Ethan’s face stopped for a second when he recognized her look in the dim room. He pressed against her a little closer and kissed her temple. “Sleep well now,” he said aloud. Ethan and Luna had a pressing day coming tomorrow, he reflected. He had a whole lot to do, and he wanted to make sure she got rest. “Tomorrow, you will be busy,” he said again, softly.
Luna awoke to hear Bangkok outside the window. The whole world was awake. She didn‘t care about what was happening in her life. Ethan was still sleeping next to her, his arm over her waist. She rolled toward him, comforted by the warm silence of sleeping beside him. It was good to feel saved, even if it was just for this little blink of time. In her mind, what she had to do that day was still on her mind, but this little happy blink of time was making her morning alright. By the time breakfast was ready, things weren’t looking good. Her mother was already sitting at the table, sipping her coffee. She looked terribly lonely. She had been so very patient, but she didn’t want to see Luna’s smile. Better to cry, no matter how sad it was. Luna’s cousin, Clara, was standing by the door and watching Luna and Ethan. Her eyes flickered back and forth. Wanting to know everything yet making fun of everybody. She was not happy with what she saw.
Luna was about to mumble “morning” and cheer everybody up when she saw herself say it. It was so quiet you couldn’t hear it. The room was heavy. Ethan said something Luna couldn’t hear, and he extended his hand under the table, placing it on her legs. She smiled a little. Her heart pumped.
Her mother didn’t even look at her. “So how does it feel to be married to him?” her mother snapped. She was trying to keep her tone calm, but it was clear she was mad at Luna. She looked ready to throw something at her. “Who is he?” she asked, never rolling her eyes. It was as if she were trying to hurt Luna. It was. She looked over at Ethan. His dark eyes looked happy and warm, but Luna was not sure what he was thinking. He squeezed her hand to hold her close and make her smile. “He is a very kind brother,” she said. “He is a man.” Her last sentence made her mom look angry. Nice is not enough, Luna. You could have picked a good man who wanted you dead, was successful, and was nice to everyone in the city. Not him. Clara was standing against a wall in the room, and her hands hurt so much because she was covered in gorgeous emerald and diamond jewelry. Moving back and forth, she said, "I don't understand it. She looked full of anger. He doesn't even work? How can you do this? Luna was mad and ashamed that she was feeling like that. It felt like she was going to vomit. She wanted to tell people that they should respect Ethan, but she was getting ready to doze off when she stopped. Ethan was watching her. He wasn’t angry. Instead, he was watching her as if he worried she might fall over. “Would you like something to eat?” she asked. Ethan nodded again. “If you are eating, I will eat” sounds different, softer. Comfortable. Smiling to herself, she felt good. They had lunch. It was very warm and disturbing. Ethan’s parents were sitting in chairs whispering in their mouths, and when Ethan was getting up to get a cup of coffee or a piece of bread, they stared at him. They saw everything he did, hoping to see any mistake in him.
Luna was over this. She opened her mouth. “He is more than you think,” she yelled. She didn‘t want her tone to be loud, but she was sure she sounded angry. “Ethan is an individual, Ethan is kind, and Ethan is caring. And Ethan is mine.”
Her mother was mad, and she pressed her lips into a straight line. Luna thought she was going to be sorry she said that. To the person who spoke to Luna. Ethan looked at the chin. She leaned toward the chin to make sure they could look in each other’s eyes. “I am glad you are mine,” she told him. Then she kissed his cheek. He was smiling to himself. “I am glad you are mine,” he said and squeezed her hand tighter. She was warm and happy now because they were in the crowd. They were becoming part of the city now. To everyone, they were just like all the other couples. But whenever Luna looked at anyone and knew she loved them, whenever they touched her, it was a rope that made her feel safe and pulled her away from danger. Even if other people didn‘t follow their choice. When Luna was home, she knew that the air in the apartment was hard and heavy. Clara just appeared from nowhere, and now she was at her door and walking around without permission, and she was just not going away. “I was just seeing how you live,” she said in a kind of voice that wasn’t kind, and she was smiling a lot. Then she went straight past Luna to live in her apartment like she was the one who was supposed to live there. Luna didn‘t like that Clara did that. Instead, she looked like she was planning to do something bad. The people she loved. I wanted more from you. Maybe you will have a man standing next to you. Luna’s hands were fists now. Then Ethan came forward. He was even taller and stronger than he was. It was so quiet to speak because he didn’t even need to be loud to stop people from listening, but they listened when he spoke. Clara was not sure what she was thinking. “” You”—Ethan stopped. He put his hand on Luna’s shoulder. “Luna chose me,” he said, like he really meant it. “I am enough for her.” It wasn’t loud, but it was special to Luna. It was really important. Clara just stared out like she was trying to think. Luna felt something bad in her chest. She leaned on him. She pressed her face to his shoulder because she wanted him to protect her from her choice. “You know exactly what to say to me,” she told him. Ethan put his chin down. His lips brushed Luna’s hair softly. “I will always protect Luna,” he said. His voice was deep, dark, and sure. Luna listened hard. She felt everything in the moment. People weren’t sure what to do. Her family didn’t want her. But the feeling of being that close to Ethan, of the promise they weren’t supposed to make aloud to each other, was real to Luna. She was sure to hold onto it no matter how much she was told she shouldn’t. And long after the sun was down, the city looked up from the river and spun around at the bright lights. Ethan put his arm around Luna. She put her head on his chest. The city around them kept going and getting ready for the night. But in his little world, everything felt ok. Suddenly, Luna’s phone beeped. Luna looked at her phone. Her mom had sent a message. The words made her stomach turn and spin: Are you sure you agreed? He’s nothing. You've ruined your life. She looked at Ethan. She was not sure if she wanted to give him the message. She could see that she was not herself. She saw that Luna was tense. She looked at Ethan. She was thinking a lot about her mother’s message. The message from her mother said he was nothing and that she would be in a mess if she were married to him. He is nothing. And he said he was nothing. He spoke softly. He tilted his chin so she could look at his peaceful face. “We will work through this,” he told her. She nodded her head. She still felt terrible. Her mother sounded furious. She was mad.
Cliffhanger: And then a big black car goes by. It pulls up at the street’s corner on the other side of the street. The windows are foggy, so Luna can’t see who is inside. She thinks the people in the car are staring at her, and she knows they are looking right at her. She’s sure of it. Her heart skips a beat and holds up. Ethan stiffens next to her and is trying to make himself bigger with his muscles. His eyes blink a tiny bit as the gun in his head gets sleepy. The joyful, warm feeling in the city is gone, and it is time for it to return. Luna’s fingers cover the sting on top of her hands, and her fist is cool in her blood. Whatever it is, she knows that she will not be claimed anymore. And he, the one with the eyes with a will, has come to take her.
