Shiinahkz

Far away, untouched—she gazes at the world and everything in it with not even a flicker of trust in her eyes. To her, the world must seem cruel and cold, a place that offers no shelter, no warmth. She looks as though she's locked herself in a world of her own, a fortress built from fear and silence.

And somehow… I understand her. Because once, I was just like her.

I see my past self reflected in her eyes; the same hesitation to embrace the world, the same terror of being wounded again. And maybe that’s why I feel this pull toward her. An ache. A calling. A hope.

I want to be her light, the way my friends once were mine. I want to show her that there’s still a little corner of this world that holds warmth, no matter how small, a place where she can rest, a place where she’s safe.

I know I’m not the best person to do this. I’m clumsy at giving comfort. I don’t have the warmest hands, or the softest voice that can lull her to sleep, or the kind of embrace that can instantly melt fear. But even so, I’m stubborn. And maybe it’s because, in saving her, I thought I could save the younger version of me.

But I was wrong. This isn’t redemption. This is real. I want to protect her not to heal my past, but because she deserves a future.

So Ran, my hands may not be the warmest, my voice may never lull you to sleep, and my arms may not hold the gentlest comfort, but I promise the world I offer you will never hurt you. It will shelter you. Even if I can’t be the perfect world…let me be your world.