"I’m sorry if I startled you," the boy said, offering a warm, friendly smile.

  "It’s okay," Hanna replied shortly. Her gaze was fixed on the bruises blooming around the boy’s eyes and cheek. "What happened to your face?"

  "Oh, this?" He touched his right cheek as if only just remembering the injury existed. "The perks of being bullied," he answered honestly before grinning again.

  "Bullied?"

  The stocky boy nodded calmly. "I’m an easy target at school. But don’t worry, I’m used to it."

  "How old are you?"

  "Sixteen."

  "Same as me."

  "Where do you go to school?" the boy asked, his voice bright with growing interest in the conversation.

  Hanna went silent. A sudden wave of shame hit her, sharp and stinging. But the boy seemed to sense the secret hidden behind her silence.

  "My name is Robert. Just call me Robb."

  "I’m Hanna."

  "Hi, Hanna. Nice to meet you." Robert extended his hand while his other arm tightly hugged the backpack in his lap. Without hesitation, Hanna took it.

  The moment their skin touched, a violent jolt shot through Hanna’s body. A flash of visual memories from Robert’s past slammed into her mind, as if she had been ripped into another dimension.

  "Hanna?"

  "Hanna?" Robert called again, his voice dropping to a whisper when he saw her go rigid as a statue the second they shook hands.

  Hanna snapped back. Slowly, she pulled her hand away, her breathing shallow and uneven.

  "Are you alright?" Robert asked, his brow furrowed with concern.

  "I’m... I’m fine."

  "If you're hungry, I’ve got plenty of food in this bag. That’s why I was late for the bus," Robert said, grinning again in an attempt to lighten the mood.

  "Thank you, but I’m not hungry yet."

  "Hehe... well, if you get hungry later, don't be shy to let me know," Robert said, leaning back into his seat.

  Hanna watched him, her eyes heavy with sympathy. In that brief vision, she had seen him being struck repeatedly. She had seen him lying still for a long time, perhaps unconscious, before picking himself up as if nothing had happened. She saw him alone in a room cluttered with the remains of snack wrappers.

  "Doesn't it hurt? Being bullied?" Hanna asked suddenly.

  "Of course it hurts," Robert answered quietly. "Big kids like me are always targets. But I don't mind much."

  "Why don't you fight back?"

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  "Because I'm weak. I’m just big for nothing," Robert said, stifling a laugh. Hanna let out a small laugh too. In that moment, she began to feel a genuine sense of comfort in Robert’s presence.

  "Do you live in New York?" Robert asked. Hanna shook her head.

  "This is my first time going there. Actually, I’m headed to Manhattan."

  "Manhattan?"

  Hanna nodded firmly.

  "I live there!"

  "Really?"

  Robert nodded enthusiastically. "Who are you meeting there?"

  "I’m not sure. I only have an address."

  Hanna reached into her pocket and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper, showing it to him without a second thought.

  "Oh... I know this place. It’s not too far from my house. Hmm..." Robert pursed his lips. "Actually, it’s a bit of a trek. But don’t worry, I know the way. I’ll show you where to go when we arrive."

  "You’d really help me?"

  "Trust me."

  "Thank you, Robb."

  "Save the thanks for when we're standing in front of the door. Right now, I need some sleep," he said casually, making Hanna giggle.

  "Go ahead and sleep."

  "If you hear me snoring... just ignore it," Robert warned, his eyes already drifting shut.

  Hanna smiled widely. For some reason, her heart felt light, and she felt strangely at ease talking to him. It felt like they were old friends, despite having just met.

  The bus glided through the stillness of the night. Most passengers were already lost in dreams, while others were mesmerized by the glow of their smartphones.

  Hanna couldn't sleep at all. It wasn't Robert’s soft snoring that bothered her; she had simply had enough rest on the way to Pittsburgh.

  She took a deep breath, trying to push away her anxiety before unzipping her backpack. Her hand reached inside and pulled out a small book—the manuscript her mother had left behind. Truthfully, while she was locked away by Martha, she’d had plenty of time to study it. But she had chosen to leave it alone, terrified the woman would sniff out her secrets.

  Hanna turned the cover. The first few pages were blank. She kept flipping until her eyes locked onto a string of handwriting that made her brow knit in confusion.

  Hanna,

  Forgive me, my darling.

  If you are reading this, it means something has happened to me. I know you are alone now, and I want you to go to Manhattan immediately to find them. Only they can protect you.

  I never intended to hide the truth of who I am or who your father is. It was all too much for you to carry. But they will tell you everything. I have only one request, my love: grow up well. Do not ever come looking for me or your father. Forget us both.

  I love you so much.

  Tears fell one by one, staining the weathered paper.

  "How could I ever forget you? I'm not strong enough... I love you too much," she whispered, her heart breaking as she hung her head.

  Unbeknownst to her, Robert had woken up. He had been stirred by the sound of muffled, trembling sobs beside him.

  "Are you okay?" Robert asked softly.

  Hanna startled, hurriedly wiping the tears from her cheeks. "I’m sorry if I woke you."

  "No need to apologize," Robert gave her a thin, comforting smile. "Everyone has secrets that bring them sadness. Me too."

  "I... I just really miss my mother," Hanna confessed, her voice shaking with grief.

  "Where is she now?" Robert asked gently.

  "I don't know," Hanna replied, her voice sounding hollow.

  Robert fell silent. He wanted to ask more, but he hesitated. He didn't want to overstep when their friendship was still so new.

  "My mother died right after she gave birth to me," Robert said suddenly, causing Hanna to turn and look at him in shock.

  "Then... who do you live with now?"

  "My dad. But he remarried. His new wife... she never liked me."

  "Why?"

  "I don’t know. My dad doesn’t seem to care about me anymore since they had a new kid together," Robert replied with a bittersweet smile. "But hey, they never forget to feed me. That’s why I’m this fat."

  Hanna tried to suppress a laugh, as did Robert, who was merely joking about his own fate.

  But Robert didn't realize something. Hanna knew the secret behind his physical appearance—the pressure of his life, from the bullying at school to the neglect at home, had forced him to find solace in food. Eating was his only escape from the world.

  "Robert?" Hanna called softly.

  Robert raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to continue.

  "You smell... really good."

  "I smell good?" Robert was stunned, unsure if he had heard her correctly.

  Hanna nodded with certainty.

  "No way," Robert replied with a skeptical little chuckle. "At school, they always tease me. They say I smell like garbage."

  "No, you smell wonderful," Hanna insisted.

  She wasn't sure where the scent came from, but her unique senses seemed to catch a pleasant aura radiating from him—something an ordinary person could never perceive.