"A single moment can fracture a life into 'before' and 'after.' The brave don't avoid the cracks—they learn to walk across them."—Aether
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✧ ANGELUS ✧
The ticking clock by the wall read 7:00 AM, but I had been awake long before then. I hadn't really slept—more like drifted in and out of broken dreams, my mind circling the same dark places like a scratched record.
I was sitting by the window when I heard the soft knock. The curtains were half-drawn, letting in a pale sliver of morning light that spilled across the room, casting long shadows that matched the quiet weight in my chest.
Another knock—gentler this time, almost unsure.
I didn't answer. I didn't need to. A moment later, the door creaked open and Mrs. Bauer stepped in, wearing a soft blue robe, her hair loosely tied back. She looked around for a moment before her eyes landed on me.
"Oh… you're up already," she said softly.
I didn't turn to look at her. "Yeah."
She stepped farther into the room and closed the door behind her. "Did you sleep at all?"
I gave a faint shrug. "Tried to."
A pause followed. Heavy, like she wanted to say something but was unsure of how to say it. I didn't blame her. What do you say to a broken stranger in your house?
She walked over and stood beside me. "Mind if I sit?"
I nodded toward the couch near me. She sat carefully, hands folded on her lap.
The silence between us wasn't awkward—it was more… respectful. As though she could feel the war going on inside me and was giving me space to fight it. I appreciated that.
But the silence gave my thoughts more room to breathe. And they weren't kind thoughts.
Ever since I woke up from the coma, it's been a downward spiral. My life feels like a puzzle dumped on the floor—pieces missing, the picture ruined.
I've seen the photos. I've read the names. I've been told who I am, what happened, what I've lost. But it's like someone reciting a story from a book I don't remember writing.
My father—gone.
My brother—gone.
My mother—fighting for her life in a hospital bed, her eyes closed like she's just resting but never waking up.
My friends back in Nigeria—ghosts. Some literally, some emotionally. Most of them say I'm cursed. The bad luck. A dark omen in human form.
And maybe… they're right.
Everyone I've ever loved has either died or disappeared. So I made a vow—no new close ones. No new friendships. No attachments. I can't lose anyone else. I can't go through that pain again—even if I don't fully remember it, my heart does. It remembers the weight. The emptiness. The screams I've apparently cried. The mourning I don't remember living through.
Sometimes I wonder…
What if I just left?
Just vanished.
I've thought about it a lot lately—packing up, sneaking out in the dead of night, disappearing into some corner of the world where no one knows me.
No one to lose.
No one to hurt.
I could catch a train, a bus… something. Maybe I'd find peace in being a nobody somewhere else. A blank slate in a city that doesn't care.
But then…
What would happen to them?
Mrs. Bauer and Michael. What would happen if I just disappeared?
And Anabelle—my twin—what would that do to her, losing half of herself without warning, especially now that she's finally hearing my voice again?
What would happen to my mother if she wakes up and I'm gone—her husband and son dead, and her last baby boy missing?
I imagine her waking up, asking for me, and no one having an answer. I imagine the pain in her eyes. The hopelessness.
Would she fight harder to live—or would it break her completely?
I can't take that risk.
I won't.
So for now, I stay. I play the quiet guest. I keep my head down. I avoid connections. And I protect the ones who are left—even if it means keeping them at a distance.
"You know…" Mrs. Bauer's voice pulled me back from my thoughts. "You don't have to be alone in this, Angelus."
I didn't respond right away.
"I know you're hurting. And I know you probably don't want anyone too close. But we're here for you. We don't expect you to heal overnight. Just… let us care for you, okay?"
I turned to look at her. Her eyes were kind, but tired—like someone who'd seen her own share of storms but still chose to offer shelter to others.
'I'll try. Thanks.' I wanted to say.
"Sure." I said instead, softly. It was the best I could give.
She smiled gently and stood. "Thank you." She walked to the door, then turned back. "You and Kelsey will be leaving for school soon. Come downstairs for breakfast when you're ready."
I nodded, standing slowly. "Okay."
She waited for a second, like she wanted to say something else, but then simply smiled again and opened the door.
I followed her out.
We got to the dining room and I sat down, letting my eyes drift across the room until they landed on a little boy sitting opposite me. He stared back, head slightly tilted, eyes wide with curiosity.
"Mum, who's the cute brother here?" he asked, his voice bright.
"His name is Angelus. Say hi to him," Mrs. Bauer replied with a smile.
The boy stood up and walked over. "Hi! I'm Max. Nice to meet you, Angelus."
I looked at him for a moment, then nodded. "Nice to meet you too." My lips curved slightly—just slightly.
He chuckled, his little hands flapping with excitement, then ran back to his seat like he'd just won something. I watched him for a second longer than I intended.
I didn't want this—getting attached. But there was something disarming about him, something too innocent to push away.
"Right," Mrs. Bauer said, satisfied with the brief exchange. She turned to me. "So, what would you like for breakfast?"
"Anything," I muttered, sitting back.
"Really? If I bring something unfamiliar, don't come throwing up on me," she teased.
I blinked, shrugged. "What do you have?"
"Anything. Just ask and the chef will start preparing it for you."
A quiet sigh escaped me. "Pancake."
Her eyes lit up. "Wow! That's Kelsey's favorite."
She paused for a moment, glancing toward the hallway. "Speaking of Kelsey, she should be down here by now," she murmured, walking off toward the kitchen.
I leaned back in my chair, staring at the empty plate in front of me. Kelsey's favorite is pancake… Mine too. The irony.
The same girl who made it clear she didn't want anything to do with me shares my taste in food. Cute, yeah—but full of herself. I heard what she said last night. Arrogant? Sure. I like that she thinks that. Let her keep thinking it. Let everyone stay away.
It's safer that way.
People die around me. Friends. Family. Everyone who gets too close. The more they stay back, the more they survive.
Even Max.
I looked up and caught him still sneaking glances at me from across the table. He smiled.
Damn.
✧✧✧✧✧
"Kelsey, come on! You don't wanna get Angelus late on his first day of school," Mrs. Bauer called out as Kelsey finally strolled into the dining room—her eyes glued to her phone, thumbs tapping, headphones around her neck like a fashion accessory. She didn't even glance at anyone as she sat down, picking up a fork like she was being forced to be there.
"Angelus is also not eating!" Max said suddenly, breaking the silence and drawing everyone's attention straight to me.
I didn't flinch, but my fingers paused slightly over the screen of my phone.
"Come on, Angelus, eat up! You're gonna be late for school," Mrs. Bauer added, her tone nudging but her expression somewhere between concern and motherly frustration. The kind of look that said, 'what's wrong with these teenagers?!'
"I'm okay. I'm ready to go." My voice was flat. Eyes still on my game.
"He only ate two slices!" Max chimed in again, like some kind of breakfast detective.
Mrs. Bauer leaned in slightly. "Didn't you like the food?"
Truth? I did. It was actually perfect. Until she walked in. I don't know why, but the moment Kelsey appeared, something in me just… shifted. My appetite? Gone. The half-eaten slice of pancake felt heavy in my hand until I put it down.
"No, I love it. I just don't feel like eating anymore. I'm full," I replied, glancing at Kelsey.
She was already watching me—eyes sharp and unreadable, like she was trying to figure out what game I was playing. I wasn't. But I could see something flicker across her face.
Disgust? No… Jealousy?
"Seriously?" she snapped, slamming her fork down. "Is he some kind of child that you sweet-talk into eating or what?"
The room froze.
"I'm off to school," she added, grabbing her backpack and walking toward the door. She stopped just long enough to glare at me. "You can wait for them to sweet-talk you into coming too."
"Kelsey, what's gotten into you?" Mrs. Bauer called out, frustration bubbling in her voice, but the door had already swung shut behind her.
She turned back to me, sighing. "Angelus, please, just ignore her. I'll talk to her when she gets back."
I gave a faint nod, then stood.
She waved over one of the maids. "Please take him to the car."
I followed the maid silently. Max waved from his seat, that same bright smile on his face.
I almost waved back.
Almost.
But I shoved my hand into my pocket instead.
The ride to the school was as expected, filled with disgusting stares. As usual, I didn't care. Her words didn't anger me. In fact, I don't want her to like me. I don't need no friends. The more they hate me, the better it will be for them.
She was busy saying something to me—ranting, warning, tossing out all her self-important rules and whatever else she thought I should care about. Stay away from her, stay away from her friends, don't embarrass her. It all sounded like background noise to me. I didn't even look at her. Just stared out the window like I was alone in the car. That made her even angrier, I could feel it in the way her voice tightened and her words came faster.
"Here we are!" Salvador's voice cut through the tension like a blade. "Have a nice day in school, Kelsey. And you, Angelus, have a nice first day."
"Bye, Salvy!" she said cheerfully to him—like she hadn't just been breathing fire a few seconds ago.
I got down without saying anything. No thank you, no goodbye. Not because I was being rude. Just because I didn't feel like talking. And also, I didn't care.
I expected her to turn and mock me, say something like "You want me to sweet-talk you into following me to the principal? Now let's go before I change my mind." But she didn't.
She just started walking away.
"Hey!" I called after her. "Aren't you supposed to show me the principal's office?"
She didn't even turn around. "Go find it yourself!"
I stared at her as she walked away.
What's wrong with this girl?!
Well… good. Let her hate me. That's fine by me.
"I don't need her help. She's not the only one in this school," I muttered to myself and looked around.
Up ahead, Kelsey had stopped. Two girls were running up to meet her, and just as they passed me, I stepped forward.
"Hey, can you help me? Where's the principal's office?"
They slowed. One of them smiled. "Just go down the hall and turn left—"
"Don't help him, girls!" Kelsey's voice rang out from ahead. Her tone was sharp and commanding. "Let's go!"
"But—"
"No but! I said don't help him. Let's go."
They both hesitated, then one quickly whispered, "Sorry. There's a school map over there," and gestured with her eyes before hurrying after Kelsey.
I sighed and turned toward the map.
"Spoilt girl…" I muttered under my breath. "Our staying together in the same house is going to be interesting."
I walked over to the school map and studied it. Principal's office—ground floor, left corridor, second door.
Alright then. Let's get this over with.
✧ KELSEY ✧
"He's an arrogant ugly brat!" I said, rolling my eyes hard enough to see my own brain. Sofia was still frowning at me like I'd kicked a puppy or something, while Cherry just shrugged like she couldn't care less.
"But he's a new student," Sofia said, arms folded as we walked through the hallway.
"Yeah, but he's not the type who deserves someone's help," I replied, brushing off the concern like lint on a sweater.
"He just got here—how do you even know he's the type who doesn't deserve help? Wait…" Sofia narrowed her eyes. "Do you know him?"
I nodded, stuffing my phone in my bag.
"Okay, now this is getting interesting," Cherry said, perking up like she just smelled drama. "Is he like… your ex?"
"What?" I stopped and made a dramatic gagging sound. "Eww, no! Don't ever think about that again. That's disgusting."
Cherry raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "So who is he then?"
"He's just a family friend from Nigeria who came to stay with us. That's all."
"Nigeria? Where's that? In LA here?" Cherry asked innocently.
I stared at her.
Sofia answered before I could. "Nigeria's in Africa, beautiful."
"Ohhh…" Cherry said slowly. "He doesn't look African."
At least she got that part right.
"Well, that's where he came to LA from," I said with a shrug, adjusting the strap of my backpack. I didn't feel like getting into a geography lesson right now.
"Anyway," Cherry continued, twisting her glossy hair around her finger, "I think he's cute. It's just the unkempt hair and the clothes that are shielding his cuteness."
"Cherry's right," Sofia added. "Just be nice to him. He's new here. Don't make him feel out of place… at least show him around. It's literally his first day. You owe him that much as a family friend. It's your responsibility, you know."
I groaned. Here we go with the guilt-tripping.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Whatever. That's not my problem. I'm not his tour guide." I rolled my eyes again and walked ahead. "Let's get to class!"
Truth is, I had seen him hesitate when I walked into the dining room this morning. He'd looked… weird. Like he was shaken or something. But I didn't care. Whatever it was, it wasn't my business.
He's just some boy from my parents' guilt charity project. No reason to start feeling bad.
Still… the way he didn't even try to talk back when I threw all those words at him in the car…
Ugh. Whatever.
I shook it off and pushed the thoughts out of my head.
Let the brat find the principal's office himself.
I've got more important things to do.