Aditi didn't know her friend was left heartbroken only a few minutes after they separated. She simply continued perusing the alleys, subtly checking the faces of everyone she passed, and helping those who asked for it.
This was in stark contrast to how it was before the war. Back before she got scammed to serve, she was a normal citizen as well.
At that time, even when there were thousands of people in the territory, they were either busy gathering supplies and resources to sell outside the territory or just hiding inside their homes, afraid to be targeted by the guards who were roaming around the streets.
Now, there was a lot of noise. Whether it was people talking to each other, or people looking for others—and thus yelling out their names—the noise pollution that surrounded her was something she hadn't experienced after the Disaster.
Fargo Village had essentially become a marketplace outside the clinic and village center and, to be honest, Aditi found it comforting.
"ADITI!" a voice yelled and she whipped her head in the direction. There were a lot of people walking about and a lot of people talking over each other and she was half-certain she was hearing things.
"ADITI!!!" the voice called again, this time closer, and she could see a few people giving way to someone. After another yell, a mocha-skinned man revealed himself.
"Brother!?" she yelled and met up with him, immediately breaking into sobs as soon as he was in arm's reach."Brother!!!"
"Aditi…" The man smiled and sobbed at the same time, embracing his baby sister tightly.
This was Raj, Ansel's Financial and Banking officer. He and his brother went to war on his team, too, and had been helping with the cleanup.
"Do you know what happened to the family?"
Raj sighed and shook his head. "We don't know where our parents are," he said. Though his instincts told him they were already gone, he still kept up some hope that they were fine. "But Ramil is with me."
Aditi blinked looking around. Raj smiled and shook his head. "Ramil is in Altera now."
Ramil had been injured in the fight. There were too many injured on Fargo's side and the Alterans had preferred to get treated in Altera. Betty was there, anyway, and she would only be transferred to help Fargo citizens after the first wave of Alteran injuries had been settled.
In fact, Raj had wanted to carry his brother, but the other insisted he stayed. This place was entirely unexplored by them with new sets of people. What if they could've found family?
And he did! His older brother was really so smart!
"Come," he said, holding the girl's hand. "We have much to talk about!"
Near the clinic, Vivian watched the various reunions and meetings from the side.
What was happening now was the convergence of three territories, and it was inevitable that there would be many happy news.
Vivian though, just stared blankly at the slaves being treated in front of the clinic. She knew she wouldn't find her husband there… but she wanted to see to keep her sanity.
As time passed, there were more and more people who found family, and it was making the women feel complicated.
So many people had met their family, why couldn't she?
Others could find multiple family members, but her only one was getting taken away from her.
There was only her and her husband in their family. They were both orphans who were raised together by relatives in the countryside. Growing up, they only ever had each other.
All this time, Vivian had survived thinking she would be reunited with him again someday—but what could she do now that she might not?
Vivian had always been a strong, career woman, but now that the love of her life was gone, she couldn't help but question her own choices.
She should have spent more time with him. She shouldn't have missed all those anniversaries in favor of scoops. She should've given him a child he so wanted—but she didn't, because she was busy chasing what she wanted.
She even made him move to the city with her, when his passion and talents were obviously rooted in his farm in the province, where his precious herbs were taken care of.
She had seen how much he loved the little garden they had on the balcony, but what could she do? Her own passion was in the city, and she could simply be apologetic and say a lot of promises to him—some of which she couldn't do—while he left everything behind for her.
"God, if you let me get my husband back, I promise to become a better wife for him," she whispered, still holding on to miracles. "Even if he… hates me after what happened, I will do what I can to give him a better life—even if it wasn't…. with me."
She just wanted him alive and well.
At this thought, she decided to go and look at other places, heading in a direction until a familiar voice called for her.
"Miss Vivian! I finally found you!"
It was Kyle, who was running to her, panting. "Miss Vivian! Go, look! The soldiers brought in slaves they rescued from the mines! There are hundreds of them!"
Her eyes widened as she followed him. Although Piko had said her husband died, she couldn't help but hope for miracles.
Sure enough, there was still a long line of people walking along the main avenue. There were only a few hundreds—with others opting to explore on their own—but everyone looked closely, hoping to find the person they were looking for.
Vivian looked at every one of them. They all looked pitiful—as all slaves were—but they looked much healthier than the ones used to mob fellow humans.
However, as more and more people passed—and still with no sign of the person she wanted to see—her heart began to feel heavier and heavier.
As the crowd walked past her, it felt like they were stepping on the little hope she had left and it made her legs feel weak.
She had to use the wall of the building to support herself, slowly dragging her legs to head back to the house she was staying in. Her body was shaking, as if she was having a withdrawal symptom of sorts, and her breath was becoming a little sparser, more challenging.
However, after a street, a familiar voice yelled out to her. "WIFE!"
She froze and turned in the direction of the voice, and all the tiredness was suddenly swept away.
He didn't look very healthy, but he looked much better than his battered state when she last saw him. Most importantly: he was alive and well.
Her feet moved as she ran to him, wrapping her arms around him. "HUSBAND!!"
Thomas smiled and embraced her back, burying his head on her shoulder, rubbing as if to make sure everything was real.
As they felt the other's familiar warmth, heard the other's voice and their heartbeats—it was only then that they confirmed they were not hallucinating.
The couple broke into sobs—hearts filled with happiness and gratitude—just happy to be in the same space as each other again.