe it?” Lucas said, breathless, his voice thick with disbelief. “We did it.”
Philomena wrapped an arm around him, squeezing tight. “We did it. Together.”
Nona grinned, her eyes glinting with excitement. “And we’re just getting started.”
Myra tossed him a wink, her usual grin back in place. “Next stop: changing the world.”
Lucas took a deep breath, feeling the weight of it all—both the hard work and the success—settle in his chest. The storm had passed. They’d weathered it together. And now, they were ready for whatever came next.