It was just past six in the morning, the sky still dim with only a greyish tinge of dawn.
Anna got out of bed, putting on her clothes with the ease of routine. She cast a quick glance at her mom, still fast asleep, a shadow of worry flitting across her tiny face.
Mom had been sleeping for three days now.
Moving quietly, Anna tiptoed up to the bed and gently spread an old, worn cotton coat she'd found over her mom, hoping it might keep her warm.
Cold air snuck in through the cracks in the windows, making her shiver.
She slipped off the bed like a little kitten, carefully stepping around the shards of broken bottles on the floor. Grabbing a broom that was taller than she was, she struggled to sweep the mess away—she didn’t want her mom to get hurt if she woke up.
Dragging the sack of bottles from the day before, Anna headed out, sold them for a little cash, and bought some groceries. Back home, she washed the veggies and cut them into small pieces.
Holding a bowl in her hands, Anna carefully walked over to the bed and whispered, “Mom, time to eat.”
Luna Carter didn’t even stir.
Anna called out a few more times, her voice soft but anxious. Then she blew warm air onto her cold little palm and cautiously placed it on her mother’s icy cheek, trying to offer a bit of her own warmth.
Still nothing.
Anna thought about making some hot water for her, but the kettle didn’t respond no matter how many times she pressed the switch.
That’s when she remembered—the lights had gone out last night. Power must’ve been cut off.
She'd wanted to wait till mom woke up to pay the bill, but with her mom still not waking up… she didn’t want to bother her, so she just sat and waited quietly.
By nightfall, Luna still hadn’t opened her eyes.
Anna stared at the freshly washed vegetables, swallowed hard, and finally settled for a sip of cold water. The ice-cold sip made her tense up from head to toe.
At least her tummy didn’t hurt anymore—better save the food for mom.
She grabbed the sack again and stepped out to collect more bottles. Right then, she ran into Mrs. Hill from across the street.
“Oh my, Anna," Mrs. Hill exclaimed, “Why are you only wearing a T-shirt? It’s freezing out here!”
Anna had used up all her clothes to keep her mom warm.
Her face was pale from the cold, but she still shook her head. “I’m fine.”
Yeah, right.
Heart aching, Mrs. Hill pulled her inside and listened as Anna quietly explained that her mom had been asleep for three whole days. Something didn't sit right with her. She couldn’t shake off the nagging feeling in her gut that something was wrong.
After grabbing a random jacket from her grandson’s wardrobe and wrapping Anna in it, she rushed over to Anna’s apartment.
As soon as she stepped inside, the chill hit her—sharp and bitter, like walking into a freezer.
The place reeked of alcohol, and an untouched bowl of water nearby had already frozen over.
Mrs. Hill glanced at the bowl, the weight in her chest growing heavier. So this was what the little one had been living on.
The kid didn’t know how to cook. And Luna clearly wasn’t doing her part, so cold water had to do.
She caught sight of the tiny clothes covering Luna like a makeshift blanket and immediately pieced things together, her hands trembling with rage.
“Luna! Get up, for heaven’s sake!”
Anna was such a sensible little girl—how could her own mother be such a mess?
Honestly, if it weren’t for Anna, she wouldn’t even bother sticking her nose into all this.
Such a good kid shouldn’t have to deal with a mom like that—always dolled up like she’s going to a party every day. Wouldn’t even be surprised if she didn’t know who Anna’s dad was.
Luna still didn’t move.
Frowning with impatience, Mrs. Hill reached out and gave her a nudge.
The moment her hand touched the icy skin, a jolt shot through her, a terrible realization blooming in her chest.
Hastily flipping on her flashlight, she saw that Luna’s face was pale and lifeless.
With shaking hands, she held her finger under Luna’s nose.
Nothing. Not even a breath.
Meanwhile, Anna was in Mrs. Hill’s house having some water when a sudden scream echoed from across the street. Her eyes widened and she bolted outside.
By then, a crowd had already gathered at their doorway, all craning their necks to peek inside.
Anna, being small, quickly wriggled through the legs and bodies.
That’s when she saw it—her mom’s face covered with a white cloth, and two police officers standing nearby.
“Mama?” she called out faintly, confusion clouding her eyes.The officer glanced from Anna to Mrs. Hill. "This the daughter of the deceased?"
Mrs. Hill nodded, her eyes full of pity for the little girl. Sure, Luna Carter wasn’t the best mom, but she was still her mom. Now that she’s gone... what’s Anna supposed to do?
Neighbors nearby whispered among themselves.
Anna didn’t quite catch what they were saying, but she picked up on the word “dead,” and her tiny lashes trembled a bit.
Soon after, she was taken to the station. She could only stare as her mom’s body was sent into the cremator.
Not long after, a female officer in uniform handed her a plain white urn. She looked at Anna and sighed softly.
The coroner confirmed it was suicide. No family had stepped forward. They checked her phone contacts, but no one was reliable. There was nothing else to do but cremate the body.
Poor kid. What happens to her now?
The officer thought for a moment, then asked gently, "Anna, do you have any other family?"
Anna tilted her little head, thought for a bit, then whispered, "Daddy… and an uncle."
Two more family members?
The officer's eyes lit up. If someone claimed her, she wouldn’t have to send this poor kid to an orphanage.
"You know how to reach them?" she asked quickly.
Anna nodded. She'd seen her mom dial those numbers before—only once, but she remembered.
The officer pulled out her phone and punched in the first number. It rang. Not a dead line. She exhaled in relief.
When the man picked up, she jumped right in. "Hi, are you Luna Carter’s husband? She—"
Before she could finish, his voice cut in, cold as ice. "Call me after she’s dead."
What kind of person says that? The officer bristled, glanced again at Anna, and called the second number.
"Hello, is this Luna Carter’s brother? She’s passed. Can you come pick up the ashes?"
There was a pause on the other end, then a dry, mocking laugh. "Ashes? Toss them. This again?"
Still not giving up, the officer added, "You are her brother, right? She has a kid. No one to take care of her… she’ll have to go to a shelter."
"A kid?" Eldred Carter snorted. "Then let her die with her mother."
He hung up.
The officer stared dumbfounded at her phone. Were those really her husband and brother? Didn’t sound like family—it sounded like enemies.
Anna’s ears twitched slightly. Her tiny head lowered as she clutched the urn tightly, both hands pressing down on the lid, like she was trying to cover Luna’s ears.
"Don’t listen, Mama. If you can’t hear it, it won’t hurt."
Outside the station, Ethan Marks tapped his fingers rhythmically on the steering wheel, watching the scene through the window.
His eyes stayed on Anna for a long moment. Then he got out and walked over.
"Hey kid, wanna a dad?"
Anna blinked up at him, confused, not sure what he meant.
—
Thirty minutes later, back at the Marks estate.
Mrs. Marks sat in the grand hall, surrounded by her family, absolutely fuming.
"Useless, the lot of you! Not one of you can give me a granddaughter! What’s the point of raising a bunch of duds?"
Mr. Marks, Marcus, and Frank all kept their heads ducked, silent. Even the loudest of the younger ones didn’t dare make a sound. No one wanted to catch her wrath.
Mrs. Marks kept going, “And Ethan—look at you! Still single at your age. Am I not allowed to live long enough to see my little granddaughter? I’m gonna die of frustration, I swear!”
She beat her chest dramatically for emphasis.
Just then, Ethan walked in from outside, lugging a large canvas sack. He shoved it into her arms without warning.
"Here. Your granddaughter."
