Chapter 3

Later

Roy looked at his mother, or at least this body's mother

He watched Luna like she might disappear if he looked away.

She moved softly, carefully, as if afraid of disturbing the world around her. Her clothes were worn thin. Her hair was tied back with shaking fingers. When she smiled at him, it was full of love—and guilt.

“Roy, are you hungry?” she asked quietly.

Roy swallowed.

“Yes,” he answered honestly.

She flinched, then smiled wider, too wide.

“I’ll find something,” She said quickly. “Mama will find something, okay?”

She left before he could respond.

Roy listened to her footsteps fade, then to the silence that followed. He knew that silence because he had experienced it before. It meant she was skipping another meal. Again.

She came back with half a stale bun.

“Here,” she said, placing it in his hands. “Eat slowly.”

Roy stared at it.

“Did you eat?” he asked.

Luna laughed nervously. “Of course! I’m not hungry.”

Lie.

Not a malicious one. A desperate one.

Roy broke the bun in half and held it up. “Let’s share.”

Luna froze. “Roy—”

“I won’t eat if you don’t,” he said calmly.

She hesitated, then sat beside him, eyes shining. They ate together in silence.

The building they lived in barely deserved to be called shelter. Broken walls. Cold nights. Leaking roof. Roy catalogued everything automatically. Risk factors. Survival chances.

He understood now.

Luna hadn’t run away for money. She hadn’t been greedy. If not, she would have stayed and she would have definitely been rich, but She was afraid. Afraid of power. Afraid of being crushed. Afraid of a world too big and cruel.

And because of that fear, they were here.

Roy leaned against her side.

“I’ll be okay,” he said softly.

Luna hugged him tightly. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry.”

Roy closed his eyes.

'Don’t be sorry', he thought. 'Just stay alive'.

This time, he wouldn’t survive alone.

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