The Moon Shines when the Sun Isn't Around

Part 37

It was just another day, or at least it was supposed to be. Oreo walked into school with her phone in hand, texting Daron absentmindedly about their weekend plans, her mind drifting from the words on her screen. Lately, everything seemed complicated—King's distant attitude, Daron's pushy flirting, the tension that was building but never addressed.

She didn't see King before class, which was strange. Normally, he'd be waiting for her by their lockers, even if things were awkward between them. But not today.

Her phone buzzed.

Raina's been in an accident. I'm at the hospital.

Oreo froze. It was from King. Her heart immediately raced, her fingers shaking as she typed back.

What happened? Is she okay?

But there was no reply. Oreo grabbed her stuff and ran outside to call an Uber, heading straight to the hospital. The thoughts spinning in her head were jumbled—why hadn't he told her sooner? What if Raina wasn't okay? What would she even say to King when she got there?

When Oreo arrived at the hospital, King was sitting in the waiting room, looking as if the world had collapsed around him. His hands were clasped tightly in his lap, his eyes focused on the floor, his whole body rigid as if bracing for impact.

"King..." Oreo said softly, her voice breaking the silence.

He didn't respond at first, just exhaled a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. When he looked up at her, his eyes were red-rimmed, a far cry from the composed, cool-headed King she knew. She sat beside him, unsure of what to say. How do you console someone when their whole world is hanging in the balance?

"What happened?" Oreo asked gently, not wanting to press but needing to know.

He swallowed hard. "Car accident. A truck hit her... she's in surgery. They don't know if she'll..." His voice cracked, and he couldn't finish the sentence.

Oreo felt her heart sink to her stomach. She couldn't imagine what King was going through. Raina was his twin, his other half. They were inseparable.

"I'm so sorry, King," she whispered. She didn't know what else to say, but her hand reached for his without thinking. He didn't pull away, but he didn't grip it either. His body remained tense, like a coiled spring.

Silence fell between them, heavy with unspoken words, fear, and uncertainty. Every minute felt like an eternity.

Hours passed, and eventually, a doctor came to update them. Raina had made it through surgery, but the next 48 hours would be critical. They couldn't say for sure if she'd pull through.

King just nodded, his face blank. Oreo could see how hard he was trying to hold it together, but she knew him well enough to know that he was crumbling inside. After the doctor left, he stood up abruptly.

"I need to get out of here," he muttered, not looking at her.

Oreo followed him outside, not wanting to leave him alone. They ended up at a park near the hospital, sitting in silence on a bench. The cold air bit at her skin, but Oreo barely felt it. All she could focus on was the weight of King's pain.

"She's the only family I really have," King finally said, his voice barely audible. "If I lose her..."

"You're not going to lose her," Oreo said, her voice firmer than she felt. "She's strong, King. She'll make it."

He didn't respond, just shook his head slightly. The haunted look in his eyes made her stomach churn.

"Everything's falling apart," he said after a long pause. "You, me, Raina. I thought I could handle it all, but I can't. I'm losing everything."