Chapter 2

I didn't know how much time had passed before Dad finally came to take me home.

He signaled for me to go to my room.

My room was a small storage room without any heating.

The rest of the house was filled with medical equipment for Luna's treatment. This was the only empty room left for me.

We'd spent all our money on her treatment, so only her room had heating.

I curled up on my small bed. The warmth I felt in Mrs. Wilson's house had already faded away.

I heard Mom sobbing from Luna's room. "Be a good girl, Luna. Take your medicine, and you'll feel better. You're my most precious treasure. Even if I had to give you my life, I'd make sure you survived."

Dad's hoarse voice followed. "That's right. Luna, don't be afraid. We're here for you."

I curled up in bed, listening to the tenderness in their voices. Tears slipped into my mouth. They tasted bitter.

On the wristband I was wearing, the word "12h" appeared.

It was counting down.

"That's good. Luna will be able to live a long and healthy life!" I thought.

…

I didn't know when I'd fallen asleep. All I remembered was a warm dream, like I was being held in Mom's arms.

When I woke up, my body felt like it had been torn open. There were new wounds over my body, making my skin stick to my clothes.

I pushed myself up and saw that Mom and Dad were downstairs, building a snowman with Luna.

They were laughing happily. Under the sunlight, Luna's snow-white hair and eyelashes made her look like a princess.

I looked down at the bleeding wounds on my body. My heart felt utterly cold, as if the snowman were gripping it.

I kept cheering myself up inside. "It doesn't hurt. I'm not afraid of pain!"

Enduring the excruciating pain, I pulled on a coat and stumbled downstairs.

Luna's eyes lit up when she saw me. She seemed to have completely forgotten her breakdown the day before. "Stella, come here! Help us build the snowman!"

Dad brushed the snow off his clothes. "Stella's here. Keep your sister company. We are going inside to cook and make some soup for Luna."

"Stella, take good care of Luna," Mom reminded me.

"Don't worry! I'll protect her!" I nodded vigorously.

They turned and went inside.

Luna excitedly pulled me along. As the sunlight fell on her, all the pain was transferred to me. The skin on my arms began to burn and sting.

Yet, I was happy.

"Hey! Look at that white-haired freak!"

A group of boys passing by pointed and laughed at Luna.

Luna's smile froze, and her face turned pale.

I immediately stepped in front of her, spreading my arms wide. "Go away! Don't you dare bully my sister!"

"Who are you? Get lost!" The boy in the lead shoved me.

I fell hard onto the snow. My knees hit a rock and started bleeding.

Amid the chaos, they surrounded Luna and pulled her hair.

"Haha! It's really white! What a monster!"

"Let go of my sister!" I tried to get up but fell hard to the ground again.

All I could do was watch as Luna broke down in tears.

"Get away! All of you, get away!" Mom screamed furiously.

She rushed over and shoved the boys away. Then she pulled Luna, who was crying, into her arms and shielded her.

The boys fled.

Mom trembled as she examined Luna from head to toe. "Luna, are you okay? Tell me, did you get hurt?"

Luna just kept sobbing.

Mom turned to look at me. "Stella! Stella Carter!"

Then she strode over to me. "I told you to take care of Luna! You just stood there and watched them bully her! What is wrong with you?"