Chapter 11: A Pce to Belong"You must be really hungry. I'll be back real quick."
As I turned to leave—
She grabbed my hand.
Tightly.
Like she was begging me to stay.
Ouou.
I won’t lie.
It was kinda cute.
And kinda sad at the same time.
I crouched down to her level.
"I promise I'll be back. Just wait for me here."
She hesitated—
Then let go.
And just like that, I was off.
—
A few minutes ter, I returned with apples, strawberries, mangos, peaches— honestly, more fruit than I thought I could carry.
How did I even manage this with just two arms?
Maybe I was just that driven to get back to her.
She looked up at me, eyes wide.
Did she really think I abandoned her?
I pced the fruit on the ground.
"Iris, this is for you. Eat."
She gnced at me, as if seeking approval.
I gave her a simple nod.
Then—
Like a hungry bear waking up from hibernation, she devoured everything.
"Thank you."
Her voice caught me off guard.
My chest tightened.
I swallowed.
"You're welcome."
I sat beside her, leaning against the tree.
"Iris, can I ask you a few questions?"
She nodded.
No hesitation this time.
I think she fully trusts me now.
That’s good.
"Do you know where you're from?"
Silence.
She looked like she was trying to gather her thoughts.
"I don’t know."
Has she been ensved her whole life?
The thought sickened me.
"Do you have any family?"
She shook her head.
A no for that too.
I exhaled.
"Well, that decides it then."
She looked up at me.
"Iris, would you like to stay with me?"
Her gray eyes locked onto mine.
Staring—
As if searching for something inside me.
"Are you sure?"
Her voice trembled.
"I can't do anything... I serve no use to you."
She looked down, clutching her hands together.
I chuckled.
"Yep. Just look at me—a few days ago, I could never have done any of this. But I believe, with a little elbow grease, you can grow into your own too."
Her eyes watered.
A smile formed on her face.
"Thank you."
My heart skipped a beat.
