A Life Torn Asunder

A New Beginning

Lucifer and Masha stood at the gate of their new middle school, hand in hand. The cool morning breeze brushed past them, ruffling their uniforms. Masha turned to Lucifer, smiling brightly. "Ready for our first day, Ru-chan?"

Lucifer nodded, though his smile was small. His heart still felt heavy from the loss of his parents, but in moments like this, he tried to push the weight aside. "Yeah, I guess I am," he replied, his voice carrying a hint of uncertainty.

Masha squeezed his hand tightly, her eyes gleaming with encouragement. "You'll do great! We'll stick together."

Together, they walked through the gates, instantly drawing the attention of their classmates. It wasn't surprising—they were both exceptional in their own ways. Lucifer, tall with white hair and striking blue eyes, stood out in any crowd. Masha, with her warm smile and kind demeanor, was just as captivating. When they introduced themselves to the class, it was clear they would be remembered.

"Good morning, I'm Lucifer D Arcadia," Lucifer said calmly, though a few classmates whispered as they recognized his name. He had gained some notoriety after his parents' tragic death, but he stood strong, fighting back the sadness threatening to surface.

Masha followed with a light voice, "I'm Masha! Nice to meet everyone. Let's be friends!" Her enthusiasm earned her a few smiles from the class.

Throughout the day, the two easily navigated through their classes. Lucifer excelled in everything he touched, always at the top of his assignments, with Masha not far behind. Teachers took note of their brilliance, often praising their work. But despite the recognition, Lucifer's mind wandered back to darker thoughts when no one was looking.

During lunch, Lucifer sat quietly under a tree, picking at his food. Masha sat beside him, watching him with concern.

"Ru-chan," she said softly, nudging him with her elbow, "you're doing amazing. But... you look sad again."

Lucifer glanced up, his usual mask slipping. "I'm trying, Masha. It's just hard sometimes." His voice cracked a little, the pain still fresh despite the years that had passed.

Masha leaned her head against his shoulder. "You don't have to try so hard, Ru-chan. I'm here, and we'll take it one day at a time."

Lucifer smiled faintly. Masha always knew what to say, her presence a soothing balm to his troubled mind. They sat in silence for a moment, watching the other students bustle around, lost in their own carefree world.

As the weeks passed, Lucifer gradually began to smile more. He even started cracking jokes in class, his sharp wit surprising some of the other students who thought him to be too serious. Masha always called him "Ru-chan," her teasing bringing out the lighter side in him that had been buried deep for so long.

One day, as they walked home, Masha's father greeted them with a broad smile. "Lucifer! Masha! I saw your grades—both of you are doing wonderfully! I'm so proud of you!"

Lucifer gave a polite nod, his smile genuine. "Thank you, sir."

Masha's mother, on the other hand, had a mischievous grin as she turned to Masha. "You know, Masha, you might as well marry him already with how close you two are."

"Mom!" Masha's face turned red as she waved her hands dismissively. "We're just friends!"

Lucifer chuckled lightly, though a part of him felt a strange warmth at the thought. It was the first time in a while that he had laughed so openly. Masha's parents were like a second family to him, welcoming him into their home and treating him with care, especially after his loss.

However, behind closed doors, Lucifer's nights were still plagued with grief. He often retreated to his room, staring at the ceiling, his mind swirling with memories of his parents. Some nights, the sadness overwhelmed him, and he would cry quietly, hoping Masha and her parents wouldn't hear. Other nights, panic attacks took over, his chest tightening as he struggled to breathe. On one such night, Masha heard his muffled sobs and knocked softly on his door.

"Ru-chan?" she called, her voice gentle yet firm. "Are you okay?"

Lucifer didn't respond immediately, trying to steady his breathing, but Masha opened the door and rushed to his side. Without saying a word, she wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. Her warmth slowly brought him back from the brink, her presence a lifeline in the storm of his emotions.

"I'm here," she whispered, rubbing his back gently. "You don't have to go through this alone."

Lucifer let out a shaky breath, resting his head on her shoulder. "I just... miss them so much."

Masha tightened her embrace. "I know, Ru-chan. It's okay to miss them. But I'll always be here with you."

One evening during dinner, Lucifer felt unusually tired. He pushed his food around on his plate, his head feeling heavy. Masha's mother noticed immediately.

"Lucifer, are you feeling alright? You don't look so good," she asked, her brow furrowing with concern.

Before he could answer, Lucifer suddenly felt a wave of dizziness wash over him. His vision blurred, and he struggled to stay upright. The room seemed to spin around him as he clutched the edge of the table.

"Ru-chan?" Masha's voice was filled with panic as she reached out to him, but it was too late. Lucifer collapsed, his body hitting the floor with a thud. In the fall, his head hit the corner of the table, and blood began to trickle down his forehead.

Masha screamed in horror. Her father immediately rushed to Lucifer's side, while her mother called for an ambulance.

"Lucifer! Stay with us!" Masha cried, her hands trembling as she tried to stop the bleeding. Tears streamed down her face, and she held his hand tightly, praying that he would be okay.

After what felt like an eternity, the ambulance arrived, and Lucifer was rushed to the hospital. The doctors quickly treated his wound and diagnosed him with a high fever, the result of stress and exhaustion. He remained unconscious for the next few days, and Masha refused to leave his side.

She would sit by his bed, feeding him soup when he was too weak to eat on his own, and reading him stories to keep him company. Each time he stirred or opened his eyes, she would smile at him, her presence comforting him in his weakest moments.

"You'll get better, Ru-chan," she whispered one night, brushing his hair away from his face. "I'll make sure of it."

Lucifer, though still tired, managed a weak smile. "Thank you, Masha... for everything."

Slowly, Lucifer began to recover, his strength returning bit by bit. Masha's constant care and attention helped him heal not just physically, but emotionally as well. With each passing day, he felt a little lighter, the weight of his grief lifting just a little more.

As the weeks went on, he found himself smiling more freely, his laughter more genuine. Masha's unwavering support had pulled him through the darkest moments of his life, and now, he could finally see the light again.

By the time Lucifer was fully recovered, he knew one thing for certain—he would never face the world alone, as long as Masha was by his side.