#aperturegem

          hope is something integral to the young girl: it was hope that had drawn her to the fireflies, hope that had lost her the first friend she had ever made. it was hope that spurred her on in her suicide mission, hope that had been dashed when it had all been lies -- all this, and she had clung to it like a lifeline, needing it desperately and yet knowing that it was mostly unfounded. it is hope that motivates her to call out for assistance, worn sneakers only just saving her feet from a few centimetres of dirty water and half-degraded foliage.    ❛  hello ? it’s dark as shit down here, jeez... am i even in black mesa ?  ❜     

          for the first time in her life, chell looks and feels delicate. it’s not a sensation she enjoys, and so her fists swing, clenched, by her side. avoiding blue and green gaze has never been harder, but standing next to white-clad caroline, a silvery angel in the flickering lights, her distaste seems to lessen. each blank face strikes a raw chord with chell -- aperture christmas parties could not be duller affairs.    ❛  our first christmas without cave.  ❜    a suitably sombre observation, the shorter woman faces the elephant in the room head on. the odd absence of their boss’ usual eccentrics weighed heavily on the festives -- she’s not one to be soft.