A shrill alarm echoed through the small room, accompanied by a gentle but firm voice reminding someone to keep quiet. The voice belonged to Arthur's older sister, Luna. Groggy and disoriented, Arthur blinked awake and saw his sister, who was still fast asleep in the bed beside his.
Arthur's room was cozy but sparse, with soft morning the sky outside was still dark, the first signs of dawn barely beginning to show. He sat up with a sigh, he swung his legs out of bed and padded quietly across the room to turn off the alarm, trying not to disturb Luna.
She was his big sister, everyone said he was lucky to have a sister like her, and Arthur couldn't agree more, and to Arthur, she was his whole world. Luna was still asleep, curled up under the thick, worn-out quilt that had once belonged to their mother. Her face was peaceful, framed by dark hair that spilled over the pillow like a waterfall. Arthur hesitated for a moment, watching her, before gently shaking her shoulder.
"Luna, wake up. The day's starting," he whispered, his voice still husky from sleep.
Luna stirred, slowly opening her eyes and offering him a sleepy smile. "Morning, Arthur," she murmured, her voice warm and comforting, like a ray of sunlight on a cold day.
Arthur brushed his teeth quickly, splashed cold water on his face to fully wake himself up. He took a moment to glance around the room. It was small but full of memories, with a few framed pictures of their mom hanging on the walls. It wasn't much, but it was home.
Downstairs, the gym that his mom had left behind after her tragic death stood quiet, the air heavy with the scent of rubber mats and iron weights. The gym had been their mother's pride, a place where she had poured her heart and soul before she and their father died in a car accident when Arthur was 14. That was the day everything changed.
Arthur's father had taken him away right after he was born, leaving his mom and sister behind. Those years with his dad were filled with coldness and pain. When he was 14, he'd finally escaped, running away to find his mom. When his mom found out what Arthur had gone through, she was furious.
But fate was cruel. She left to confront his father in her attempt to make things right, but when she didn't return, Arthur went to check on her. But the car accident that followed stole their lives. Arthur survived but lost all memories of his past. When he woke up two days later in the hospital, it was Luna who explained everything, her eyes filled with tears as she held his hand, trying to be strong for his little brother.
Luna, just 18 at the time, became his guardian, his protector. She worked tirelessly to support them, running the gym while slowly building a business empire behind the scenes. By the age of 20, she had become the owner of three luxury hotels and had started her own architecture firm, but she kept her success hidden from society, not wanting anyone to know because Arthur preferred a simple life. So she wanted to give him the simple, peaceful life he longed for, the life their mother would have wanted for them. The only people who knew about her life behind the scenes were Emily her highschool friend and business partner and Sam, the father of Emily. Sam was the one who helped Luna in building her business empire to show his gratitude for Luna's mother who took great care of Emily after her mother died.
Now, at 17, Arthur was preparing for his first day of his last year in high school. The morning was cool and fresh as he and Luna sat down at the small kitchen table for breakfast. The kitchen was quaint, filled with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and toast. They had made breakfast together, a quiet ritual that made them feel connected, a team against the world.
Arthur glanced out the window at the narrow streets lined with trees, the leaves swaying gently in the breeze. The sky was a clear blue, promising a bright, new day. After finishing their meal, they cleaned up, chatting about the day ahead. Luna decided to walk him to school, wanting to share a few last moments with him before she headed to her company. As they stepped out the door, the familiar sound of the city waking up surrounded them—birds chirping, distant car engines humming, and the occasional bark of a neighbourhood dog.
The siblings walked side by side, the morning sun casting long shadows on the pavement as they made their way through the streets. Luna's presence was a comfort to Arthur, a reminder that no matter what happened, he wasn't alone.