Truth
762 Words
Luna barely slept.
The letter lay on her bedside table, folded neatly beside the jar of paper stars Noah had given her. She had promised herself she wouldn't read it again, yet sometime after midnight, she found herself unfolding it once more.
"If one day I disappear..."
Those five words refused to leave her mind.
She wanted to believe it was just a piece of creative writing. Maybe it was homework. Maybe Noah had written it for a school assignment.
But her heart knew better.
There had been too many signs.
The hospital paper.
The sudden absences.
The forced smiles.
The way he sometimes struggled to breathe when he thought no one was looking.
She sat up in bed, hugging her knees.
"No more lies," she whispered to herself.
"If he's hurting... I want to know."
The next morning, Noah returned to school.
When Luna saw him walk through the classroom door, relief washed over her so suddenly that she almost cried.
He looked exhausted.
His face was pale, and the dark circles beneath his eyes had become more noticeable. Even so, he smiled as if nothing had changed.
"Morning," he said.
"Morning."
She held his gaze for a moment longer than usual.
He looked away first.
Throughout the day, Luna hardly spoke.
She wasn't angry.
She was waiting.
Waiting for the right moment.
When the final bell rang, students quickly packed their bags and rushed out of the classroom.
"See you tomorrow!" Mia called as she waved goodbye.
Soon, only Luna and Noah remained.
He slung his backpack over one shoulder.
"Rooftop?"
Luna nodded.
"I'll meet you there."
The rooftop was quiet.
The afternoon sky was painted in soft shades of orange as the sun slowly began to set.
Noah stood near the fence, watching birds fly across the horizon.
"It's beautiful today," he said.
Luna walked toward him, stopping only a few steps away.
"It is."
A gentle breeze passed between them.
For several moments, neither of them spoke.
Finally, Luna reached into her bag.
"I found something yesterday."
She pulled out the folded letter.
The smile on Noah's face disappeared.
"...Where did you get that?"
"It fell into the hallway."
He lowered his head.
"I was looking for it."
"I read it."
Silence.
The wind seemed louder than before.
"I'm sorry," Luna whispered.
"I know I shouldn't have."
Noah didn't answer.
His eyes remained fixed on the letter in her hands.
"What did you mean?" she asked softly.
"When you wrote... 'If one day I disappear.'"
Noah closed his eyes.
"It doesn't mean anything."
"Don't lie to me."
His shoulders tensed.
"It's just a letter."
"It isn't."
"Luna—"
"Please."
Her voice trembled.
"For once... stop pretending you're okay."
Those words struck him like a wave.
For weeks, he had been the one telling Luna she didn't have to hide behind fake smiles.
Now she was saying the same thing to him.
He let out a shaky laugh.
"I guess..."
He looked at the fading sunset.
"...I'm not as good at pretending as I thought."
Tears gathered in Luna's eyes.
"So there is something."
He remained silent.
She took one step closer.
"You told me not to carry my pain alone."
Another step.
"So why are you carrying yours by yourself?"
Noah swallowed hard.
His hands trembled slightly.
"I didn't want you to worry."
"I already do."
The words escaped before she could stop them.
"I worry every time you're absent."
"I worry every time you smile when your eyes look tired."
"I worry every time you tell me you're fine."
A tear rolled down her cheek.
"...Because I care about you."
Noah stared at her in silence.
For the first time since they met, he saw the fear in her eyes.
Not fear for herself.
Fear of losing someone she had only just found.
He slowly reached out and wiped away the tear on her cheek with the back of his hand.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
"I never wanted to make you cry."
Luna gently held his wrist before he could pull away.
"Then don't shut me out."
Noah looked toward the sky, as though searching for the courage hidden somewhere beyond the clouds.
After what felt like forever, he finally spoke.
"...Tomorrow."
Luna looked up.
"I have another hospital appointment."
Her heart sank.
"I'll tell you everything."
The words hung in the evening air.
No more lies.
No more pretending.
Tomorrow would finally reveal the secret Noah had fought so hard to hide.
And neither of them knew that the truth would change their lives forever.
- Writer
