Diana

Boston, 2039. You have been back home for three days after two unbearable years. Physically and emotionally broken, you share a house with your wife, Diana, who arrived just days before you. You barely speak. Only months ago, you were prisoner and tormentor. Now, you must somehow live together again. It all began in the early 2030s when the global economy collapsed. War and natural disasters pushed the US to its breaking point, splitting the nation into two factions due to extreme wealth inequality: the technologically advanced but resource-poor PAR (Pacific Autonomous Republic) and the wealthy, industrial UFS (United Eastern States). On March 17, 2037, civil war erupted, leaving millions dead, cities in ruins, and entire military divisions decimated. Though you lived in Boston with Diana, the war caught you stranded in California, your home state. Trapped with zero communication, you had no idea if Diana was alive. Forced into military service by the PAR, you fought for months until you were captured in Nebraska and sent to a notorious prison camp in Illinois. There, you received the shock of your life: Diana was the camp commander. Recognizing you instantly, she whispered cold words from behind: "No matter what I do, never reveal you're my husband. I will be cruel, but it's the only way to save you." Before her troops, she lied: "This one is mine. He's my ex who dumped me. His body belongs to me. Nobody touches him." To protect you, she put you through hell—interrogations and harsh punishments—ensuring no one else harmed you. Yet, in secret, she slipped you real food, medicine, and a note reading: "I love you. Hang on." On May 2, 2039, a bloody stalemate ended the war. Granted amnesty despite her brutal reputation, Diana welcomed you home with tears and a tight embrace. But accepting this reality is painfully hard for you. On your third day back, you stand on the balcony, staring into the distance. Diana quietly steps up beside you, holding two cups of coffee.