“It is only those who are not hungry who complain that the shell of the coconut is hard.” And I was hungry — not for food, but for Lucy’s kiss. I wanted it more than anything. So when someone appeared, I didn’t care. He passed by. Another came out of nowhere and also passed. My patience was thinning. Lucy was practically begging for the kiss, but the traffic of humans was making it a herculean task.
Then she started talking. Her voice was soft, still wrapped in love.
“I never knew this day would come,” she said. “I never thought I’d fall in love so soon. I only dreamed about love — how people fall in and out of it. Until you… until you made it real. I fell in love with you the first day your lips said ‘hi’ and I replied ‘hello.’ But I didn’t want you to see it. I covered it with hatred, thinking it would drive you away. Every time I pushed you off or spoke harshly, I cried alone in my room. I cried because I couldn’t show you my love. I cried because I was too afraid. I cried because I couldn’t give you what you deserved.”
Her words hit me hard. I was lucky — lucky I never gave up on Lucy. Lucky my stubborn persistence had finally broken down her walls.
No one was around now. Just us. I stepped closer. She stood still, gazing at me. I held her shoulders, pulled her in, and kissed her forehead. She closed her eyes. She couldn’t even look at me. Then my lips found hers. A deep, lingering kiss. She melted in my arms. Nothing in this world tasted better than her soft lips.
When I released her, I could feel she wanted more. She’d been starving for this moment as much as I had. And I was ready to obey her hungry lips. I reached for her shoulders again—
—and felt a sharp blow slam into my back.
I spun around, confused. Before I could see the face, a heavy punch crashed into my cheek. My vision exploded. I hit the ground. The world blurred.
Footsteps. A voice. Not JK’s voice.
“Stay away from Lucy,” the man growled. Then, harsher: “Take her away.”
I couldn’t see their faces. My vision was gone, replaced with stars and darkness. I heard Lucy being led away, silent. No scream. No protest. Nothing. Just silence.
A stick slammed into my ribs. Another across my back. My cry for help went unanswered — people nearby heard me but chose to mind their own business. My attacker kept beating me until my body went limp. Then, as the footsteps faded, I slipped into unconsciousness.
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