Chapter 4

I clenched my fists.

Edwin continued, "When I was three, a thief broke into our house. My father said I brought him there. When I was five, someone in the family died. They said that was my fault."

He gave a faint smile. "I didn't do anything. But they said it was me, so it became me."

"Edwin..." I stood up, wanting to go to him.

He raised a hand to stop me. "Amanda, let me finish."

He looked straight at me. His eyes were dry, but serious. "When I turned seven, my father had someone test my spiritual root. It turned out to be useless.

"I couldn't practice magic. He was happy because he finally had a reason to throw me out.

"He had people whip me thirty times and drag me outside. He said I wasn't part of the Carroll family anymore. Even if I died, it had nothing to do with him."

He paused and added, "I lay there and thought it might be easier to just die. No one wanted me anyway. Then I saw you."

I stood there, watching him.

The rain kept falling, but I couldn't hear it at all anymore.

"You were standing in the moonlight, looking down at me," he said. "Your eyes were bright, like stars."

He got to his feet and walked over to me. "Amanda, since you picked me up, you can't throw me away."

He tilted his face up, his expression serious. "You're good to me, so I'll be good to you forever. If you leave me..."

He didn't finish his sentence.

But I caught something flicker in his eyes.

It was not a threat. It was not a warning.

It was fear, the kind of fear that came from being abandoned once and never getting over it.

I crouched down so we were eye to eye. "Edwin, listen to me."

He held my gaze.

"It doesn't matter what other people say about you," I said. "It doesn't matter how they see you. What matters is how you see yourself."

I reached out and gently ruffled his hair. "Jinx or monster, whatever they call you, to me, you're my family."

Hope sparked in his eyes.

I smiled. "And who said your spiritual root is useless? Those tests aren't always right. Maybe one day, you'll be stronger than anyone."

He looked at me, his eyes sparkling even more.

"Then, will you stay with me forever?" he asked.

I opened my mouth. I wanted to say yes. But I couldn't.

I came from another world. I had no idea when I might be pulled back. I could not make a promise I might break.

Something in his expression changed. He lowered his eyes and did not ask again.

Instead, he reached out and gently hooked his finger around mine. "Then it's enough that you're here right now."

*****

We settled down in a small town.

It was not big, but it was peaceful. I found work at a fabric shop, keeping records. Edwin went to the local school. I was the one who signed him up.

He did not want to go. "I don't need to study. I can help you work."

I tapped his head. "What is a kid supposed to do if not study? Go to school and learn something."

He covered his head and looked at me with a hurt expression.

My heart softened for a second, but I still pushed him through the school gate.

I picked him up after class. He stood at the entrance waiting for me. The moment he saw me, he ran over and pulled something warm out from inside his clothes.

"They gave us snacks at school." He placed a pancake in my hand. "This is for you."

I looked at the pancake, then at him.

He was watching me, eyes full of hope.

"Did you eat yours?" I asked.

"I did." He nodded.

I did not believe him. They only gave one snack per student. There was no way he had already eaten.

I broke the pancake in half and handed part of it back to him. "Then we'll share."

He pressed his lips together, took the piece, and ate it in small bites.

After that, he grabbed my hand, and we walked home together.

The setting sun stretched our shadows long across the ground.

"Amanda, I want to grow up faster," he said suddenly.

"Why?" I asked.

"When I grow up, I'll earn a lot of money and buy you a big house," he said seriously. "I'll get you lots of beautiful clothes."

I laughed. "Then you'd better study hard."

"I will." He nodded firmly. "I'll study hard, get a good job, and make sure you live a good life."

I smiled and ruffled his hair.

The sunset was warm as it fell over us.

At that moment, I wished time could just stop right here.

Days passed, one after another.

When he turned ten, something happened.

That day, I went to the fabric shop to check the accounts and ended up coming back late. As I reached the entrance of the alley, I heard shouting inside.

I quickened my pace. When I got closer, I saw a group of boys standing in a circle, throwing stones at something in the middle.

In the center, Edwin was crouched on the ground. He had his arms over his head and did not move.