After finishing the two men, she towered them, panting as she was out of breath. Unbelievable, she was able to take down two men bigger than her. She turned around, and our eyes met.

I was struck by her beauty.

Her russet eyes shone. Her dark, curly hair framed her face. Her lips were healthy, unlike my sorry state of dry lips. Her skin was dark, reflecting the moonlight. She was the God herself.

She approached me—which pulled me back to reality—and I heard footsteps from afar. It might be the two men’s acquaintance, or some insignificant stranger, but I didn’t want to risk anything. So, when the lady pulled me up, I whispered, “We need to hide,” and led her somewhere hidden.

Fortunately, there was a hidden spot. A little nasty, but it was better than nothing. I pulled her to cover, though the stranger seemed to not be close by yet. Just to be sure, you know.

The silence between us was awkward, so I whispered to her, “Thanks for helping me.”

She just nodded.

“Why did you help me?” I asked. Well, I was curious, you know? Why would she help a stranger in a dead end?

The corner of her lips formed a little smile. “I just see that you need some help,” she replied with voice that was like a song to me. Her voice—so endearing! That was really pleasant to hear. I could listen to her talk to me like a lullaby.

“Hey,” I whispered again. “What’s your name?”

She didn’t answer. She threw her gaze to the wall in front of us, frowning. That time, I knew I crossed the line. Maybe she didn’t want me—a stranger—to know her name. Maybe she only helped me because I looked like I needed some help. I casted my eyes down, embarrassed. But, she looked at my eyes directly. “Give me a name, then,” she said at the end.

I was surprised—both at her sudden eye contact and her request.

She chuckled, seeing my expression. “What’s with that reaction?” she asked. “Give me a name. A name! I want a cool name.”

Being told that, I was so dumbfounded and blurted out, “... Hera...?” I sounded unsure then, but she nodded, satisfied.

“I like that name,” she said. “What does that mean?”

My mind jumbled and then everything went blank. “I don’t know,” I replied, which she responded with a wheeze. I covered her mouth immediately—I heard footsteps!—and gestured to her to not make a noise. Hera—well, I named her, now—opened her eyes wide and focused herself to the sound of footsteps, trying to not make any noise herself.

We heard the stranger finally found the two unconscious men. The stranger seemed to freak out and ran away to call for help. Then, there was a commotion for a second, but we paid no attention to what they were saying—we focused more on ourselves.

Not long after that, the commotion died down. Maybe they had moved the two men somewhere safe, I didn’t know, nor did I care. But I put away my hand from Hera’s mouth—which she responded with sighing in relief. “Sorry,” I said.

Hera smiled. “No, no problem!” she said.

I peeked around. There was no one. “Maybe we should go now,” I said to her. “Do you want to come to my place?”

Hera’s face lightened up. “Sure!” and she followed me out.

And so, I took her to my... ‘house’. Calling that a house is weird, now that I think of it. But, back then, I still thought it was a house for me. Maybe I should call it my nest instead. Living in a slum as a teen girl—I couldn’t afford any luxury. Just having something above my head as I sleep is enough. Now that I brought somebody over, it seemed really dirty and weird. Well, there was no way to live in luxuries.

I brushed the curtain over to reveal my nest to her. “Sorry, there’s nothing here,” I said sheepishly to her. Well, I was embarrassed, alright? Usually, my nest gave me so much comfort, but seeing Hera here really drained my self-esteem. Comparing her pretty face, clean skin, and maintained hair to my dirty bedsheet, clattered houseware, and random scraps were... hell. It just showed how miserable I was. If someone from a slum could look like a noble in my place, how dirty was my place?

But, weirdly, Hera didn’t seem to mind. She looked around and sat down on a dirty mattress. “Anyway,” she said finally. “You haven’t told me your name.”

“Oh,” I let out. “You’re right. I’m Vega.”

“Vega,” Hera nodded, thinking deeply. “That’s a nice name.”

“Thanks,” I replied, embarrassed. That might be the only thing I like about me. My name. Vega Girene. I might not remember my parents, but I still keep the name they gave me. After that, I decided to sit down on my own overused mattress, looking at Hera. “Anyway, are you alright about not going home? What about your companions?”

Hera frowned her eyebrows as if she were confused. “What are companions?” she asked.

My eyes must have widened there. I was surprised. “Companions!” I repeated. “The people you live with, the people who help you go through life?”

Hera crossed her arms in front her chest, tilting her head. “I never have any,” she said. “Or rather, I don’t need any.”

I was stunned. There was no way someone could survive in a slum all alone. The people living in the slum all their lives usually form a pack. At least, they work in pairs. No one in the slum works all alone and make it for long. “Whoa, that’s cool that you managed to do that,” I said unconsciously.

Hera’s lips formed an amused smile. She raised her eyebrows. “You’re just saying that,” she said. “I mean, what about you? Where are your companions?”

I fidgeted a bit before opening my mouth. “They... were here until two weeks ago,” I said. My voice must have sounded weird, now that I think of it. I hesitated, but decided to tell her the whole story anyways. “I had two companions before,” I explained. “The three of us lived here. Before, there was a group of people that approached us and asked us to join them. They promised better living condition for us. I thought they were too fishy. There’s no way we can live better in an area like this. So, I convinced them not to listen to those people. They were hesitant, but agreed to me. Except... they didn’t. When I was asleep, the two of them left me alone here.”

Hera nodded in sympathy. I could see her expression dimmed a little.

“I... don’t know what happens to them next,” I admitted. Then, with a lighthearted tone, I said, “But, it’s okay. It’s in the past. At least, you’re here with me now. Thank you for listening to me. Goodnight.”

I immediately turned my back and laid down on my mattress, pretending to sleep. But, I heard Hera shuffled from her mattress, approaching me. She laid down behind me, holding me from behind. “It’s okay,” she hushed. “I will not leave you in your sleep. Goodnight.”

Her words reassured me. Her voice calmed me down. I felt my eyes flooded with tears. That night, I fell asleep with a light feeling and perhaps, I dreamed something pleasant for the first time in two weeks.