Light, prolonged

春分 [7] / [33]

From nowhere, a woman appeared in front of him. She looked only one or two years older than him. At first glance, he thought the woman was very pretty. She initiated conversation.

"Hi, what are you doing here? What's happened to you?"

She pointed to his ripped clothes and injured face. He didn't know what to say. She didn't hesitate to come near him, wiping his dirty face with white gauze, and sterilizing his wounds. He winced because the wounds hurt. She smiled and giggled. The way she acted like they were old friends intrigued him.

"Where is your house? I'll bring you home. What a baby! C`mon. Let’s go."

"I am not a baby,"

Lucas answered bluntly. He didn't like to be referred to as a baby, or young boy. He was a 15-year-old “man.” She giggled again. He didn't return her laugh, however, and disliked the smile on her face.

"Get to your feet, boy. I will bring you home,"

she said kindly. He hesitated. He didn't let her know he was an orphan with nowhere to go.

"I ran away from home,"

he lied, but, to some extent, it really was the truth.

"Really?"

she looked surprised.

"Then where can you stay? It's dangerous to roam outside for a boy like you."

"Anywhere where there's grass on the ground. I can sleep anywhere."

He wanted to appear as a strong man to her, for some reason. She smiled wildly.

"Did you have anything to eat? You look starved. Let's go, I'll buy you food."

She took him to a restaurant, made him order food; anything he wanted. He ate his full, gradually growing to like her. She was beautiful, and kind like an angel.

When they finished dinner, she said.

"If you don't mind, you can stay at my place until you want to leave."

"Are you sure?"

this time, he was startled.

"I cannot let you outside with nowhere to go. You remind me of my brother. He died when I was 13, he was 10."

Tears welled up in her eyes. He saw those tears. He wanted to hug her. He could understand why she was so kind to him from the beginning. His doubtfulness toward her kindness disappeared at once.

"If my staying won't bother you, I want to go with you."

As he answered, she smiled brightly, wiping her tears.