"Felix! How are you doing?" Lloyd asked, finding Felix tucked away by the perimeter wall as he stacked boxes of pasta onto the grocery store shelves.
"I could be better." Felix groaned. "I've been conscripted into war."
"There's an anti-war protest that is scheduled to take place in the streets of Gem City. Interested in going?"
"I want to go! I've never been to Gem City! When is it?" Felix asked.
Lloyd pulled a pamphlet out of his jacket. "All the details about the protest are written down in this pamphlet. I'm the lead organizer for the event."
Felix accepted the pamphlet from Lloyd and scanned it. "What's the cost to go?"
"It's free for us church members. Email me if you're interested," Lloyd said. "I need to grab groceries to cook dinner at home. Talk soon."
Lloyd walked over to the back counter. Felix watched from his spot by the wall as Lloyd set his cans of tomato soup down, paid Anna at the register, and headed toward the exit.
As the shop bell chimed from the door closing, Felix beamed inside, his fingers tightly gripping the paper. A rush of hope bloomed in his chest. This wasn't just a protest—this pamphlet could be his saving grace from going to war.