Chapter 6. SCAR

Lena wiped her mouth with a napkin and smiled at her siblings, ignoring the gunshots that were fired 30 minutes ago. In the slums, everything is possible.

They had just finished a simple but satisfying dinner of bread, cheese and soup. She was glad they could enjoy a meal together, even if it was in their cramped and shabby apartment.

"Thanks for cooking, Lena. You're the best," said Manny.

"No problem, kiddo. You helped me a lot with the dishes," Lena said, ruffling her hair.

"What about me?" asked Sam, a little shy.

"You were a great taste tester, Sam. You made sure the soup was not too salty or too bland," Lena said, tickling him.

Sam giggled and hugged Lena. "I love you, sis."

"I love you too, Sam. And you too, Samantha," Lena said, embracing them both.

They stayed like that for a while, feeling the warmth and comfort of each other. Lena wished they could always be happy and safe, but she knew that was not possible in their harsh world. They had no parents, no money, no friends. Th