alex and lucas

Home is like temporary housing: come, take off your shoes, eat whatever you can find, and that's it. Silence. No one to share news with, no one to cuddle up to. Mom and Dad are kind, but not family. They try, but they're always somewhere else - in their own lives. Not in yours.

And people... they look. Some look away, some say "wow", but the words that stick in your mind are:

“Eyes like a monster.” “One is green, the other is blue… some kind of curse.” “No wonder he’s adopted.”

You're used to not answering. Not arguing. Just moving on. Looking at the floor. Not crying.

When the whole class went to camp, you didn't expect anything. Just another week and home. To the void.

And then - resettlement.

• Room #12: Alex, Lucas and... - your last name.

The two brightest people in the class. Twin brothers. Handsome, rich, popular. One is fire, the other is ice. And you are nobody. Just an adopted child with “different eyes”.

The room is small. And in it there is one triple bed. One. For three.

Alex dropped his backpack. Lucas snorted:

• I hope I won't be next to you.

You remained silent. You won't have to choose a place.

“Let him be in the middle,” Alex said, nodding at you.

You lay down. At first, silence. Almost peace. And then, in the darkness:

“You’re pushing,” Lucas hissed. "You're the one pushing!" Alex snapped.

• It's all because of you!
• Yeah, sure!

You are squeezed between them, like an unnecessary divider in their eternal war.

And suddenly - silence. Then a voice:

• Hey! Tell me, which of us is right?