My life

The mall

GENEVIEVE POV

I woke up feeling rested. Truly rested. 

That alone felt wrong. I lay there for a moment, staring at the ceiling, trying to remember the last time I'd woken up without my body aching or my mind already racing. I hadn't meant to fall asleep not like that but I must have been more exhausted than I realized. 

It took me a second to notice where I was. The bed. The room. The faint smell of salt drifting in from outside. And then I realized something else. 

Mica was still asleep beside me. 

I must have fallen asleep at the lagoon. I didn't remember the sun rising. I didn't remember walking home. That meant he carried me. The thought made my chest tighten in a strange, unfamiliar way. No one had ever done that for me before not gently, not because they wanted to. 

I turned slightly, facing him. 

I studied his face while he slept, the lines softened, the tension gone. He looked peaceful. Safe. And that terrified me. Because he'd told me things things that felt too big to trust. That he wanted me. That he would protect me. That he would love me with everything he had. 

I wanted to believe him. 

But fear whispered louder. 

What if he changes? 
What if he's like my family? 
What if this kindness is just temporary? 
What if he forces himself on me once I stop being useful or interesting? 

The what-ifs piled up until my head started to throb. I pressed my lips together, trying to quiet them, when his eyes opened. 

"Something on your mind?" he asked softly. 

I jumped, startled. My heart raced, guilt flashing through me like I'd been caught doing something wrong. 

"Sorry," I said quickly. "I was just... thinking about shopping today." 

It was a lie, but it was easier than the truth. 

He didn't push. He just nodded and stretched, glancing at the clock. It was already around ten in the morning. Part of me felt relieved we wouldn't waste the day like yesterday. 

I asked if the nurse would be coming with us. He told me she couldn't, but his sister could instead. My nerves fluttered again, but I nodded. I didn't want to seem difficult. 

We got out of bed and headed downstairs. He pulled strawberries from the fridge and set them in front of me like it was the most natural thing in the world. He remembered. 

That alone made something warm bloom in my chest. 

I ate them without thinking, one after another, until I lost count. When I finally looked up, he was smiling at me wide and goofy and completely unguarded. 

"I enjoy when you eat," he said. 

I didn't know how to respond to that. No one had ever said anything like that to me before. Eating had always been a problem. Something monitored. Criticized. Punished. I dropped my gaze to the table, smiling softly because I didn't trust my voice. 

When he asked if I was ready to meet his sister, I nodded. I was nervous but I was ready. 

We walked a few houses down, and that's when I saw her. 

She was tall. Really tall at least five-ten, almost as tall as Mica. She was thin, but not in the way I was. She looked strong. Healthy. Confident. Muscles where they should be. She looked like someone who belonged in her body. 

"Mia," Mica said. 

She grinned immediately. 

"Hi! I'm Mia Mica's sister, the best one," she said quickly, laughing. "You must be Gen. Oh my god, you're so cute. I'm so excited. We are going to buy so much stuff." 

She talked so fast I barely had time to process the words, but something about her energy made me smile. She didn't look at me with pity. She looked at me like I was interesting. Like she already liked me. 

I didn't know what to say, so I smiled big and genuine and followed her to the car. I climbed into the backseat with her, already knowing this drive would go by quickly. She talked nonstop. And somehow, I didn't mind. 

"So have you ever had a boyfriend?" she asked, then gasped. "Wait, never mind, you don't have to answer that. Are you excited to live here? Has Mica told you about Luna duties? How many kids do you want?" 

My head spun. 

I answered what I could. Dodged what I couldn't. She didn't push. She just kept going, filling the silence so I didn't have to. 

Before I knew it, we were pulling into the mall parking lot. 

The mall was huge. Intimidating. Overwhelming. I hesitated, unsure where to start, but Mia took charge instantly. The first few stores blurred together racks of clothes, mirrors everywhere. She picked things out for me, holding them up and nodding decisively. We bought some clothes a size up, just in case. 

"You're getting healthier," she said casually. Like it was a fact, not a judgment. 

Then she grinned. "Okay. Special stop. Mica's not allowed." 

My nerves spiked, but I trusted her. Mica said he needed to go somewhere else anyway, so he left us. 

The store was Victoria's Secret. I felt my face heat instantly. It sold underwear. Bras. Things I'd never been allowed to choose for myself. But Mia was gentle, explaining everything, helping me pick things that were comfortable, not embarrassing. She even convinced me to buy a few things I couldn't imagine wearing—teddies, she called them laughing when I protested. 

But my favorite part was the perfume. 

I smelled everything. Soft scents. Sweet ones. Clean ones. I ended up with ten bottles and a few lotions. It felt indulgent. Luxurious. Mine. 

Afterward, she called her brother to meet us at the food court. 

When I saw Mica standing there, something inside me lit up. I didn't think I just moved. I ran to him and hugged him tightly. The surprise on his face mirrored my own, but I didn't pull away. 

For once, I let myself feel happy. 

We got sandwiches. Mia and I shared a ham one. Mica ordered tuna, which I found absolutely disgusting. I laughed more than I had in years until my eyes caught something across the food court. 

My family. 

And just like that, everything inside me went cold.