Painted Horizon

Leaving the precinct, Kai, Ethan, Sarah, and Kai's grandmother walked in a tense silence.

Their houses were clustered near the neighborhood basketball court. Kai's grandmother's house was closest, a small bungalow nestled between a bakery, and a makeshift wet market where Kai's grandmother earns a living selling fresh produce.

"I'll go ahead," she said, her voice gentle, but with a hint of concern in her

eyes. "Dinner won't cook itself. And... well, someone needs to start

getting it ready."

Sarah nodded, a hint of sadness in her voice. "See you later, Granny."

Kai's grandmother paused, looking at Sarah and Ethan with worry. "How is your grandmother doing, Sarah?"

"Not getting any better," Sarah replied, his voice heavy. "It's… it's been

hard."

"I'm sure losing her would devastate you both," Kai's grandmother said, her voice filled with concern. "My prayers are with you."

Sarah gave her a gentle smile and a reassuring nod. "We'll be alright."

Kai's grandmother went home and Sarah heads home as well a few doors down, leaving Kai and Ethan to continue to the basketball court.

A short while later, Kai and Ethan sat on a bench at the basketball court, which was literally half on the street. Players had to occasionally stop to let the cars through. Some were in worn-out sneakers, others in slippers, a few even barefoot, their movements a testament to their dedication despite limited resources. The setting sun cast long, distorted shadows across the cracked asphalt, mirroring the uncertainty in their futures. The sounds of squeaking sneakers and bouncing balls filled the air, a familiar backdrop to their lives.

Ethan nervously fiddled with the strap of his backpack. "Thanks," he said. "Again."

Kai shrugged, picking at a loose thread on his jeans. "They weren't going to stop."

"I know," Ethan said. "But beating everyone always makes people think you're the one starting it."

Kai sighed. "I don't have a choice, Ethan. And they deserved it…"

"I know," Ethan said. "But why do you do it? Why risk everything? Your

reputation… you are not obliged to do it anyway."

Kai met Ethan's gaze. "You're my friend, Ethan. What else am I supposed to do?"

Ethan looked down, disappointed with himself. "I know I'm… different. I know I'm a nobody. But you… you're different too. You are popular. You could have other friends. You're good looking, you're strong… nobody messes with you."

Kai chuckled. "And leave you to them? Never."

Ethan smiled. "Thank you. For always being there."

"Always," he replied. A shared determination to break free from their current circumstances solidified between them.

"You know," Kai began, making a determined look piercing straight through Ethan's eyes. "This can't keep happening. We're better than this. We're bound to do great things."

"What do you mean?" Ethan asked.

"We're stuck in this cycle," Kai explained. "The fighting, the… everything. It's not who we are. Or who we should be."

"I know," Ethan said. "But how do we change it?"

Kai looked out at the setting sun. "Remember when we were kids, and we tried to build that treehouse in Mr. Anderson's mango tree?"

Ethan laughed. "Yeah, it was a disaster."

"And you fell out of the tree and broke your arm." Kai chuckled.

"Hey! That was your fault! You told me it was safe!"

"I was seven! What did I know about safe?"

They both laughed.

"But even then," Kai continued, "even when we were messing things up, we were… together. We were trying. We just need to try… differently."

"Yeah," Ethan agreed. "We can't keep relying on what we've always done. It's not working."

"It's like… our families," Kai said, his voice dropping slightly. He paused, He gazed at their houses, their roofs a patchwork of different materials, nestled together, his eyes narrowing, before continuing. "They're… they're not going to change. My dad's still… my dad. Always at the bar, or passed out at home. And my mom... she's always chasing some card game, trying to win back what she lost last time. They're both lost in their own ways. And your mom…"

Ethan's shoulders slumped. "She's still… lost. In her own world. Sometimes I wonder if she even remembers I exist."

"We can't rely on them," Kai said firmly, his voice laced with a quiet determination. "We have to rely on each other. But… not like this. Not with the fighting. We need to find a way to make our own path."

"No," Ethan agreed, his voice filled with a mix of resignation and hope. "We have to be better. Together."

"Yeah," Kai said. "Together. We can't wait for them to save us, because they won't. We have to save ourselves."

"We can change things," Ethan said, a flicker of hope igniting in his eyes. "We can… build something. Something better. Something that's ours."

"We will," Kai affirmed, his voice filled with conviction. "We'll build

it together."

They promised each other, a silent vow hanging in the still night air, that they would move forward, that they would improve, together. And that they would never leave each other behind.

As the last players dribbled off the court, the overhead lights flickered on, bathing the cracked asphalt in a stark, bright glow. The pick-up game was over, leaving the court ready for the next set of players to complete.

"You know," Ethan said, his voice thoughtful, "Detective Inspector Davies… he's something else, isn't he?"

Kai nodded. "Yeah. He's… he's the kind of person we should aspire to be. Not this… trash."

"Doing what's right," Ethan said, his voice filled with a newfound determination. "That's what he does."

"Exactly," Kai said. "We need to do what's right. Not just for us, but for everyone."

After a few moments of silence, Ethan's expression turned serious. "You told Davies about Mark and his friends pressuring me?" he asked, his voice low.

Kai nodded. "I thought he should know. Don't worry, we're in this together."

Ethan sighed with resignation and relief.

As they sat, a group of players, who had just finished their game, approached them.

"Hey, you two want to join us for a few rounds?" one of them asked, tossing a basketball between his hands. "We're just doing some practice shots. Hope we complete so we can play a game."

Ethan, despite his nervousness, saw this as a chance to act on their shared vow. Hewanted to show Kai, and himself, that he could be courageous, that they could be "together" in their efforts to improve. He looked at Kai, his eyes pleading. "Come on, Kai, let's play."

Kai hesitated, his gaze drifting towards the group of older teens at the far end of the court. "Nah, you go ahead, Ethan. It will help you clear your head."

"But… I want us to play," Ethan insisted, a hint of desperation in his voice. "What happened to the doing things together that we were talking about just now?" Employing Kai's own words against him, mirrored his earlier teasing. Ethan wanted Kai to stand by him, to show that their words held weight. "Why are you leaving me to play without you?"

Kai chuckled standing up then patting Ethan on his head, his 190cm frame casting a long shadow. "You know not everyone on the streets wants to play with me." He gestured towards the hoop, a playful grin on his face. "Go on, show them what you've got. I'll be right here."

The other players, their faces a mix of friendliness and a hint of awe at Kai's towering height, watched the exchange with open curiosity. They seemed eager to welcome Ethan into their game, their camaraderie evident.

Ethan, though disappointed, stood up, a determined look on his face. He grabbed the basketball from the player who had offered it. "Alright," he said, his voice gaining confidence. "Let's play."

He moved to the free-throw line, joining the others, the rhythmic thump of the basketball against the asphalt echoing through the quiet court. Kai watched from the bench, a small smile playing on his lips, as Ethan's nervousness slowly faded with each swish of the net.