Care for Donan

In the stillness of the early morning, with the sound of rain gently tapping against the overturned van and the darkness still reigning outside, Luna sits beside Donan. The heat of his fever is starting to fade, but his warm and pale skin reveals the suffering he has endured.

She watches the details of his face—his calm yet vulnerable expression in feverish sleep. With every movement he makes, Luna feels a tightness in her chest, a mix of responsibility and something more... perhaps a desire to care, perhaps something deeper.

She remains there, in the dim light, looking at him until, without meaning to, her fingers brush softly against his forehead. A nearly involuntary touch, but as her skin meets his, she feels a stronger bond forming. She sighs, taking a deep breath, but her mind remains restless. She has been strong up until now, fulfilling her role as an improvised nurse, but there is something she cannot ignore.

Her hand rises slowly, tracing a gentle line from the edge of his face to his hair. She smooths the strands, feeling their texture and lightness, as if, somehow, she is searching for something within herself—perhaps understanding, perhaps solace for the turmoil of emotions growing inside her.

Suddenly, Donan stirs slightly, a low groan escaping his lips, and it stops her in her tracks. She watches as his body contorts in agony, sweat dripping, the fever returning for a moment.

She takes a deep breath and, without thinking twice, leans closer to him. Her eyes gleam with the tension of the moment. "I need to protect you," she hears him murmur in the midst of a nightmare, his words slurred and incoherent but cutting through the night's silence.

Luna feels a strange ache in her chest. She can no longer ignore the sensation overtaking her. With her fingers, she begins to gently stroke his forehead, her eyes closed, focusing only on the softness of her touch. But when he murmurs again,

"I need to protect you...," she can no longer resist. She leans forward, her lips finding his skin in a gentle, almost reflexive gesture, as though returning that desire for protection he does not yet understand.

The kiss is soft but lingers longer than she expected—a mix of empathy and a connection she did not realize she felt. Her lips remain there, touching his, while her mind tries to organize everything she feels. But reality returns quickly, and she pulls back abruptly, a strange warmth flooding her face, guilt and confusion taking over.

"What am I doing?" she asks herself, and a sense of shame washes over her. Yet she also feels something else—a need to stay close to him, to care for him.

He is still delirious, his body trembling. She feels a growing tension in her chest, but also an impulse to understand.

She starts questioning him, just to hear what he might say, unaware of his own words. "What do you think of her?" she asks, referring to the other Luna, feeling even more intrusive in his fevered ramblings.

"She... she's amazing," he responds, his voice thick with emotion. "She... she's incredible. I... I've never met anyone like her. I... need to protect her."

His words touch her heart, and she feels warmth rise in her chest, a mixture of pain and joy. She cannot deny what she feels or the intensity of her emotions, which overflow with each of his words.

For a moment, she feels lost. "I never imagined it would be like this with you," she whispers, trying to process everything happening. "Why do you make me feel this way?"

She takes a deep breath, feeling tears welling up. Suddenly, she can no longer hold them back.

She starts crying softly, her tears silent, almost as if they are washing away the confusion and feelings she can no longer hide. It is not shame for what she has done but a sense that something profound has changed.

He murmurs again, still unaware of what he is truly saying. "I... I need... to protect you."

And once again, she feels torn. As her heart melts, she feels guilty for these emotions, knowing she needs to keep her distance.

But deep down, something tells her that perhaps he needs her just as much as she feels she needs him. The night continues, but now Luna feels that she is on a path of no return.

By morning, the sun begins to stream through the cracks of the van, warming the damp, stuffy air. Luna, still wearing her improvised nurse's uniform, wakes first.

The costume she found is a bit over-the-top; the fabric clings to her body, and she feels slightly uncomfortable—not because of the outfit, but because of the situation itself. Her reflection in the van's mirror makes her feel a mix of shame and doubt, but she tries not to dwell on it. The soft morning light illuminates her face, and the sense of having survived so far is comforting.

Donan, upon waking, stretches his arms, accidentally brushing her hand as he tries to adjust himself. In the movement, Luna immediately feels his presence in a different way, that familiar discomfort. She, still tense and with her heart racing, prepares to react instinctively as if to slap him. But something inside her stops her.

The feeling of irritation mixes with a deeper frustration, and for a moment, she simply takes a deep breath, holding herself back. With a firm but restrained look, she says, "Not this time. But move your hand."

Donan, surprised by her calmness, feels a shiver run through him. He had learned to avoid getting too close to her, but something about the situation made him freeze, hesitating.

For the first time, he feels that he is facing something deeper than simple antagonism. Somehow, Luna made him realize his attitude.

He pulls back, unsettled, but at the same time begins to notice something about himself that he hadn't before. He is in clean clothes, neat, and strangely, he starts seeing himself differently.

The reflection in the mirror isn't the same as before. He feels... good, even handsome. As if the transformation was more than just his appearance but something happening within him as well.

The gentle sound of birds singing outside and the silence after the rain, which has finally ceased, brings a new sense of hope. The forest around them seems quieter, as if nature itself were offering a second chance for everyone.