♛♡♛

we are but two wounded people

shall we mend each other’s scars?

scar

noun /skär/

a mark left on the skin or within body tissue where a wound, burn, or sore has not healed completely and fibrous connective tissue has developed

Lucky me, to have such a pretty girl inviting me to stay the night in her place. Two birds in one stone, dare I say.

Before coming to her place, I asked her to wait for me while I picked up my items in the other side of the alley. Fortunately, I didn’t bring many things with me. So, I took my stuffs and went to meet her.

She waited for me obediently, leaning her back against a lamppost. The dim light pointed right above her, as if a stage light illuminating the protagonist of a play. With her head hung low and her fingers linked together, she looked like a damsel in distress straight out of a tragedy play. Poor, poor woman, left by her family in a tragic way. Yet, was somehow still dazzling and enchanting.

I walked up to her. “Hey,” I greeted, pulling her back to her mind. She lifted her head, and a vast smile of relief formed on her face. Oh, how I cannot get enough of such beauty.

“Hi,” she replied, turning on her feet. “Let’s go. It’s getting chilly tonight.”

She led the way, taking many turns here and there, making the walk felt like a journey down a labyrinth. Though, in the end, we arrived in a place that was her home.

Well, I wouldn’t say I expected much, but it never stopped surprising me how people could make a way to survive.

Her place was a tiny, barely fitting for two adults. The roof, made from plywood, was the height of my forehead, causing me to bend down to enter the place.

She brushed the curtain that was the entrance to her place. “Sorry, there’s nothing here in my little nest,” she said in embarrassment. Ah, even though she didn’t have anything to be embarrassed about. She survived alone in such hellhole; to have her own place that was comfortable enough to roof her was wonderful enough.

“No, thank you,” I assured, giving a smile that I hoped was able to convey my gratitude for her kindness. However, I did not think she understood how grateful I was, looking at how tense and nervous she was to have me there.

So, I looked around a bit—oh, yes, it was a bit rude, but I was in awe with how neat her place was, despite the tiny space—and then I sat down on the mattress, which was surprisingly clean despite being right on the ground. It was soft, too, and smelled nice.

“Anyway,” I decided to ask, before I got anymore distracted. “You haven’t told me your name.”

She jolted, as if my voice caught her off guard. It was adorable, but I held back a smile. “Oh, right,” she said. “I’m Vega.”

“Vega,” I repeated, liking the sound of her name in my lips. A beautiful name fitting of a beautiful person, I love it. “What a nice name.”

“Thanks,” she replied sheepishly. Her cheeks were tinted with red hue, showcasing her shyness.

Oh, how adorable.

She sat down on a mattress across mine. “Anyway, are you okay with not going home? What about your companions?”

Companion. Back then, I did not know of such system. I debated whether I should ask or not, as asking might raise her suspicion. However, answering without knowing the topic was not a wise decision. So, against my best judgement, I asked, “What are companions?”

To my prediction, she was surprised. Her eyes widened; her jaw fell; as though I had asked the strangest question to ever be asked. “Companions!” she cried in disbelief. “The people you live with, who help you go through each day?”

Understanding that it was a system of living for the likes of her, I questioned no further. “I never have any. Or, rather, I do not require any,” I decided to answer.

My answer must have been really groundbreaking for her to freeze like that. I thought, ugh, maybe I should have said that my companions died or something. That seemed more acceptable than being a lone wolf.

While I was deep in thoughts, she declared, “Amazing!” while looking excited. “That’s cool that you managed to do that.”

Now, I was the one caught off guard. I was so scared she would see past my guise. Instead, she found my lack of companion fascinating. “You’re just saying that,” I said, unable to hold back my laughter. “Well, what about you? Where are your companions?”

The light in her face dimmed right after I voiced my question—which, somehow, made me feel guilty. “They... were here until two weeks ago,” she answered in a small voice, barely audible. She fidgeted, linking her fingers together and pressing her lips together. Oh, you won’t understand how bad I felt, looking at her reaction. “I... had two companions. The three of us lived here. A while back, there was a group of people that approached us and asked us to join them. They promised us a better living condition. I thought the offer was fishy, especially since we were nothing but a group of teenagers. 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...” she trailed her words, choking on her own voice. “They didn’t. When I was asleep, the two of them left me alone.”

As if blood were drained from my face, I was furious. How could two people be so cruel to leave this little deer alone to die? How selfish could they be? As much as I wanted to get mad, I gave a simple nod instead, as a form of sympathy.

She might have noticed the darkness in my eyes, because she tried to smile in a more lighthearted tone. “I... don’t know what happens to them next, but it’s okay. It’s in the past. At least, you’re here with me now. Thank you for listening to me. Goodnight.”

After rushing her words, Vega turned her back and laid down on her mattress, pretending to sleep. I decided that she did not want to talk more about it, and I would not press her into it. I sighed, crawling to her mattress and laid behind her. I put one of my arms around her, while my other hand supported my head. “It’s okay,” I hushed, patting her. “I will not leave you in your sleep. Goodnight.”

As I felt her shoulder trembled, I heard a soft sob from her. Oh, how long had she been holding back those tears, I wondered? Deciding to remain silent, I laid down and held her in my sleep. The least I could do was be there for her that night.

when there is nothing else to share,

at least we have our warmth and comfort to share

a shoulder to lean on.