Centuries into the future, a war broke out. It was a terrible war—one that killed millions and shattered the economy. Entire cities crumbled, and governments collapsed. This war became known as The Last War.
In the aftermath, a group called The Establishment rose to power. They promised a republic, a government for the people. But like many before them, their promises faded. The republic—like most republics—slowly twisted into tyranny. The world, once full of life and color, withered under their rule.
Except for the Seven Commanders and their families, everyone lived in poverty. The world turned bleak and lifeless. Everything—homes, clothes, even the sky—seemed to exist only in shades of gray, black, or white. Color had disappeared.
The day began as it always did. I woke up at 6:30 AM, brushed my teeth, and got dressed: a white top, a gray skirt, and black leggings—the only colors anyone ever wore.
Downstairs, the kitchen was silent. On the counter, a note in my mother’s handwriting waited for me:
Hello, dear daughter,
We will be working late again.
Your dinner is in the pantry.
We apologize for the small amount of food.
Love,
Mother and Father.
I wasn’t surprised. This happened all the time. I stuffed the note in my pocket, grabbed my backpack, and stepped outside...
In the following weeks, I worked at the library constantly. Every day, Ms. Lydia did something kind. One week, she gave me something she called chocolate. I had no idea what it was, but it tasted good.
For some reason, the world started looking… less grayish. (Is that even a word?) I chalked it up to the fact that I was actually enjoying myself.
I woke up the next morning expecting the usual—but nothing was usual. Instead of my usually light gray bed, it was a vibrant color. Everything was bright, with random colors I had never seen before in my life!
I panicked. I tried to pinch myself to see if it was a dream. It was not...
...Soon, even stores started organizing things by color. People began to realize that The Establishment had kept this secret from them. The people were rioting. In class, we watched the news: about 96 percent of the world was revolting.
Even if things weren’t perfect now, they were getting better.
One good deed will always lead to another.