PHOENIX

Care

Evara woke up to a dull ache pulsing through her abdomen, back, thighs, and breasts. She rubbed her eyes, trying to shake off the discomfort that had become all too familiar over the past year.

She hated this time of the month. Even though she was only twelve, she had already learned to deal with it alone—until now.

She winced as she sat up, realizing that the cramps were worse than usual. She glanced down at her mattress, the thin mattress now stained with the evidence of her period.

She cursed under her breath, knowing she was out of supplies. "Shit," she muttered, feeling a wave of panic rise within her.

What was she supposed to do now? This wasn't something she could ignore.

Just then, a voice came from the kitchen. "Evara, you on your period."

She froze, her heart skipping a beat. It was Minjun.

How did he know? Her eyes darted to the bed again, and she mentally kicked herself for not realising how obvious it was.

"Uh... yeah," she finally mumbled, unsure of what to expect.

This was uncharted territory. No one had ever acknowledged her pain, let alone offered help. She expected him to be disgusted, to turn away or scold her for ruining the bed.

Instead, Minjun appeared in front of her, a concerned look on his face. "Are you okay?" he asked gently, crouching down to her level.

Evara blinked, her mind reeling.

Was this some kind of joke?

In her life, no one had ever asked her if she was okay—not when she was in pain, not when she was hurt, not ever.

Her mind flashed back to the day she got her first period. She had been washing dishes, her body aching, but she kept going, not knowing what was happening. When she had ruined the covers that night, she thought she was dying, and a twisted part of her had welcomed the thought. But instead of the peace she had hoped for, she got a slap and a cruel explanation from the maid.

Minjun's question brought her back to the present. "I'm fine," she lied nonchalantly, though she knew the day ahead would be difficult.

"Do you have the supplies?" he asked, his voice calm.

Evara scratched her head awkwardly. "Well... I ran out of them."

Minjun didn't flinch. Instead, he smiled—a warm, reassuring smile that only confused her more. "Go take a shower. I'll bring you what you need."

She stared at him, unsure of what to make of his kindness.

Was this a trick? But she was in too much pain to argue, so she nodded and headed to the bathroom.

As the hot water cascaded over her, Evara's thoughts raced. She had always been on her own, forced to fend for herself in every situation. Trust was a luxury she couldn't afford, not with her past. And now this—this boy, who she had only known for a month, was offering her help? It didn't make sense.

Evara was just eleven years old, her small hands scrubbing dishes in a grimy, dimly lit kitchen.

The early evening sun barely filtered through the grimy windows, casting a weak, sickly light over the room. The air was thick with the smell of grease and soap.

Her heart raced with a blend of fear and exhaustion, but it was the physical discomfort that made her wince most.

The pain began as a dull ache in her lower abdomen, something she brushed off as just another inconvenience in her already difficult life.