Rail Star Universe

That morning, dim sunlight seeped through the dusty curtains of a small apartment. In a cramped 4x4-meter room, a man with black hair lay motionless on the bed. His white, long-sleeved shirt looked crumpled, matching the black trousers that had faded in several places. Beside him, a young girl, no more than sixteen years old, sat at a small desk near the window. Her face appeared calm, but the weariness in her eyes was hard to conceal.

Her white, long-sleeved blouse with buttons at the front, adorned with a small ribbon at the neck, gave an impression of formality yet simplicity. A long, dark skirt complemented her modest yet neat appearance. On the desk, a sheet of paper and a pen rested in her hand. She leaned over, writing something with deliberate movements, as if every letter carried an unspeakable burden.

"If you wake up, Brother Kael..." she murmured softly. Her voice was nearly drowned in the silence of the room. She turned to look at the man—her brother—who had been in a coma for several weeks. Kael, who had been the backbone of the family after their parents' departure. Melissa could only gaze at him with deep concern, reminiscing about her brother's relentless struggles.

[The Heyha Family Tragedy]

The life of their family had never been free from suffering since the major scandal five years ago. Their parents, who worked as engineers in a government office, were framed by corrupt officials as masterminds behind the massive embezzlement of funds for the Dunwich steam line project. The accusations destroyed the Heyha family's reputation. Although their parents died in an accident shortly after the allegations emerged, Kael was made the second scapegoat by the authorities eager to close the case quickly.

Kael, who at the time was a student of ancient Varythic linguistics at Dunwich University, was forced to drop out and lost all his rights. Although innocent, he continued to face discrimination and stigma from society. After losing everything, Kael decided to take on part-time jobs to support Melissa, his younger sister, who had just started school in steam engineering. For five years, he worked tirelessly to provide for Melissa's education and their survival. However, their savings ran out, and Melissa had to drop out of school despite her great talent in engineering.

Kael eventually secured a permanent job at a factory. But only two months into his work, workplace discrimination made his life even harder. Biased supervisors and envious coworkers often made him a target of unfair treatment. It all culminated in a workplace accident. Kael, who had been working under immense pressure, became the victim of a fatal accident that left him in a coma.

[The Heyha Family Name Cleared, but Too Late]

Ironically, a week after the accident, a city detective uncovered evidence exonerating the Heyha family of all accusations. The evidence revealed that the corrupt officials were the true perpetrators of the embezzlement, while the Heyha family had been mere scapegoats. Their reputation was finally restored after three weeks of intense investigation. However, for Melissa, it all felt meaningless. The damage had been done. Her brother now lay in a coma, and their lives had been shattered by the cruel accusations.

Melissa gripped the pen more tightly, trying to hold back her tears. She began writing her letter, pouring out feelings she could not express aloud.

[January 17, 1847

From Melissa Heyha

Small Apartment Room, Dunwich City, Albion

Dear Brother Kael,

I hope you can hear all this even though your eyes haven't opened yet. I'm sitting at the desk near the window, gazing at the quiet streets of Dunwich. It feels strange writing this letter when you're right beside me, lying still. But I know, if you could speak, you'd say, "Melissa, tell me everything you're doing." So, here's your little sister's news.

Today, I decided to start working at the Dunwich East Garment Factory, on the eastern side of the city. You remember it, right? That big factory near the river? I was accepted in the embroidery and lace-making section. The work is quite intricate, but I'm confident I can do it. People there say the factory's embroidery and lace are renowned even in bigger cities. Who knows, maybe someday my work will be worn by someone important.

I've also decided to stay temporarily at a coworker's room near the factory. If I keep traveling back and forth between our apartment and the factory, I'm afraid I'll be too exhausted to work well. Don't worry, Brother, the place is simple but comfortable. My coworkers are kind, and they said they'd help me settle in. I'll still come home every seven days to check on you and make sure everything's alright.

I hope... when you wake up, all of this will have changed. I hope you won't have to endure deeper wounds. I know you've protected me since I was little—from mockery, from bullying, from this cruel world. Even when you had to face unfair accusations and lose everything, you stood strong for me.

I promise to protect everything you've fought for. All your sacrifices will not be in vain.

I'll write again when I have time, or better yet, I'll tell you everything directly when you wake up. Until then, I'll work hard and keep everything running.

With love,

Melissa]

Melissa closed the letter with a heavy sigh. She looked at her brother once more, clasping his cold fingers with hope. Outside, the sound of the city slowly coming back to life became the backdrop of the silence in their small apartment.