"Old man, am I cursed?"

It wasn't the first time she had asked him that.

And just like always, his answer didn't change.

"You're just an idiot. Nothing more."

She sat quietly, her fingers clutching a small hairclip. Her face was blank, but the tears kept falling.

After all this time, she was finally able to feel again—but she still didn't know how to show it.

The old man didn't say anything. He wasn't good at comforting people.

So, he let her be.

....

"Why do you even take care of me? Is it my body you want, old man?"

She said it one evening while he was brushing out her long, tangled hair after her bath.

He paused and let out a tired sigh.

"I forgot what it means to want someone like that. And you… you're like a daughter to me."

She glanced at him—more of a glare than anything else.

But the old man just kept brushing her hair.

To him, she was nothing more than a foolish child who needed someone to stay.

....

"Old man," she said one day, leaning against the wooden beam of the porch, "why don't you ever go out and see the world? You saved humanity, didn't you? People would love to meet you."

The old man was reading. He didn't even look up as he answered,

"The world's a rotten place. No one knows that better than you."

Her smile faded.

Because she did know.

The same world had taken everything from her—her family, her friends… even her innocence.

Still, she whispered, "But… there are good things too."

He made a sound, like a question. "Oh yeah? Like what?"

She gave a faint smile.

"This world has people like you."

The old man didn't answer.

People like him, huh?

....

"Hey, girl," he said suddenly from the kitchen one morning. "I just realized something. I never asked your name."

She looked up from the book she was struggling to read.

"It's been seven years since I've been here. And you're only now realizing that?"

The old man grunted. "Didn't have a reason to ask."

She raised a brow. "Then why now?"

He scratched his head and looked down at the small cake he'd somehow managed to make.

He wasn't sure what to write on it. Idiot, maybe?

The girl smiled at him—softly, warmly.

"I've forgotten my real name. Why don't you give me one?"

He froze.

Then sighed.

"Alright…"

He picked up the cream and carefully wrote a name on the cake.

Bella.

....

Cough Cough

The sound of his coughing struck her harder than the thunder rumbling outside.

She stood at his bedside, her hands trembling as she replaced the damp towel on his burning forehead.

Worry and fear were written all over her face.

His breathing was rough, heavy. His body burned with fever, and nothing they tried seemed to help.

No medicine worked. No medic could do anything.

She felt powerless. Helpless.

Once again, someone close to her was slipping away… and all she could do was cry.

"Hey..." His voice came weakly, barely above a whisper.

"I'm old... this was bound to happen," he said with a soft, tired smile.

She shook her head, violently.

"No… You don't get to die. Not before me."

Tears kept pouring down her cheeks, unrelenting.

And this time… she was truly crying. Not in silence. Not hiding it.

For the first time in ten years, he saw her heart break—openly, completely.

And for the first time, she wasn't afraid to show it.

The old man slowly lifted his trembling hand and cupped her cheek.

"C-Can you… Do something for me?"

His voice was fading, each word barely holding together.

He couldn't open his eyes anymore, but he knew—he felt—she was still there, listening.

So he spoke, one last time.

"When I'm gone… don't waste your days grieving me. Don't chain yourself to my memory."

He took a shaky breath.

"Laugh loudly… love fiercely… live like someone who was deeply loved."

His hand slipped from her face, falling limp beside him.

And with that… everything faded to black.

"Haaa…!"

Adrian jolted awake, gasping for breath.

He staggered back, struggling to find balance.

He was still in the underground room.

His eyes slowly adjusted, settling into the heavy darkness around him.

His eyes turned watery as he covered his mouth.

His throat felt stuffy.

So many memories...so many days he spent with that little girl.

He didn't remain standing there for long.

He rushed out of the underground chamber and climbed the ladder.

His eyes were red, and his heart was pounding restlessly.

He...never thought...that his connection with Annabelle would be so strong...so precious.

Now he realised why she had been searching for him all this time.

Because while Adrian had so many people around him, for Bella...she...she had just him. She was waiting for him all this time.

The lonely child couldn't confide in anyone. And she had been living with the hope that one day he would return to her.

Her old man.

"Adrian?!" Ruby called out, seeing him recklessly rushing toward the border.

Adrian ignored her now and continued to run.

Ruby followed him and signalled to the guards that it was okay.

"What happened? Are you okay?" She was growing worried.

Adrian nodded and told her, "I am fine...I-I just need to see someone right now."

"But....who?" She asked but got no answer.

Regardless, she kept following him until they reached the border.

Adrian realized Bella wouldn't be waiting for him there.

That's why, he opened the chat.

She was still there

The poor child always waits to hear something from him. And he kept her waiting for this long.

Idiot: [Darling? Is everything alright?]

Adrian muttered under his breath, "Bella...come to me. Wherever you are...come to me. Your old man wants to see his idiot."

There was no response.

But Adrian knew.

She was coming.

°°°°°°°°°

A/N:- Thanks for reading. Drop a comment.