Me? Strong? No... hardly... I'm only a weak, feeble little girl who has had everything suddenly robbed.

I am a victim of circumstance and I feel like this has ruined me...

Be strong, be strong, be strong..

.

.

.

Bláithín sat alone on the sitting room, doing homework. Living in Sine, she was privileged enough to go to school. She was fortunate enough to be able to read and write, compared to others in Rose and Maria where literacy rates paled in comparison. Though, with the Titans still haunting their way of life, there was a limit on what they could learn; whatever they learned came from inside the Walls. Just like anyone else, what lived outside the walls was a total mystery.

A little chortle came into hearing range and Bláithín snapped her head around and saw her younger sister, Elise, coming in.

"Ah, hi!" the elder sister beamed, though not taking her head away from her book.

"Can you play with me now? I couldn't play undercover agents without you..." her sister moped. "Whaddya reading there anyway?"

Bláithín corked a brow as she stared down at her sister. She ruffled her hair affectionately as she remembered. "I don't think I've played that with you since I was like ten." She murmured, scratching her blonde head of hair.

"Ah, whatever...Why are you reading anyway? You sounded all high and mighty recently when you said you wanted to join the Survey Corps." Her sister pointed out.

Bláithín pursed her lips into a tight line. True, if one wanted to join the Survey Corps, they'd want to be somewhat built, or at least fit. Bláithín was more of the studious side, at the moment. Her parents, both leading soldiers in the Scout Regiment, taught her the very basics, but she was completely inexperienced with the gears and whatnot.

"Maybe I'm a 'late bloomer' or something," she chimed. "I'm in no rush to join it. I'll join to honour them and stereotypical and generic shit like that..." And of course, saying the word 'shit' caused her sister to erupt in a fit of giggles. "Oh, grow up..."

"You stop being so grown up, it's annoying. And stop being sarcastic too, I can't tell if it is sarcasm or not."

"It's not sarcasm if it's pure honesty." She muttered, before tackling into her sister but quickly resumed to her reading.

Bláithín continued to scribble away at some things on her notebook while Elise ambled up the stairs, dangerously hanging and sliding up and down the banister. It creaked loudly, loud enough for Bláithín to hear it and bitterly chastise her for it.

That was how a normal day was spent. Elise would play with Bláithín, and vice versa. It was happy and peaceful like this.

This would have been a typical day in the life of those who were of nobility or were fortunate enough to live in Mitras. It was so peaceful. Access to everything; top quality food, education, the finest clothes.

It felt so bizarrely peaceful.

(Sometime later)

The postman came.

Once again, [F/n] sat alone. Her bedroom windows were closed and the curtains were drawn shut. Her salty, almost corrosive tears streamed down her face and dappled the crumpled up piece of paper. There was a persistent, acidic burn in her stomach. The dull throbbing of her heart, the warm salty tears streaming down her puffy cheeks... It was like her tears were making a permanent burn into her face, as though she was constantly reminded of the letter she just read.

There was a burning fury in her chest that raged like a forest fire. There was rage that Titans determined their fate, ultimately, but deep, deep down, there was a girl who was very hurt.

The tears reminded her that there was no need to pinch herself; this was real and this was irreversible.

"Bláithín! Come out, please~!" her sister sang. "You were just running around and playing with me a few seconds ago..."[

Bláithín choked back a strangled sob that felt as though it was lodged in her trachea. Her sister's voice spoke of naivety, happiness and rainbows and unicorns...

Bláithín knew this day was going to come... but she wasn't expecting it to be this soon, nor was she expecting herself to be so young. She was hoping she'd be older and know how to deal with these heavy emotions if this day did come.

Unfortunately, that time in her life never came.

Dead is dead; she knew full well. But her parents never taught her how to cope, nor did her estranged uncle.

Her parents were the first exceptionally dear people she lost. She didn't know her grandparents, and she didn't have any other uncles or aunts.

A mewl from behind the door caused her head to snap up. Elise had opened up the door anyway.

The eight year old, not even taking a moment to cast a glance at her sister's complexion beamed, "Mom and Dad are coming home tomorrow, aren't they? I'm so excited!"

Her older sister sidled down from her bed sluggishly and walked over to her sister. Gripping her forearm, she shoved her out of her room and slammed the door shut.

Regret.

That was what she felt instantly after doing that. Her sister was nothing but a ray of sunshine, always sought happiness no matter what. She was a tough ten year old and had managed to fight through many difficulties. For example, when their parents were gone for a few months at a time, she would fight through it.

This letter... Bláithín was always was happy, chivalrous and warm around her loved ones, she could cope when her parents were gone for long periods... but this letter was the one thing that broke had slammed into her far too soon. It pained her so much.

She slumped up against the door before falling into a heap, clutching the letter, and had a strong desire to tear it to shreds as if it would erase the past.

Her promise to herself was that when her parents died and or when she was twelve, she would join the Training Corps.

She wasn't so sure now.

If she was sure of one thing, it would be that she needed a bit of fresh air. She opened up the door again and traipsed down the stairs. She quickly slipped out the door, closing it before walking out into the spacious garden.

To a soldier, receiving another letter like that, they would act as though it was as innocuous as trampled flowers, but it's not like they were slowly falling apart. But to her, the way she thought and had suddenly snapped.

The naivety, the innocence, the sugar-coated, fake thoughts...were simply flushed from her system in those few seconds. When her parents came back with smiles on their faces, happy to see their children again...what was behind those smiles...?

Anxiety? Fear? Sadness?

How many times had they come back and forced a smile upon their face when their infants were squealing with joy to see them when they've just been through hell?

Almost like a mime in a box, they were acting.

Bláithín, only realizing it now, was one of them.

She was naïve and oblivious to deaths going on around her, she never stopped to think about what was actually happening.

She now knew that her parents could have much sooner. She now realized they could have easily come back missing a limb.

If only she had learned how to deal with her emotions. She couldn't muster up any decency or control to look her sister in the eye when she walked into her room before and say, "No, you're wrong... Mother and Father aren't returning..." before tossing the letter on the ground for her sister to read.

To whom it may concern,

As of our most previous expedition, we are sorry to say that both Mr. and Mrs. Hahn have died. We offer you our condolences.

Whatever possessions that have been left behind shall be sent on. Their children, Bláithín and Elise Hahn, are now the rightful owners,

Yours faithfully,

11th Commander of the Scout Regiment.

I would like to clarify the following:

- that there are spoilers EVERYWHERE in the story. Well, not everywhere, but I am taking elements of the most recent manga chapters (chapters 86 - 110 to be absolutely specific.) Also taking spoilers from A Choice With No Regrets later on, too.

See ya