“Father, why don’t I have a mother?” The voice of my nine years old self echoed throughout my mind. “I’ve never known her.”

Father knelt and picked me up, setting me on his lap. He looked at me with a really sad expression. “You’re too young to know, Jin…”

“Is it because I have strange magic? “ I asked again.

“You didn’t inherit your magic from your bloodlines...” He looked away, a torubled expression on his face.

“Then why?”

“Jin…You don’t want to know.” Father said softly

“I want to know why I have no mother!” Frustration suddenly flared in me, and wisps of shadow appeared at my fingertips, scaring me. I borrowed my head into my Father’s chest, and he held me close in his arms. 

“Jin, you know that scar on your face that goes down to your chest?” Father asked. 

“Yes” 

He took a deep breath. “The day you were born, your mother tried to kill you the moment she saw you weren’t human. So, I yanked you out of her arms and ran away.”

“You’re lying…” my voice shook. I gripped him tighter while my whole body shook. “You’re lying!” 

“Jin-“

“You’re lying!” I jumped off his lap and then ran out the door.

“Jin, wait!” 

I kept running as fast as I could, deeper into the forest and he ran after me. I slid my back down the tree while sobs wracked my body.  I drew my knees to my chest, tears sliding down my face. 

***

“Jin… Are you alright? You were staring at that family for a long time.”

“It really doesn't matter...”  I muttered

“Jin…”

Our footsteps echo in the cobblestone streets, the steady clop. clop, clop, of horses' hoves as carraiges passed us. Alek tap my shoulder as we pass a shop that sells pocket watches.

Alek turns to me. “Jin, do you have a pocket watch?”

“No, they’re too expensive, My father and I are poor.” I replied.

"I’ll get you one!”

“There’s no need for this, Alek. I’m alright without one.”

“I insist."

“Alright.” I end up picking a simple silver one at the lowest price I could find. 

“I’m happy you had a bubble bath.” Alek swang his arms gently as he walks ahead of me.

“What does that mean?”

“How do you not know!?” Alek nearly shouted his tone shocked, “This simply will not do!”

“I was raised in the forest near the outskirts of a town.” 

“So you’re not a big city person?” 

“Never was, Alek.”

We lasped into an uncomfortable silence, as we enter the store, a man in a waistcoat, clean, neatly pressed white collared shirt with a violet silk handkerchief in his pocket and matching silken tie, approaches us. “Hello, good sirs! Anything I can do for you?”

“I’m helping my mate, here.” Alek said cheerfully gesturing to me. 

“Let me know if you need any assistance” the man replies and then he walks away.

After browsing through the pocket watches, each more ornate than the last, I settle on a silver one with an intricate design of roses on top of it. 

“You didn’t have to do it, Alek!” I say as we walk out, holding the pocket in my hand, rubbing the design over and over with my thumb.

Alek laughs, a bright smile on his face “It was my pleasure, mate!”