The Traveler | The Promised Neverland

Special

Emma and Norman were comforting Ray with tears in their eyes, while Sparrow just awkwardly stood around, looking out of place.  

How do you comfort a five-year-old who's suffering from nightmares about monsters that have killed and will kill more of your siblings?  

Even though Sparrow was supposed to be able to sympathize with Ray's pain, she hadn't ever cared or pitied their dead 'siblings'.  

After fifteen minutes, Ray calmed down and Emma and Norman headed out to their room.  Instead of going back to her bed, Sparrow stayed staring at Ray, her eyes noting his messy hair and the tear tracks on his face.  His dark pine-colored eyes were so dark they looked almost as black as his pupils.  

"Sparrow?  Why are you still here?  Is there something wrong?"  Ray asked hesitantly.  Sparrow just continued staring at him.  "A-ah!  I don't mean to imply I have a problem with you being there I just-"  

"No, I understand what you mean, I was just... thinking.  Hey, Ray?"  Sparrow pursed her lips. She looked like she wasn't sure if she should keep talking or not.  Ray nodded in encouragement.  "Why... why are you scared of monsters when they're not actually hurting you?"

 "Huh?" Ray looked confused at the question contemplated it.  "Because...because they could be hurting others, right?"  

"But why is that your problem?"  

Ray looked at Sparrow in complete shock, but then saw in her eyes that she was serious.

"Because I care about the people they could be hurting..."Ray admitted hesitantly.

"I see..."  Sparrow looked down at the ground.  

I guess I know why I can't understand now. She thought bitterly.  

"Hey, Ray?" Sparrow began again.  

"Yeah?"  

"Is it weird that I don't care about anyone else like that?"

Ray felt absolutely taken aback at that but kept up the illusion of calm.   

 "I wouldn't know.  It's probably different for everyone."  

"Then... You must be very kind, Ray."  

Ray stared at her, shocked.  No one had ever seen Ray as kind, even as young as he currently was.  Blunt, productive, mean, boring, yes.  But kind?  That wasn't something Ray could be described as.

In Ray's mind, when he thought of kindness he pictured Emma and Norman hovering over him with tears in her eyes, while Sparrow leaned against the wall, seemingly aloof.  But anyone around her constantly can tell the way her aura shifts and changes to concern and worry.

You're kind, Sparrow.  But you just don't realize it.

"Hey, Sparrow?" Ray asked after a companionable silence.  Sparrow hummed in acknowledgment.  "Maybe someday, you'll find out that you do care about some people like that."  He said in complete seriousness, looking a pit out of place on his childish face.  Sparrow's mouth quirked up at the corners, looking at the ceiling.  

"Maybe," Sparrow agreed. 

I doubt it.  

HEY! I'm sorry for going all awol, I was finishing up the school year and ghosted Wattpad for a while, it sucks but it happened.  This is an apology story for putting up with my BS.  I don't know how often I'll be able to update, but I'll keep the story in mind when I have time.  Thanks for all the support I've been getting, and see y'all later.