Chapter 2 — The Invisible Life

Luna Vance woke to the sound of her alarm.

She groaned and reached for her phone, accidentally knocking it off the small table beside her mattress. It hit the floor with a dull thud. She sighed, stretched down to pick it up, and squinted at the screen.

5:42 a.m.

Her eyes burned.

She had gotten home a little after two in the morning after finishing her shift at the cleaning company. By the time she had showered and eaten the last piece of bread in her kitchen, it had been almost three.

Two hours of sleep.

That was all she had.

Luna slowly sat up and rubbed her face. Her tiny studio apartment was quiet almost too quiet. A small kitchen stood against one wall, while her mattress occupied most of the other side of the room. Her wardrobe had been missing one door for almost a year, and the paint near the window was peeling badly. Whenever it rained, water found its way through the cracked frame.

It wasn't much.

But it was hers.

At least nobody could lock her out of it.

She dragged herself toward the tiny mirror hanging above the sink. Her eyes were swollen from exhaustion, and she looked terrible.

Luna splashed cold water on her face before lifting her head again.Her eyes immediately went to the scar on her neck.The burn scar ran from just below her left ear toward her collarbone. Without thinking, she pulled her shirt higher.

It never mattered.

People always noticed.

At school, children had called her names. At the grocery store, strangers stared. Even at work, some customers looked at her as though the scar made her less human.

She had spent years trying to hide it.

Eventually, she stopped.There was no point.

Her phone suddenly rang.

Mom.

Luna stared at the screen for several seconds before answering.

"Hello, Mom."

"Where's the money?"

Luna closed her eyes.No hello.No good morning.Just money.

"I just woke up."

"And Aurora needs money for her dress."

Luna looked around her apartment.

"How much?"

"Fifty dollars."

Her stomach tightened.

She opened her banking app.

**$53.17.**

That was everything she had.

Her electricity bill was due. She needed food, and the shoes she wore to work were beginning to tear at the side.

Still, Luna already knew how this conversation would end.

"I don't have fifty."

Her mother sighed.

"Of course you don't."

Luna swallowed.

"Mom, I need to eat too."

"Aurora has an event tonight."

"She has money."

"She's your sister."

"So am I."

Silence followed.

Luna immediately regretted saying it.Her mother's voice became colder.

"Why do you always make everything difficult?"

Luna stared at the wall.

She didn't answer.

"Send the money."

Her eyes stung.

She opened the banking app again and stared at her balance for a moment longer before transferring the money.

$50.

Her balance dropped to $3.17.

"Done."

"Good."

The call ended.

Luna lowered her phone and stood there for a few seconds, staring at the screen.She wanted to be angry.She wanted to ask why Aurora always came first.She wanted to ask why being her sister had never seemed to mean anything when it came to her.But she had learned a long time ago that asking those questions never changed anything.

So she picked up her bag.

She had a shift to get to.

—------------------------------------------------------

By the time Luna arrived at the diner, the place was already busy.She quickly tied her apron around her waist and stepped behind the counter.

"You're late."

Her manager didn't even look at her.

"I'm sorry. The bus…"

"I don't want excuses. Table four is waiting."

Luna nodded.

"Okay."

She grabbed the menus and hurried over.

The morning passed in a blur of orders, dirty plates, spilled drinks, and impatient customers. By ten o'clock, she had already served dozens of people.

Some were polite.

Some barely looked at her.

And some stared.

One man stared at the scar on her neck for so long that Luna finally touched it unconsciously.

"Is there something you need sir?"

The man blinked.

"No."

He quickly looked away.

Luna walked off.

At another table, two young women whispered as she approached. One of them glanced at Luna's neck before leaning toward her friend.

"That's horrible."

Her friend whispered something back, and they both laughed.

Luna pretended not to hear.She forced a polite smile.

"Can I take your order?"

One of the women looked directly at her.

"Does it hurt?"

Luna paused.

"What?"

"Your neck."

Luna instinctively touched the scar.

"No."

"How did it happen?"

"An accident."

The woman smiled in a way that made Luna uncomfortable.

"It must have been embarrassing."

Luna's fingers tightened around her notepad.

"I'm here to take your order."

The woman rolled her eyes.

"Fine. Coffee."

"Anything else?"

"No."

Luna nodded and turned away.She had almost reached the counter when someone called after her.

"Hey, scar girl."

She stopped.

Slowly, she turned around.A man sitting alone at a corner table was staring at her.

"Me?"

"Who else?"

He smiled.

"Come here."

Luna walked over because she had to.

"Yes, sir?"

He leaned back in his chair.

"You should smile more."

"I am smiling."

"Not enough."

His eyes moved over her face before settling on her neck.

"Though I guess I'd hide that too if I were you."

Luna's smile disappeared.

"Is there anything else you need?"

"Sit down."

"I'm working."

"Just for a minute."

He reached toward her wrist.Luna stepped back.

"Please don't touch me."

He laughed.

"Relax. I'm just being friendly."

"I'm sorry, but I need to work."

She turned to leave.His hand suddenly closed around her wrist.

Luna froze.

"Let go."

"Why are you acting scared?"

"I'm not."

"Then sit."

His grip tightened.

"Let go of me."

Before he could say anything else, another hand grabbed his wrist.

"She said let go."

Marcus stood beside Luna, his expression hard.The customer looked up at him.

"Who are you?"

"Her coworker."

"Mind your business."

Marcus released his wrist.

"My business is making sure customers don't put their hands on the staff."

The man scoffed.

"She works here. She should know how to treat customers."

"And you should know how to treat women."

The man's face darkened.

"You threatening me?"

"No."

Marcus stepped closer.

"I'm warning you."

Luna quickly touched his arm.

"Marcus, it's okay."

He looked at her.

"Is it?"

Luna didn't answer.

At that moment, the manager hurried over.

"What happened?"

The customer immediately pointed at Marcus.

"Your employee is threatening me."

Marcus didn't move.

"He grabbed Luna."

The manager looked at Luna.

"Is that true?"

Luna hesitated.She didn't want trouble.She couldn't afford to lose her job.But Marcus was still looking at her. He wasn't forcing her to speak. He was simply waiting.

Luna took a breath.

"He grabbed my wrist."

The manager's expression changed.He turned toward the customer.

"Sir, you need to leave."

"What?"

"You heard me."

The man cursed under his breath before throwing some money onto the table.As he walked past Luna, he muttered one final word.

"Freak."

Luna lowered her eyes.

Marcus heard him, but he didn't say anything until the man was gone.Then he turned toward her.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

His eyes dropped to her wrist.A red mark was already forming.

"That's not fine."

"It'll disappear."

"Maybe."

He looked at her.

"But he shouldn't have touched you."

Luna gave him a tired smile.

"Thank you."

"You don't have to thank me."

Marcus disappeared behind the counter for a moment.When he returned, he was carrying a cup of coffee.

Luna looked at it.

"What's this?"

"Coffee."

"I know that."

"Then why ask?"

A small smile appeared on her face.Marcus pointed toward the cup.

"Extra sugar."

Her expression softened.

"You remembered."

"I remember everything you tell me."

Luna took a sip.It was exactly how she liked it.She looked at him.

"You didn't have to."

"I wanted to."

Marcus studied her face for a moment.Then his eyes settled on the dark circles beneath her eyes.

"Did you sleep?"

"A little."

"How little?"

"Two hours."

Marcus sighed.

"Lunaaa."

"I'm okay."

"You always say that."

She lowered her eyes.

"Because if I say anything else, what changes?"

Marcus went quiet.Luna hadn't meant to say it aloud.She stared into her coffee, suddenly wishing she could take the words back.Instead, Marcus pulled out the chair beside her and sat down.

"Maybe nothing changes."

He leaned forward slightly.

"But you don't have to carry everything by yourself."

Luna looked at him.His eyes were sincere.There was no pity in them.No disgust.Just concern.

"You have enough problems," she whispered.

"Who told you that?"

She shrugged.

"I know."

Marcus shook his head.

"Luna, you know you can talk to me, right?"

She looked at him for a moment before giving him a faint smile.

"I know."

"Good."

He stood.

"And eat something."

"I'm not hungry."

"You're lying."

Luna laughed softly.

"How do you know?"

"Because I've been watching you throw away half your lunch every day."

She looked embarrassed.Marcus picked up a plate and placed it in front of her.

"Eat."

Luna stared at the food, then at him.

"Did you buy this?"

"No."

"Marcuuus?."

"Fine. I did."

"I'll pay you back."

"No."

"But…."

"Consider it my way of making sure my favorite coworker doesn't collapse at work."

Luna smiled.

"Favorite?"

"Don't get excited."

She laughed.

For the first time that morning, the diner didn't feel quite so cold. She picked up her fork while Marcus turned away, pretending he wasn't watching.

But Luna noticed.

He always noticed.

And somehow, that mattered more than she knew how to explain.