THE LUNA THEY BETRAYED

Where’s the paycheck?” My mother’s hand was already stretched toward me before I had both feet inside the house. I pulled the envelope from my bag and placed it in her palm. She counted the money once, then counted again. “Is this all?” “That’s everything I earned this week, Mother.” A deep frown settled on her face. “This barely feeds one person. I’ve told you to find a second job Naya.” But you insist on acting like you know better than me. Tell me, how do you expect this family to survive?” “I’m trying my best, Mother.” She laughed bitterly. “Your best isn’t putting enough food on the table.” I lowered my head because there was nothing I could say. Ever since Father died, every paycheck I earned has gone straight to my mother. I worked from morning till evening, yet not once had she appreciated me. “Naya.” “Don’t just stand there. Go and make dinner. Or do you expect Celine and me to go hungry because you couldn’t bring home enough money?” “I’m sorry, Mother.” I hurried into the kitchen. My body ached from sewing at work all day, but I didn’t dare complain. The sooner dinner was ready, the sooner I could finally eat something. I had barely lit the stove when I heard laughter coming from the living room. I frowned, we weren’t expecting visitors. Curious, I wiped my hands on my dress and stepped out of the kitchen. There he was. Brant Mercer. The wealthy merchant in town sat comfortably on our worn-out sofa, sipping tea as if he belonged there. The moment my mother saw me, her face lit up. “Naya,” she called. “Come and meet your husband.” She beamed as though she had just handed me the greatest gift in the world. My feet stopped moving. My…what? For a second, I thought I had heard her wrong, the room fell silent. Celine sat beside Mother with a smile on her face, as though the solution to all our problems had just arrived. Brant looked at me with open interest. I stood frozen, unsure what to do. Mother frowned. “Don’t be rude. Come and greet your husband.” I forced my voice to work. “Mother, what do you mean?” “Brant has come to pay your bride price.” She walked up to me and pulled me to the kitchen, “Naya, what is wrong with you?” “No, Mother. I can't marry Brant.” my words came out faster than I intended. “I don’t even love him.” “I’ve heard rumors he’s a violent man.” She looked at me as if I had said something foolish. “Naya, love doesn't put food on the table. As for the rumors, people always have something to say about wealthy men. They are all lies.” “Mother, they could be true.” “They are not,” she replied sharply. “Mother, please.” I took a step closer and reached for her hands. I’ll work harder. I’ll find a second job. I’ll do whatever you want. Please don’t make me marry him. “Naya.” Her voice turned cold. “Stop whining like a child.” “Brant is a good man, and you will marry him.” “Now go to the living room and greet your husband properly.” I stepped back into the living room with my heart lodged somewhere in my throat. And in that moment, I felt the absence of my father more than ever. He wouldn’t let this happen. He was the only one who had ever cared about my happiness, not my mother, not even Celine my sister. I stood in the living room, looked at the man who was taking me away, then at my sister. Our eyes met. I waited for her to tell our mother to stop. To remind her I was a person, not something to be traded away. But Celine only smiled. “Mother only wants what’s best for you, Naya,” Celine said softly. “Someday you will thank her.” I searched my sister’s face for even the smallest sign that she didn’t mean it. There was none. Mother picked up the envelope Brant had placed on the table. A satisfied smile spread across her face, the kind she had never given me before. Without asking me, without even looking at me, she tucked the envelope into her dress and smiled at Brant. “I accept.” The words echoed through the room, and in that moment I knew my future no longer belonged to me. “Go and pack your things,” my mother said. Her voice was calm, almost eager, as though she had been waiting for this day all her life. She turned to Celine without even looking at me, “Celine, go and help your sister.” Celine rose from the sofa, but before she could take a step, our mother let out a short laugh. “Actually, there’s no need.” She looked at me from head to toe with disgust. “What exactly is she going to pack? Those faded dresses she wears? Those rags don’t belong in her husband's house.” She glanced at Brant before continuing, almost proudly. “ Mr. Mercer can afford to buy her a wardrobe ten times better than anything she owns. She won’t be needing those old clothes.” Then she looked back at me. “You should be thanking me, Naya. I’m doing you a huge favor. A lot of girls dream of opportunities like this, yet here you are acting as though you are being punished.” My lips parted, but no words came out. Mother and Celine were already discussing what I would take and what I would leave behind. I stood there listening to them decide my future as though my life belonged to everyone in the room except me. Brant finally broke his silence. “There’s no need.” Everyone turned to him in surprise. “She deserves the chance to say her proper goodbyes. I’m not in a hurry. I will return on Saturday.” “Oh, “she doesn't have anyone to say goodbyes to.” My mother said with a dismissive laugh. We are the only family she has, and you have my full permission to take her away immediately.” I couldn’t believe my mother was so eager to see me gone, as though I had been a burden she’d been trying to get rid of. Brant’s eyes settled on me for a brief moment His expression revealed nothing. He took a step toward the door. Then, without looking back, he said, “Be ready”.