Olivia and I walked down the sloping dirt path that led to the space beneath the bridge. The night wind carried the sound of the lazy river, and our steps moved slowly, side by side, past rows of makeshift stalls and tents where people sought shelter. Small candles flickered among them—depicting family, even in its simplest form.
I walked Olivia to her place. An old tent with torn fabric walls, yet it felt warm from the light and voices inside.
"Thank you, Albertt. I'll come find you tomorrow… don't forget to give me your answer," Olivia said as she turned, waving her hand. Her smile… I felt like it could warm any night.
I gave a small nod, trying to look composed though my chest felt tight with something I couldn't name. "Alright. I'll think about it. See you tomorrow."
"See you," she replied before turning and skipping back toward her family.
From afar, I could still hear her mother teasing.
"Oh my, is that your boyfriend, Olivia?! Hehe."
I almost laughed, but held my breath when I heard Olivia's reply—flat, yet warm.
"Aish, it's not like that, Father, Mother. He was hungry, I just helped him… That's all."
Their light laughter slipped into the night, making this bleak place feel a little more alive.
I took a long breath, then turned back along the path I knew led to where I usually waited for my brother. Beneath the moonlit sky, I wandered between the hanging fabrics of the tents, hoping to catch sight of the silhouette I knew so well. But there was nothing. Once again—nothing.
"Huh… Brother, where did you go again?" I muttered, slightly annoyed.
But before sadness could take over, my eyes caught something on the ground not far ahead—a cloth carefully draped over something. I stepped closer and gently lifted it. Underneath was an old wicker basket.
I froze. Two pieces of bread were still whole inside, along with a small bottle of unopened milk. Brother… he'd come back, but left again before I could see him.
My stomach still demanding, I grabbed one of the loaves and bit into it greedily. My mouth full, I still muttered softly.
"Brother, why'd you leave again… Aishh." I swallowed quickly and took a few sips of the milk. Its warmth settled into my chest.
The night wore on. I sat again, leaning against the wall of our little tent, hugging the empty basket. My stomach was full, but my heart… still waited. Waiting for him to come home.
---
Before the towering gates of the castle stood my brother, beside the masked man—the clown who always hid his face behind a false smile. The rain from last night had passed, but the ground was still wet, and the air held a lingering chill that bit into the bones.
"Ready, son?!" the clown asked, his voice heavy but without force.
My brother nodded, then gripped the clown's hand tightly. His gaze was full of resolve. No hesitation—like, for the first time, he truly knew where his steps would lead.
---
I woke to the sound of small birds chirping above the bridge. The sun had not yet risen high, but the morning light had begun to slip through the gaps between metal beams and hanging cloths. The air was still damp, and the breeze carried the scent of earth and charcoal not yet burned out since the night.
"Brother…" I said as I sat up, rubbing my eyes. I looked forward, hoping to see him sitting there, waiting for me to wake as he always did.
But it wasn't my brother I saw. Someone else stood there, smiling gently at me.
"Hey, your brother still isn't back, Alberttt?" Olivia asked, brushing aside her wind-tossed hair.
"Oh… it's you, Olivia," I replied, a little surprised. I looked to my right and left, just to be sure. "He still hasn't come back since last night."
"Maybe he'll be back soon," she said softly, trying to reassure me. Her smile was just like last night—warm, and for some reason, it made me believe everything might really be okay.
Olivia then tilted her head slightly, her gaze soft but full of curiosity. "So… have you made up your mind?"