"It's so... pretty!"
Rain splattered on the wet earth and pavement, muffled thuds echoing on the umbrella held above as a young girl pressed her face against the glass casing of a jewelry store, her eyes gleaming as she stared at a pair of earrings.
She wore a school uniform, her jacket unbuttoned and hanging from a single shoulder, and her raven-black hair fluttered in the cold wind while her blue-grey eyes widened with profound delight.
Standing behind her was a boy who seemed only slightly older, dressed in a similar school uniform, holding the umbrella over their heads.
His hair and eyes matched hers in color, and he wore a subtly detached expression as he slowly slipped his left hand into his pocket.
Shortly after, he pulled out a bill and reluctantly handed it to her.
"Go knock yourself out."
Hearing his voice, she turned and stared at the money for a moment before snatching it from his hand. Yet, she didn't enter the store.
Instead, she gazed at the silver earrings a little longer, then turned back to her brother with a smile.
"Aww, big bro... I don't want the earrings, at least not today."
She quickly tucked the money into her jacket pocket.
"Thanks for the twenty, though."
After a short pause, she added,
"Well then, let's go home."
For a moment, her brother stared at her, eyes widening in shock, before gently closing them and letting out a sigh. Calm and collected, his voice echoed a second later.
"So you just swindled out of cash?"
She squinted at him and nodded.
"No, this was just you being kind to your cute little sister... as always."
"...Tsk."
Frowning, he turned and began to walk away without warning, leaving his sister a moment to catch up. She yelped as the cold rain soaked her skin, then quickly ran to meet him, muttering under her breath.
She grabbed his shoulder and leaned against him, her wet hair lightly brushing his face, wrapping her arm around his as she pretended to sob.
"How could you, big bro?"
He didn't resist her grip, continuing forward, eyes staring emptily into the distance. After a while, he turned his gaze to the side and abruptly stopped.
She felt his shoulder shudder and tense, then he dropped the umbrella and grasped her arm, shivering.
His voice was suddenly cold and trembling as he spoke:
"Hey... Anna... I... I don't feel so good."
And then he collapsed onto her shoulder.
******
Completely drenched, she carefully pushed open the door to their house and guided her brother inside, her breaths hoarse and raspy. She looked at his pale face and shook her head.
"Like, seriously? You just up and have a fever in the middle of a walk?"
She laid him on the couch and removed her wet jacket, mumbling under her breath.
"Damn you, big bro."
After a moment, she gently pressed the back of her palm against his forehead, sighed, and stood. She quickly changed into dry clothes, then went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
After many minutes of cooking, she brought him a bowl of chicken noodle soup and helped him sit up on the couch.
She went upstairs again, returning with some clothes for him.
Their night ended cold and silent, with him dozing after changing and taking a few bites of the meal she made, while she sat on the floor, falling asleep beside him.
******
The next morning, she woke with a long yawn, groggy and slightly downhearted. She was saddened that her brother had fallen ill, and also that she had to get ready for school.
With resentment, she prepared a quick breakfast and got dressed, leaving a letter for her brother as she closed the door behind her.
Meanwhile, Moon woke hours later, his face drawn and sweaty, and his cheeks flushed. The fever still lingered, but he felt slightly better.
He pushed himself up from the couch and looked toward the kitchen. On the dining table lay a single piece of paper pinned down. He instantly recognized it; his sister often left notes like this around the house.
Coughing slightly, he walked to the table. His body shivering, head aching, and read the note carefully.
As expected, it was a letter from his sister: she asked him to eat well, rest, and perhaps pick up a few things from the store if he felt up to it. He quickly ate and changed.
Though still drowsy, he was able to walk to the store a few minutes away to get the groceries.
True to plan, he arrived in ten minutes and quickly began gathering the items from the list.
He loaded them into a crate and headed to checkout. His haste had another reason: his favorite novel was finally getting a comic adaptation, and he wanted to be among the first to read it. Though not top-tier, the comic was popular with thousands of fans, including him.
After paying, he packed everything and hurried home, which equalled another ten minute walk another ten-minute walk.
The sun shone over streets still wet from yesterday's rain, cars zooming past. He smiled as he walked, but just as he turned toward his yard, his phone rang.
He stopped and frowned, checking the screen. It wasn't a call—it was a message from his sister...
My annoyingly cute little sister: Big bro, can you come pick me up? I got into a bit of a pickle.
He sighed.
"Seriously, Anna?"
Dropping the groceries, he dashed to the train station, bought a ticket, and boarded, heading to the area near their school.
The trip should have been short, but as he sat near the window, gazing outsid, he couldn't help but feel a little dizzy. Headache pressed and his eyes turned glassy.
He just had to stop by the station, reach the school, pick up his sister, and then they would return home together. He could push through the drowsiness.
Or so he thought.
Sleep-deprived, he barely registered the flickering streetlights, absurdly switching between colors. It was a clear malfunction... A problem that soon became his problem.
The train soon reached a section where the railway crossed the road, and just as the lights turned green, a truck approached swiftly from the left.
If only the driver had noticed sooner… at least he tried, slamming the brakes and sending the truck into a spin.
It slammed into the train, glass shattering everywhere. He raised his hand, but too late.
He felt nothing but pain... blind, suffocating pain as he closed his eyes, never to open them again.
******
Later, he awoke to impenetrable darkness and silence, the only thing keeping him sane being the searing pain in his shoulder, chest, and abdomen.
He sighed in relief.
"I'm alive."
Attempting to rise, all he felt was pain, an aching pain that spread through his back.
Dear God.
His back was broken.