“Why? It doesn’t concern you.”

“Huh, weren’t you the one who saved me and Soleil? So yeah, it does concern me.”

“I did it on my own volition.”

“Do you take after your mother that badly? Listen, that old bag of twigs -”

SNAP

“That old what?”

When I was about to complain by looking right behind me, several vines were raised right above my head and Rita’s gaze was enough to terrify me. If a hole appeared out of nowhere, I would jump right on it.

“That magnificent lady that is your mother doesn’t want you to die. And neither does Soleil. And me. If that counts for something.”

“Why?”

“Because the reason you are on the verge of getting accused of treason is stupid? Really, are you actually questioning why we are doing this? It’s a simple matter of yes or no. I’m not going to force you but I mean, it’s kinda between living and dying for no reason.”

“But it has nothing to do with outsiders like you. Why would it matter to you?”

“You know what? All of that shenanigans about me being an outsider is starting to get old. Just accept help from someone from once. What’s so wrong with that?”

“You are aware that you are the same, right?”

“You are supposed to help me, Soleil.”

“I will just stay quiet then.”

“I don’t mind if you want to stay but don’t be selfish.”

“How am I being selfish?”

At this point, she simply stands up and raises her voice. Her face turned red with anger and the more she spoke, the redder it got.

“How can you speak like you know everything when you are a mere criminal? How dare you call me selfish when I don’t want to be in a place where my mother isn’t? How dare you? Just because you have no family and no one cares about you in this world, you have no right to call me selfish just because I want to be with mine. You are alone. And that is on you. Not on me.”

“THALIA.”

She was panting like there was no tomorrow. Her shoulders dropped and her eyes snapped and she covered her mouth probably regretting what she said. Hearing all of that simply made me laugh.

The three of them looked at me like I was crazy. But she was spot on.

“Damn, that was a good laugh. It even hurts.”

“Yurem?”

“Yes, Sol?”

“Why are you…”

“What? She was spot on. It is funny because she was right about everything.”

“Thalia, that was-”

“Lady Rita, please.”

With me raising my hand so she doesn’t go any further, she looks at me puzzled. She doesn’t need to be told off just because she spoke her true feelings. Who am I to refuse someone’s feelings? Who am I to disregard them?

“Yeah. I don’t have any family. And the only one I had sold me off. Yeah, no one cares about me. And yeah, I don’t have any right to call you selfish for wanting to be with your mother and with the rest. But…”

She looked at me straight in the eyes with her mouth slightly open.

“Can you at least look at her?”

I point at Rita who’s right behind me.

“She loves you more than life. You mean everything to her. You can talk all the shit you want about me. But I won’t even allow you to disrespect her and disregard her feelings for you. That I won’t allow.”

Why am I standing up for someone I don’t even know? It’s weird but she reminds me of something I have never had. I was out for days but it felt like hours. Even minutes. But I saw here. I saw everything from the beginning. And she was right by my side. Not laughing, not mocking. She was there. She didn’t pity me. I don’t need it. I don’t want it. When I cried, she held me. When I laughed, she did it with me. When I felt angry, she patted my head. If this is what having a mother was like, then I really never had one.

I can’t help but smile when I look at Rita. And she looks at me like she realized that I remember everything.

“So are you coming with us, or not?”

“I…”

She looks at Rita once again. And she nods.

“I will.”

“Good.”

As soon as I heard those words, I simply turned my back on her and headed towards the bed. My head was crumbling with everything. As I am lying down enormous headache reached me. I want to sleep. And with that on my mind, I fell into a deep slumber.

I woke up feeling refreshed. The pain in my head vanished and I was feeling better. I take some time looking at my body and I realize that the cuts and bruises had vanished completely.

I’m astonished. If this is something they can do in this world maybe those two can also…Yeah, better not think about that.

I have no idea how long it has been since I fell asleep but looking through the window, it’s been a while. I head towards the balcony. As I open the door, I see a silhouette sitting there stargazing. It was Rita.

“So you are up.”

“Yo.”

“Is that any way to speak with me? You ought to show some respect.”

“I just woke up, please find in yourself to give me a break, even if it is a small one.”

“Fine.”

Scuffing at what I said she turned again to the stars. I sit right next to her and I start doing the same. Back home, I would spend hours looking at the sky like this by myself. But here it is better. The sky is brighter, there are more stars. Countless. And shooting stars are more recurrent. The moon is brighter and the light shows how beautiful the forest is. Several dryads, druds, and tryants roam freely and happily. Seeing that made me a bit jealous. How can they live in such peace when the world is the mess that it is?

“It’s so beautiful.”

“Aw, thank you. You are kind.”

“You do know I’m talking about the forest, right?”

“Sure, sure. Saying that while looking at me and you are talking about the forest.”

“Oh, give me a break. Why would a healthy young man like me look at an old lady like you?”

“You really have a death wish, don’t you?”

“OH please, oh Elder one. I just jest.”

“You are bound to meet people that will kill you for comments like those.”

“Sure, sure.”

“And I’ll have you know I’m only 43.”

“And I’m 17. Your point?”

“You may be younger but your body is in worse shape than of my ex-husband.”

“Okay, for starters, ouch. Second, ex-husband? Is divorce actually a concept in this world?”

“Let me rephrase. My former dead husband.”

“Oh. I am sorry.”

“Don’t. He was an idiot, hot-headed, worse than scum. Just like you.”

“Hey. I have feelings.”

“Oh, oh hero of this world, I just jest.”

“I hate you.”

“No, you don’t.”

“Yeah, I don’t.”

Laughing while looking at the stars felt right. Even when I just met her, I feel like I knew Rita for years. I feel like I could trust her with everything I have and she would do the same in exchange. Even if it is something weird to think.

“Where are those two girls?”

“I told them to go for a walk when you fell asleep. Soleil was concerned but I reassured her that you just lost too much blood and it is normal for your body to feel feeble.”

“That or you drugged me.”

“Who do you think I am? Do not blame me for the state of your awful body.”

“Again, I do have feelings.”

“Do I look like I care?”

“Yeah. You do.”

We share another laugh when suddenly two vines came from the kitchen with two cups. I grabbed one while Rita held the other. The hot and sweet aroma from inside only meant one thing. Coffee. No matter where I was, coffee was still the only pleasure I could take from life. I told this countless times to Ciara but coffee should be considered the 8th wonder of the world and I stand by that. Obviously, she doesn’t agree but what does she know anyway?

“Listen.”

“Yeah?” I quickly replied but sipping on my hot, delicious coffee.

“Thank you.”

“I have no idea what you are talking about.”

“Yurem. I am being serious.”

She removed the cup of coffee from my hands and placed it right by my side. She grabbed my hands and looked at me straight in the eyes. The moon reflecting made them even more beautiful and I didn’t even know that it was possible.

“Thank you for saving her.”

“Don’t. You’re going to pay for it. With interest.”

“Ah. As if.”

She smiled and handed over the cup of coffee once again. And there we stood. Drinking coffee while stargazing.