He climbed the fence and sat on it.
"I'm going to see you."
He closed his eyes.
. . .
"I love you too, grandma."
----------------------------------------
He fell down.
He felt something soft.
Rowan : *Am I, in heaven?*
"Ow..."
Rowan : *Huh?...*
He opened his eyes.
Rowan : *An angel?*
He pulled his head back when he saw—
Rowan : Luna?! A-are you okay?!
He actually fell on her.
Rowan : Wait, what the fuck is going on?!... How did I end up—
Luna : I pulled you.
As she sat up.
Rowan : What?
Luna : I pulled you... to the other side.
. . .
Rowan : Why?...
He seized her shoulders,
Rowan : Why did you do that?!...
His face was about to burst into tears.
Rowan : Why did you stop me...!
Luna : I—I'm sorry!
As she turned her face away,
Luna : H-here!
She handed him the charm.
Luna : This is, yours, right?...
He was shocked.
He grabbed and examined it immediately.
A tiny cloth charm, stitched in deep red with delicate gold thread, its fabric faded with time,
an omamori. It matched the description.
Rowan : Where did you find this?!
As she turned her face back,
Luna : Y-you dro—
Before Luna even get to answer,
he hugged her, tightly—breaking down in tears.
Rowan : You...! You saved me...! This is the only thing that's been keeping me alive. I thought I had lost it. I tried to find it everywhere. I owe you...! I owe you my life...
Seeing him crying on her shoulder, she became calm but confused.
----------------------------------------
After a while, he calmed down.
Both of them sat on a bench.
Luna : Did you... tried to take your life just now? Why...?
. . .
That charm... it was from my late-grandmother. She was the only one who cared for me. My parents... They just got divorced. They always fight since I was a kid. Before I entered high school, my grandma fell ill and the doctor told me she only got a few months to live. I felt like it was the end of the world for me. I told her,
"Grandma, if you're going, then I'm going with you...!"
she understood what I meant. She told me,
"No, Rowan. Please stay strong for me..."
Then she gave me this charm. And... before I knew it, she passed away.
After I entered high school...
(flashback)
At the start of his high school, Rowan had attachment issues—result of lack of love from his parents. He always follows his friends everywhere, asking where they were going—worried of being left behind. Gradually, he became annoying to them. At last, they ignored him. Even sometimes got bullied.
----------------------------------------
This charm is the only thing that kept me going. After my parents divorced, I moved in with my mother and transferred here. But then, the atmosphere here reminded me of my previous high school. I saw you, being treated differently from others. It gave me... that same feelings I hate. And after I lost the charm, I thought it was a sign for me to go... But here we are.
Luna : I'm... sorry to hear that.
Rowan : It's okay... Can I also ask you... did you get treated that way because of the rumours? Is the rumours... true?
His words triggered her memories.
Tears gathered and fell from her eyes without her realizing.
Rowan : Luna?...
He hugged her, softly.
Rowan : It's okay, Luna. You don't have to talk about it.
His voice gentle.
He loosened his hold and gently wiped the tears from her eyes.
She calmed down. Her tears stop welling up.
Rowan : You did it for a reason, right? I don't blame you completely. Besides, everyone makes mistake. We should learn from it and make up for it. And, forgive others...
He changed his tone, trying to cheer her up.
Rowan : Well, at least you're stronger than me! I'm just a pathetic suicidal...
Suddenly, his stomach growled.
Rowan : Haha, sorry. Oh, you still have that lunch box from earlier?
Rowan noticed.
Luna : Oh, yeah... I didn't eat it since it was dirty.
Rowan : Are you planning to throw it?
Luna : Yeah, I guess.
Rowan : Give it to me then.
Luna : What?
Rowan : Give it to me then.
Luna : B-but—
Rowan : If you don't mind, that is.
Luna : No, I-I mean, the food is...
After seeing his determined look, she gave up.
Luna : Here...
As she gave the lunch box to him.
Rowan : Thanks, did you make this yourself?
Luna : Y-yeah.
Rowan took a bite despite the dirt in the food.
. . .
Suddenly, a tear flowed down his cheek.
Luna : W-what's wrong?! I told you the food is dirty!
Luna panicked.
With a smile on his face,
Rowan : No... It's just, the food is so good. It reminds me of my grandma's cooking.
Luna : R-really? I thought it was because of the...
He finished the food like there is no tomorrow,
Rowan : It's been so long since I've tasted something like this. I've been living on convenience store food since then. Your cooking is amazing, Luna.
His compliment was making her shy.
Luna : T-thank you... I guess. B-but, don't you live with your mother now? Doesn't she cook for you?
He put down the box.
. . .
Rowan : She used to. My mother couldn't care less about me now. But I'm more grateful that way.
Luna : What do you mean?...
Rowan : Nothing. I'm just grateful that she gave me some of the money that she got from the divorce.
Luna : Ouh... Then, how about I cook for you?
Rowan : What?
Luna : I said I'll cook lunch for you, everyday! I mean, how do you even survive from just convenience store food?
Rowan : I appreciate the offer, but you don't have to.
Luna : No, I insist! Besides, I always like to cook. It won't be a bother to me.
Rowan : Well, if you say so...
Luna : Alright! Same place tomorrow?
Rowan paused for a second, seeing her smile...
" *How long has it been since I saw such smile...* "
----------------------------------------
(flashback)
Early in middle school...
The sound of the door being opened.
"I'm home."
Her mom was laying on the couch.
"Mom, look! I got forth in my grade!" As he showed his report card.
. . .
No response...
"Mom?..."
"Huh?!" Her sudden loud response startled him.
"Are you... drunk again?"
"Did you do the dishes yet?!"
"I just got back from school."
"Go do the dishes, now!"
"B-but—"
"Don't make me repeat myself...!"
. . .
"I'll do it now, mom..."
"You useless child."
The sound of the sink being turned on, as the faucet poured into the sink, so did the tears streaming down his cheeks, dripping from his chin as he wash the dishes, one after another.
Since then, he started jogging in the evening to escape reality.
The more he bottled up his emotions, the faster he ran.
After some time, he joined the track club in his school.
----------------------------------------
One day,
he came home late due to his track training.
"I'm home."
She was waiting on the couch.
"Rowan!!!"
"You're getting home late now, huh!!?"
"I'm sorry, mom. I had track training at school."
"I don't fucking care what you have at school. You better do the dishes now...!"
"...I'm going to."
While washing the dishes,
"sigh... I just wish dad would get home earlier so I can do this shit right after dinner."
" *I just need to endure this... Can't afford to be starved again...* "
----------------------------------------
On another day, at his school.
Rowan was on his way to his training but,
"Shit, I forgot to do the dishes again before going to school. Ugh, should've wake up sooner."
"Alright, we'll start the training at 4. Change your clothes and do warm up."
"Coach, uh... can I talk to you for a second?"
"If this is about missing practice again, don't bother."
"I know I've skipped before, but I really need to go today."
"No."
He froze. "Coach, please—just this once."
"You said that last time. And the time before that."
The coach stepped closer. "You think this is optional?"
"I-it's not like that. Something came up—"
"There is always something." the coach cut in.
"The team comes first, or you don't belong in it."
Silence hung between them.
"...Are you saying—?"
"I'm saying if you walk out of that gate instead of stepping onto this track,"
the coach said, voice firm, "you're off the team. No second chances."
His grip tightened around his bag strap.
"You're serious?"
"Dead serious."
. . .
He came home late that day.
"I'm, home..."
And there she was, on where she usually is, holding a bottle of beer.
"What did I say about getting home late...!?"
"You better go do it, now...!"
. . .
"No."
His mother was shocked.
"What did you just say...?" As she stood up from the couch.
"I said no. I'm sick and tired of doing all the chores myself."
"Where did you learn to talk back to me, huh?!"
"You fucking ungrateful brat!"
She smashed the glass bottle on his head.
"Mom—!"
The bottle shattered...
----------------------------------------
He woke up, in a hospital.
"Ugh..."
"Rowan?... You've woken up?..."
A familiar voice.
"Huh...?"
"It's grandma."
"Grandma?..." As he tried to sat up, but a sharp pain struck his head.
"Argh...!"
That's when it hits him.
"Mom..." He said quietly.
"Don't move too much, Rowan."
He couldn't help but cried as he lay on the hospital bed, looking at the ceiling—tears streaming down his temples.
"What's wrong, sweetheart?"
"You can tell me anything, grandma is here."
Her voice, very soothing.
"Grandma... Can I, live with you...?" His voice shaky.
"What's the matter?..."
"Nothing... It's just—"
"Is it about your mother?..."
. . .
"No...!"
"Just tell me the truth, sweetheart."
"No... please... I don't want to think about it anymore..."
. . .
"But don't you have school?..."
"Please, grandma..."
. . .
After that, she decided to live in their house.
His parents left him alone with her as they went to work.
----------------------------------------
On a later day,
He got back from school, full of excitement.
"I'm home!"
"Grandma!"
Footsteps echoed from the living room.
In the kitchen, "Dear—oh! You're back early today!"
"I have sports festival in my school, and—look!"
He held up a gold medal, the ribbon still slightly twisted from being stuffed in his bag.
"Oh my... is that for you?"
"Yeah! I won first place in the 100-meter race!"
"You won?" She stepped closer, eyes widening. "Let me see that properly."
He placed it in her hands, failing to hide his grin. "It's real, I promise."
She laughed softly. "Of course it is. Couldn't expect anything less from my grandson"
"I'm so proud of you."
"Really?"
"You must've worked very hard."
"Yeah!"
She handed the medal back.
Her smile lingering.
(End of flashback)
----------------------------------------
" *That smile...* "
"Rowan?"
He snapped out of it.
"Y-yea... sure."
After a long time, he finally smiled—genuinely.
"Yeah!"