CHAPTER 5: Goddess Blessing

"I'm fucking tired," Lidia grumbled, dragging her feet as though they weighed a ton each. Sweat was pouring down her face, soaking her flimsy white garment until it clung to her uncomfortably. Her hair stuck to her forehead in damp clumps, and her face was twisted in a scowl that could scare off an entire army.

She flopped her arm down dramatically and glanced around at her surroundings, panting like a dog in the summer heat. The street she had just walked—no, suffered through—couldn't have been more than two miles long. Two measly miles. And yet she looked like she had just completed an ultra-marathon with a boulder strapped to her back.

"Two miles. Freaking two miles," she muttered, glaring at nothing in particular. "How the hell do people in this world survive without cars? Hell, even a bike would work!"

A carriage rode pass her as if mocking her and she shoot it a glare.

With a sigh, she wiped her sweaty palms on her garment, which didn't help much since it was already soaked through. She stumbled into a narrow alleyway, seeking refuge from the unforgiving sun that seemed determined to cook her alive. With a huff, she plopped herself down on a pile of crates that looked like they might give her splinters just for fun. She leaned back against the wall, her face serious as the realization hit her like a slap in the face.

She was homeless. Actually, legitimately homeless.

"Great," she muttered bitterly, digging her palms into her knees as if bracing herself against the weight of her own misfortune. "Welcome to rock bottom, Lidia. Population: You."

After sitting there for a moment, wallowing in the disaster that was now her life, her stomach made an angry noise loud enough to echo through the alley. She winced. "Alright, alright, I get it. Stop yelling at me," she muttered to her stomach, pulling out the last piece of fried chicken she had been saving like a treasure.

It was a little soggy now, thanks to all the sweat and moisture in the air, but she wasn't about to complain. Chicken was chicken, and she wasn't exactly swimming in options. She held it up to her mouth, about to take a glorious, life-giving bite—when she noticed a pair of eyes staring at her from the edge of the alley.

A kid.

He couldn't have been older than ten, with skinny little arms and legs that made him look like he had been surviving on scraps for years. His clothes were patched and worn, his shoes barely holding together, and his wide, hungry eyes were locked onto the piece of chicken in her hand.

Lidia groaned inwardly. "Oh, come on," she mumbled under her breath.

The kid didn't move, just stood there like a ghost, staring at the chicken with the intensity of someone who might pass out if he blinked. Lidia sighed and, with great reluctance, tore the chicken in half. She held one piece up, waving it at him like she was trying to lure a stray cat.

"Here," she called out, her voice a little gruff.

The boy's face lit up like someone had handed him a winning lottery ticket. He sprinted toward her, practically tripping over his own feet in his eagerness. Snatching the piece from her hand, he clutched it like it was the most precious thing in the world.

"May the goddess Luna bless you," he announced solemnly, his voice filled with gratitude.

Lidia raised an eyebrow, her fingers pausing mid-wipe as she cleaned grease off her hand. "Say it like you mean it," she demanded, her tone completely deadpan.

The boy froze mid-bite, his face turning comically serious. He straightened up, puffed out his chest, and nodded.

Lidia mirrored his nod, equally serious. Without a word, she knelt on the ground, bowing her head. The boy hesitated for a moment before stepping forward and placing a small, grimy hand on top of her head.

He cleared his throat. "The goddess Luna will truly bless you," he declared, his voice low and reverent.

Lidia couldn't stop the smirk that spread across her face. "Much better," she muttered, standing back up and brushing off her knees.

The boy, now satisfied, finally took a big bite of his chicken, his face lighting up with pure bliss. "Wow," he mumbled through a mouthful. "This is the best thing I've ever eaten!"

Lidia crossed her arms and gave him a mock glare. "Don't get used to it, kid."

The boy grinned at her, his cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk. "Thanks, miss," he chirped before darting off, disappearing into the bustling crowd like a shadow.

Lidia shook her head, unable to stop a small smile from tugging at her lips. She glanced down at her own half of the chicken and took a bite, savoring the crispy, greasy goodness.

"Well," she muttered to herself, "at least I'm doing something right in this mess of a life."

But as she looked around the alley, the smile faded from her face. She still had no idea where she was going, what she was going to do, or how she was going to survive in this crazy world.

A lone tear trailed down her cheek as she stared at the alley in a daze.