The door swung open with a soft groan, and the moonlight spilled wider across the room, casting long shadows on the walls. Sara and Lys froze mid-motion, their heads snapping toward Mira like she'd burst in with a ntern.

  Sara's eyes bulged wide, her body still straddling him, but she let out a sharp yelp and scrambled off in a hurry, snatching the rumpled sheet to clutch against her chest like a shield. Lys also bolted upright, his heart hammering, grabbing the nearest pillow to cover his p, his face turning a deep crimson even in the dim glow.

  "M-Mira?" Lys stammered, his voice cracking high like he was a kid caught stealing sweets. He rubbed the back of his neck, eyes darting around the room as if looking for an escape. "What... what are you doing here? I thought you were asleep upstairs! How long have you been...?"

  Sara clutched the sheet tighter, her gray hair a tangled mess falling over her shoulders, her cheeks burning hot. She shifted on the bed, trying to look less exposed. "Yeah, Mira, sweetie... weren't you in bed? This is... oh no, this is awkward. We didn't mean to wake you."

  Mira stood frozen in the doorway for a second, the heat from her flushed face matching the burning knot in her chest. Her hands balled into tight fists at her sides, nails digging into her palms. "Why? Why should I be sleeping when you're down here doing... this? Right below my room? I couldn't sleep, and now I see why. And why her? Why Sara and not me? Am I not good enough?"

  The words spilled out raw and shaky, her voice cracking on the st part. Tears welled up again, stinging her eyes, and this time she let them fall freely, hot trails down her cheeks. Her legs gave way, and she sank to the floor right there, pulling her knees up to her chest and burying her face in them. Quiet sobs shook her shoulders, muffled against her nightdress.

  Sara and Lys exchanged a quick, wide-eyed gnce, shock mixing with a softer look, like pieces clicking into pce. Sara's expression shifted first, from panic to something tender, her brows knitting together.

  She slid off the bed carefully, wrapping the sheet around herself like a makeshift dress, tucking it under her arms. Kneeling beside Mira, she hesitated, hand hovering over Mira’s head, before gently pulling her into a half-hug, her arm warm and steady around Mira's trembling shoulders. "Hey, hey... it's okay, Mira. Shh, breathe. I get it. I get it. This must feel like a punch to the gut to you, right?"

  Mira lifted her head just enough to shoot a gre through her blurry tears, her lip quivering. She leaned into the hug a little despite herself, but her voice broke with anger. She said a little louder, "Then why are you stealing him? He's my brother... mine! We've been through everything together. Now you just show up and... and take him?"

  Sara's face softened more, her hand rubbing slow circles on Mira's back, like comforting a wounded child. "I'm not stealing him, Mira. I swear. We're just... we were..." She trailed off, biting her lower lip hard, gncing at Lys for help, the words sticking like glue in her throat.

  "What? Why'd you stop?" Mira snapped, pulling back a bit, her eyes fshing with hurt-fueled fire. "Say it! Say you were just fucking him! That's what it is, right? Just admit it!"

  Lys edged off the bed then, yanking his pants on quickly with one hand while holding the pillow with the other. He knelt in front of Mira, close enough she could see the worry etched on his face in the moonlight. His eyes searched hers, full of confusion but also a quiet concern that made her heart twist. "Mira... wait. Do you love me? Like... really love me? More than just as your brother?"

  Mira stared back at him, the dim light turning his features into soft shadows; her expression was hard to read. Her heart pounded like a drum in her ears, loud enough she swore they could hear it too. She tried to speak, but the words jammed up inside her, leaving her frozen, more tears slipping down.

  Sara leaned in a little closer, her voice gentle but firm, like a big sister coaxing out a secret. She kept her arm around Mira, giving a small, encouraging squeeze. "Come on, Mira. It's okay to say it. Tell him. Do you love Lys? If not, then why are you so angry about us... you know, having sex? It's gotta be more than that, right?"

  The question hung heavy in the air, thickening the silence. Mira opened her mouth, lips trembling, but nothing came out at first. The truth choked her, years of buried feelings bubbling up, from shared ughs in the old hut to the way her stomach flipped when he hugged her tight. She sniffed, wiping her nose with the back of her hand.

  Lys reached out slowly, his hands cupping Mira's face softly, his thumbs brushing away the fresh tears with a tenderness that made her heart skip for a second. His voice dropped low, almost a whisper, his eyes locked on hers. "Mira... please. Tell me, Do you love me? Like that? More than family?"

  Mira just nodded, just once, the motion was small but sure, her chin quivering. And in that instant, Lys leaned in, his lips pressing against hers softly, warm and tentative at first, tasting her sweat mixed lips to his fill.

  Visioner10