For the first time in years, his heart felt alive. His mind, his soul, his entire being was awake—filled with something rare, something precious:
Happiness.
A happiness he had never truly felt before.
And this time… it wasn't just hope. It was certainty.
Soon, he was going to see Luna again.
The morning came, and for the first time in a long while, he woke up with something different in his heart—a strange, flickering sense of hope. Stretching his arms beneath the soft golden light of the rising sun, he stepped out of his little tent. The sunlight felt warmer today, almost as if the world itself was whispering to him: Something is about to return to your life.
He washed his face with the cool water drawn from the old village well, refreshing himself for the day ahead. Today, he had managed to find some work—at a local restaurant, one of the most popular places in the estate.
His job was simple: serve food, clean tables, stay quiet.
The place buzzed with wealthy customers—men in crisp clothes, women in shining jewelry—all laughing and talking as if the world outside their plates didn't exist.
As he worked silently, carrying plates and wiping tables, a bitter thought crossed his mind: For a place so grand, they sure don't pay much. But he had no choice. Whatever little they gave was what he needed to survive one more day.
No one here knew his struggles. No one cared what it was like to go hungry for days, to sleep alone under a thin roof of cloth and wood.
But suddenly—while serving a table—he caught a conversation between two men sitting nearby.
"Did you hear?" one of them said, lowering his voice, "Lord Victoria's daughter, Luna, is returning."
The boy froze.
Another man added, "She's coming tomorrow, I think. Been two years since she left for her studies, right?"
The first nodded, "Yes… but she won't be staying long. She has to go back soon. That place where she's studying is far, really far from here."
Another man sighed, "Such a shame. Traveling so far to visit your family, and then not even getting enough time with them…"
Their words echoed in his head: She's coming back. Tomorrow.
A wave of happiness surged through him, pushing aside all the years of loneliness, all the hunger, all the cold nights spent dreaming of a reunion that once felt impossible.
For the first time, he smiled—not just on the outside, but from somewhere deep within his chest.
He got back to his work, determined to finish properly. His hands moved faster, sharper, steadier. His mind, however, was filled with her.
Luna is coming back…
Later that night, he walked back to his little tent under that same old tree—the one that had stood witness to their childhood games, their laughter, their shared silences. Everything was the same, yet everything was different now.
Lying down, he closed his eyes, but all he could see behind his eyelids were the memories of Luna. Her smile, her laughter, the softness in her voice.
Two years.
Two long years of waiting, of aching, of hoping.
Now… only one more night.
As sleep finally pulled him under, he didn't even realize when the midnight darkness gently gave way to the soft blue of dawn.
Tomorrow was no longer a distant dream.
Tomorrow… was almost here.
Morning arrived. He woke up slowly, stretching his tired arms and legs, feeling the stiffness in his bones. After washing his face at the nearby well, he stood for a moment, staring at the rising sun, thinking deeply.
Today… I don't have any work. That means… today I'll just wait. Wait for Luna to come back.
And then, another thought crossed his mind—a small spark of hope. Maybe… Maybe now that Luna is the daughter of a lord of this estate… maybe I should give her a gift. Something to show her what she means to me.
With that thought, he made his way toward a jewelry shop nearby. The glass displays were full of sparkling necklaces and beautiful ornaments. But as soon as he saw the prices, his heart sank. His eyes widened in disbelief.
"So expensive…" he whispered. "Even if I worked every single day for months, I wouldn't be able to afford this…"
Disappointed and defeated, he stepped out of the shop.
But just nearby, something caught his eye—a small, humble little street stall, run by a kind-looking old woman. Among the simple things she sold, there it was: a small necklace. It wasn't grand, not made of gold or silver, but it was beautiful in its own innocent way. Soft, delicate, and shining in the morning light.
"How much for this?" he asked hesitantly.
When the old woman told him the price, a rare smile touched his lips—it was within his reach. He bought it, holding it gently in his hands like treasure. As he walked, staring at the necklace, his heart filled with one thought: When Luna comes back… when I give her this… how happy she'll be.
But just then, shouts echoed through the village.
"She's back! Miss Luna has returned! Hurry! Come see!"
His heart nearly jumped out of his chest. Without wasting a second, he ran after the growing crowd.
The streets were filled with people now. Everyone had gathered on either side of the main road, leaving the center open. Slowly, a decorated carriage rolled through the middle, guarded on all sides. And inside—sitting gracefully, waving at the people with a delicate smile—was Luna.
She looked different now. Older. More graceful. More distant. Her dress shimmered, her posture royal.
His heart was torn between happiness and pain. She's here… after all this time, she's finally here.
Without thinking, he jumped, waving his arms, shouting her name again and again. "Luna! Luna! I'm here! Look, I'm here!"
And for a brief moment, their eyes met.
But then… something broke inside him.
Luna looked away. Purposefully. Coldly. As if she had never seen him before. As if she didn't know him at all.
It wasn't a mistake. She had seen him. And she had chosen to turn away.
It hit him harder than any hunger ever could.
Slowly, he lowered his hand. His legs felt heavy. His heart was even heavier. Without saying another word, he clutched the little necklace tightly in his fist and walked back, alone, to his small tent by the tree.
All day, he sat there, chewing on whatever stale bread he could find, staring at the ground. Thought after thought crashed inside his head. Maybe this was meant to be. People have always called me filthy… worthless… a curse. Why would someone like her… someone from such a grand family… ever want to speak to someone like me?
He looked at the small empty spot where food should've been, looked at the torn fabric of his tent, the cracked soles of his shoes. His world was small. Too small for someone like Luna to notice.
And yet… he couldn't stop the ache in his chest.
Night fell.
The village was silent now, except for the soft rustling of the wind through the trees. It felt like the world had forgotten about him entirely, like he was just another shadow blending into the darkness.
But then… a voice broke that silence.
Familiar. Gentle. Soft, but determined.
"I know you're here."
His heart stopped for a moment.
That voice… was hers.
He rushed out of his tent, and there she was—standing right in front of him, just beyond the edge of the trees, beneath the faint glow of the moon.
Luna.
And for a second, neither of them spoke. They just stood there, silently, at the very spot where they had once said goodbye to each other two long years ago.
Two years.
Two different lives.
And now… here they were again, meeting at the same place where it had all started.
He tried to speak.
But his throat was dry, his lips trembling. The only sound that came out was a broken whisper…
"Lo… Lo… Luna…"
Her name.
It fell from his mouth like a forgotten prayer finally remembered after years of silence.
Luna heard it—and smiled. Not the smile of a stranger, nor the polite smile she gave others… but that smile. The one she used to give him when they were children beneath this very tree. The kind of smile that could both break your heart and heal it at the same time.
If someone had seen them right then—standing like that, frozen in a moment between the past and present—they wouldn't have known whether to cry or to smile. It was the kind of scene that tore your chest apart with emotion, yet filled it with a warmth you hadn't felt in years.
That boy… a boy whose entire life had been swallowed by hunger, loneliness, and nameless days… was now standing in front of the only piece of light he had ever known.
And the girl… the girl who belonged to a world of wealth, of silk dresses, of polite words and fine dining—she knew. She knew what people used to say about him. How they used to laugh at him, spit on him, ignore him as though he were no one.
But she had never cared.
She was Luna—and Luna never cared about what the world thought. She only cared about him.
Now… she had returned.
Two years of silence melted away, and finally, she broke it. Softly. Like a whisper carried by the wind.
"Two years," she said, her voice catching slightly in her throat. "Two whole years… and now we're standing here again. Together. I missed this… I missed you…"
They sat beneath that same old tree—their tree—where every morning she used to sneak him bread while others turned their backs. They sat together now like they used to, but something was different.
They were older now. The world had made them older.
They laughed. Quiet, broken laughs full of memories they didn't dare say aloud. And then Luna turned to him, her brows furrowing gently.
"You know… I've known you for most of my life," she said. "But I still don't know your name. Can you believe that? For two whole years… all I could think about was finding the boy who never told me his name."
Her words hit him like a storm. And for the first time in a long, long time… he spoke fully.
"I'm sorry."
Luna's expression shifted, confused. "Sorry? For what?"
He looked away, ashamed. "Because I don't have a name. I never told you because… there's nothing to tell. I don't even know if I deserve one. And I know… I know you'll probably leave again. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe the next day. But before you go… can I tell you everything? About me?"
But Luna… Luna only smiled again, and this time… it was fierce. Beautiful. Defiant.
"I don't care about your past," she said, her voice steady now. "I never have. You are who you are. And that's who you've always been to me. I don't need a name, or a story. You are enough."
It was as if the world itself stood still in that moment.
And then he remembered.
The gift.
With fumbling hands, he reached into his pocket. "I almost forgot… I got you something. I know it's not much… but it's all I could afford."
He opened his trembling palm.
A necklace.
Simple. Inexpensive. Its thread was worn, a little frayed, but the charm in the center was beautiful—a small, delicate bird, wings outstretched like it, too, was trying to fly beyond the life that had trapped it.
When Luna saw it… her breath caught. Not because it was valuable, but because it was him. The boy with nothing, offering everything.
"This… this is perfect," she whispered. "When I go back… this will be the only thing I take with me. Not because of what it is—but because of who it's from. This… will remind me that I once made a promise—to meet someone again who never gave up on me."
That was it.
The walls around his heart shattered completely. For the first time in his life, tears fell—not tears of hunger, or pain, or humiliation.
These were different.
These were tears of being seen.
Of belonging.
Of finally, finally knowing that somewhere in this cruel, indifferent world… someone had chosen him.
The boy with no name.
The forgotten boy.
For the first time, life didn't feel like a punishment.
For the first time, he didn't feel empty.
For the first time… he felt loved.