North the Americas.
A city near the coast.
"Hope!"
A shrill call came from downstairs.
"Yeah?" Hope drew out his reply. "Mom, what is it now?"
Then hurried footsteps sounded on the stairs.
"Hope!" Anger tinged the woman's voice. "How many times have I told you not to lean against the window? With the weather like this, that window could give way any day!"
"Just a while ago, I saw in a Penguin Group that a kid in South the Americas got swept away when a hurricane hit, all because he was standing by a window!"
As she spoke, the woman reached out and pulled Hope away from the window.
"Mom..." Faced with his mother's scolding, Hope pointed helplessly outside. "It's not raining today. The weather's nice."
"That's still no excuse!" The woman glanced out the window.
When she saw the pale Sun in the sky, the corner of her mouth twitched. "It's so hot outside, you..."
Hope pointed to the thermometer beside him.
33 degrees Celsius.
"Mom, Earth is moving toward aphelion. It's not that hot outside anymore."
Seeing his mother's face grow redder, Hope hurriedly pointed at the window. "Besides, look, Mom. The coastline's closer again."
At those words, the woman froze for a moment, then quickly turned to look outside.
There was no trace of appreciation in her eyes as she gazed at the azure water.
Her hands trembled slightly, and her eyes filled with fear.
"Oh God... how is it rising so fast..."
The next second, she spun around and grabbed the suitcase beside her.
"Hurry, Hope!"
"Wh-what?" Hope stared blankly at his mother.
"What are you standing there for?!" the woman shouted, her hair disheveled. "Pack your clothes! We have to move!"
Watching his mother kneel on the floor to pack their clothes, Hope pursed