Falling for the Goddess

Candy Bar

Kyle Thorne plopped down on the sofa, tossing the persimmons in his arms onto the table with a huff. "Adrian was the first to jump in and pull Jimmy out of the water, but Aunt just gave him that look - like she wanted to eat him alive! It's not like it was my brother's fault that Jimmy fell in!"

"Kyle!" Blake Zelda's voice sharpened. "Watch your tone!"

"But it's the truth!"

"Even if it's true, you shouldn't speak ill of your elders behind their back!"

"Fine, I get it," Kyle Thorne muttered, clearly still not convinced.

"What exactly happened?" Grandma Blake asked.

"We were picking persimmons, and Jimmy was playing by the pond, teasing the fish. I handed him a big persimmon, and he was so excited that he jumped up and accidentally fell into the water."

"It was clearly just an accident! And Adrian reacted so quickly - he jumped in and got Jimmy out before I even realized what was happening. You all saw how soaked he got..."

Grandma Blake glanced toward the upstairs room and sighed softly. "Karen is a good person in every way, but when it comes to Jimmy, she's especially cautious..."

Adrian Blake wasn't her biological son, so it was natural for her to have doubts and lingering unease.

Sara Hart had been quietly watching the direction of the stairs. Noticing this, Grandma Blake spoke softly, "Sara, why don't you go check on Adrian?"

Sara Hart hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Alright."

Standing outside Adrian Blake's bedroom, Sara Hart gently knocked twice. From inside, a cool voice responded.

"Come in."

Sara Hart pushed the door open. Adrian Blake was seated by the floor-to-ceiling window. Although sunlight poured over him, he seemed to be enveloped in a sense of solitude and gloom.

"Are you okay?" she asked softly.

Adrian Blake looked at her, remaining silent. He didn't need pity or sympathy.

Sara Hart pressed on. "You jumped into the water earlier. Are you hurt anywhere?"

The pond had sharp stones along the edges - it would be easy to get hurt.

Adrian Blake paused for a second before replying, "No."

"That's good."

Sara Hart walked over and sat beside him. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a piece of candy, offering it to him.

Adrian Blake looked at her, puzzled, and didn't take it.

"My grandmother used to say that when you're feeling down, a little sweetness can lift your spirits. Candy can make people feel better."

Adrian Blake glanced down at the candy resting in Sara's pale palm. It was a chocolate candy bar.

But he hadn't eaten candy since he was five.

Seeing that Adrian wasn't accepting it, Sara, mustering some unexpected courage, quickly unwrapped the candy and, before Adrian could react, popped it into his mouth.

"Well, I'll be heading downstairs now."

Leaving that sentence behind, Sara darted out of the room.

Outside, she leaned against the wall, her heart pounding in her chest. She felt a wave of regret. Why had she been so bold? What if Adrian got angry?