A boy sat under a tree.
His body felt broken.
Breathing itself felt heavy.
The place around him looked like a graveyard—
no… more like a dump.
Nothing alive. Nothing worth looking at.
In his hand, he held a sharp piece of glass.
He stared at it.
Is this time to go?
Is this finally time to meet them?
He looked up at the empty sky.
"Hey… how is it there… everyone…"
A faint smile appeared.
"Looks like I'm coming too…"
His eyes slowly began to close.
—
A voice.
"RUN! RUN! RUNNN!!"
A woman's scream tore through his mind.
His eyes snapped open.
The boy stood up, a small smile forming on his lips.
"So… you put a curse on me, didn't you…"
He looked at the broken glass in his hand… then turned away.
"I can't even die properly."
He started walking.
Each step felt heavier than the last.
His heartbeat dragged… slower… weaker…
But a thought rose inside him—
I will live.
No matter what… in this cursed place.
An image flashed in his mind—
A woman screaming.
Holding someone… telling him:
"Don't look back! RUN!"
His teeth clenched.
Silence.
Only anger remained on his face.
—
The smell hit him first.
Food.
Then voices.
Laughter.
He had reached a place where people walked freely… happily…
as if the world wasn't broken at all.
They didn't look rich.
But they looked… alive.
—
He moved away from the crowd.
To a narrow path.
A place he knew.
A place where fewer people passed.
He hid.
Waited.
Then—
Footsteps.
Two shadows approached.
The boy jumped out.
A shard of glass pointed forward.
"Stop."
In front of him stood a man and a woman.
Well-dressed. Calm.
Not afraid.
"Ah… where did this child come from?" the woman said softly.
The man looked at him.
"Boy. Drop that."
The boy smirked.
"So you can beat me?"
His grip tightened.
"Give me food… just give it… or I'll—"
His voice faltered for a second.
"I'll hurt you."
The man raised a finger.
"Look at your hand first."
The boy glanced down.
Blood.
Thick. Fresh. Dripping.
For a moment—he froze.
But no.
He couldn't lose this.
Not now.
"So you see it?" he said, forcing a grin.
"This can hurt."
His voice hardened.
"So give me what I asked."
The woman stepped closer.
"Your hands… they're bleeding. We need to—"
"I'm not stupid!" he snapped, stepping back.
"Don't come closer!"
Inside—his body screamed.
Pain burned through his hands.
He wanted to scream.
But he didn't.
This is nothing…
Nothing compared to what's coming…
The woman slowly lowered herself.
From her basket, she took out a large piece of bread.
"Let's make a deal," she said gently.
"You drop that… and come here. We'll help you."
She extended the bread.
"Then this is—"
Before she could finish—
The boy moved.
The glass dropped.
His body lunged forward.
He snatched the bread from her hand—
And ran.
—
The woman stood frozen for a second.
Then she turned to chase him—
A hand stopped her.
"My lady."
The man's voice was calm.
"But—he needs help!"
"That boy…" the man said quietly, eyes following the running figure,
"…won't die so easily."
His gaze sharpened.
"His will to live… is stronger than those who seek help."
She looked at him, confused.
"He's just a child…"
"Child or adult… it doesn't matter," he replied.
"When it comes to survival… they're the same."
A pause.
"If I'm right… you'll meet him again."
The woman lowered her eyes.
She didn't understand.
But she felt something… heavy.
"Let's go," the man said.
"We have our own matters."
She looked at the boy one last time—
As he disappeared.
—
The boy ran.
His breath tore through his chest.
His hands burned.
Each step felt heavier.
His heartbeat—
Slowing.
Fading.
Still—
he didn't stop.
—
He reached the tree.
Finally.
He stopped.
Looked at his hands.
Covered in thick blood.
He didn't sit.
Didn't think.
He devoured the bread.
Fast.
Desperate.
The taste of iron filled his mouth.
He choked—
Coughed—
Looked around for water.
Nothing.
His eyes fell on his hands.
Blood.
—
The bread dropped.
He stared at his wounds.
Hesitated.
Just for a second.
Then—
He raised his hand to his mouth.
And squeezed.
Pain exploded through his body.
Worse than before.
His teeth clenched.
Blood flowed.
He drank.
Desperately.
Until—
He could breathe again.
—
He collapsed.
The grass felt cold beneath him.
Still—
his hand reached for the bread.
Slowly…
He kept eating.
Even as his vision blurred.
Even as everything faded.
—
Looks like… I'm about to die…
A small smile appeared.
"Even your curse… wasn't enough to keep me alive…"
A whisper.
"Sis…"
—
Memories.
Flashing.
Faces.
Voices.
Gone.
Gone.
Gone.
—
Then—
Warmth.
—
A small boy sat surrounded by people.
A birthday.
Laughter.
A little girl clapping.
And in front of him—
A girl.
Black hair.
A red and black dress.
Like blood on a devil.
But beautiful.
She smiled.
"Make a wish, little brother."
The boy closed his eyes.
This is enough…
I am satisfied…
I am happy.
—
He blew the candles.
The flame went out.
—
Not the candle.
His life.
—
His heart stopped.
A big smile remained on his face—like he was truly satisfied.
A soft wind passed.
Dry leaves lifted…
and scattered.
Then—
One green leaf fell.
Alone.
Carried by the wind.
Far away.