Ned (to himself): Skyscrapers look amazing.
The amount of exterior glass, the height, and the reflection of the sun.
I ask myself, what would it feel like to stand on top of a skyscraper?
Would the rush of air make me fly like a superhero?
Or would I simply lose my balance and die?
The cars stopped. I had to get through.
It was a very hard day. I was exhausted. The exam was hard. I hoped not to fail.
Ned: I'm done, Mom.
(Screaming sounds in the living room.)
Ned: My mom and dad always fight.
They used to be great together, but now I don't know why their fights are so small and trivial.
Ned went into his room, and next to it were Henry and Mia's rooms.
Ned is considered the middle one.
Henry: There's nothing better than getting back into fights, right?
Ned didn't reply. He went into his room, put his bag on the nightstand, and lay on his bed, looking at his phone.
Ned: Didn't Ellie send me any messages?
Ned opened the messaging app, shocked.
Ned: I didn't reply??? Oh my god, I forgot about that. She must be really mad at me.
Ned: Sorry I didn't reply to your messages. I didn't notice.
Ned looked at the phone, waiting for Ellie to reply.
Ellie typed:
Always?
Ellie typed:
You always do that, Ned.
Ned typed:
I forgot. Excuse me. I thought I was the one who texted you and you didn't reply.
Ned (to himself): Damn, I always forget things.
Ellie typed:
No problem, ned. How was your day? 😊
Ned typed:
It was great. I didn't study well.
Ned (to himself): I hate emojis.
Ellie typed: Never mind. Better yet.
Let's play some video games.
Ned: Okay, let's go.
Ned got up and opened his PC.
Opened Discord to talk to Ellie.
Ned: So what are we going to play?
Ellie: Let's play Fortnite.
Ned: Okay, but have you learned how to build or are you still weak?
Ellie: I tried a little, don't worry.
Ned: Okay, let's go.
Mia was eavesdropping on him from outside the room.
Mia is a 10-year-old who's always mischievous and causes trouble for Ned.
Knock knock knock knock
Knock knock knock knock
Ned: Stop it, Mia. If you don't, I'll tell your mom.
Tick tick tick tick tick
Ned (angry): Damn it.
Ellie: Is everything okay?
Ned: Yes, yes, it's just Mia. She's making me angry.
Ellie laughed, saying, "She's really fun. Send her my regards."
Mia immediately walked into Ned's room and spoke into the microphone.
"Hi, Ellie!"
Ellie: "Hi, Mia. How are you?"
Ned was feeling angry at that moment, and Mia was sticking her tongue out at him, provoking him.
Mia: "Fine."
Ellie: "How are your studies going?"
Mia: "Great."
I want to tell you something.
Ned loves you.
She ran out of the room, followed by Ned. Ellie was laughing.
Ned: Mom, look at Mia, she's always annoying me.
Mia: I was just telling the truth.
Ned: The truth, you...
Stop it!
Aya (Ned's mom): Stop it now. I don't want any more fights. I've had enough of your dad and his fights. I'm tired.
This is Aya. She's my mom. She's not from here. She's from another faraway country. She and my dad met in a café, liked each other, and got married. Our life was good and stable, and there was love and affection between them. But I don't know what happened that made them like this. Something changed you. I don't know.
Aya: Mia.
How many times have I told you not to bother your brother?
Mia: Mom, I was...
Aya (fanatical): There's no way I was or wasn't. I told you not to bother your brother. I'm tired. I want to rest. Stop with the problems.
Ned went up to his room and sat on his chair.
Sorry, Ellie, if I'm late. I was talking to my mom.
Ellie: Never mind, but we lost this game.
Ned: Never mind. Let's play another game. We'll win.
Ellie: We'll see.
After several attempts, Ned and Ellie finally won the game.
Ned: Finally, we did it. What you did in that last shot was great.
Ellie (laughing): I told you. I learned a little.
Ned: I have to go now, Ellie. I have to study.
Ellie: Okay, Ned. Bye.
Ned moved his wheelchair toward his desk on the other side.
Ned: Ooooh, what do we have?
Physics?
Damn.
It's the subject I hate the most in my life.
Today it was chemistry, tomorrow it's physics.
Ned looked up at the ceiling, his voice rising.
Why do I have to suffer like this?
Henry, hearing his voice from the other room, said,
What is this idiot doing?
Ned: Hum, hum, hum. Here's a physics book. I'm opening it carefully. I'm trying to study as much as I can for tomorrow.
What do we have here?
Hmm, hum.
Energy compatibility.
Okay, let's go.
Clap hands.
Sitting.
Glancing sharply at the phrase "energy compatibility."
Ned (excited): Let's go.
Ned (reading)
Every substance in the world, from the smallest atom in the air to the largest building, has its own unique frequency... like a secret sound signature.
If energy of this same frequency passes through them, all the atoms begin to vibrate together.
This moment of synchronization is no ordinary moment. A system that was once rigid and stable suddenly comes alive. You might see light swaying around the material, or hear a faint whisper like an echo inside the glass. All the energy that was once stationary suddenly moves… as if the entire world needs to interact with this exact frequency.
This is what scientists call energy synchronization.
Zzz… harhar… zazz… hah… zazz… huh ...
Knock knock knock knock knock
Aya: Ned, my love, is dinner ready?
Ned?
Aya opened the door.
Aya: My dear, you're sleeping on the bed with the book in your hands. You look like you've been studying hard.
Good luck tomorrow.
Come on, Henry, come on, Mia, dinner's ready.
Henry: Okay, Mom.
Father Joseph came home late, carrying a bottle of wine, drunk and barely able to walk.
Aya looked at him but didn't speak, her expression sad.
Dinner's ready if you want to eat, Joseph.
Joseph: No, I don't want to, thank you. I'm going to sleep.
Aya: Okay, good night.
The brothers went downstairs for lunch.
Mia (a little worried): Why doesn't Dad come to eat with us, Mom?
Aya: He's just tired from work, my dear. Tomorrow he'll eat with us.
Henry (sarcastically): Yes, he will.
Aya looked at Henry nervously.
Henry: What? I'm telling the truth. Tomorrow he'll eat with us.
Aya: Come on, then, finish your lunch and go to sleep.
Henry: Okay,
At that moment, Ned was dreaming that he was a superhero, saving everyone and the world from the evil creatures from superhero comics and movies.
Old lady (happy at his survival): You saved me, you saved me. What's your name?
Ned (looking up at the sky proudly): My name is nedman.
Flying up to the sky.