The once cozy family of three soon became nothing more than a quiet shell.
Later, my parents felt sorry for her and treated her like their own daughter.
From that point, Calliope and I stayed close, almost never separating.
Calliope was always remarkable with outstanding grades and a pretty face.
And I was just a normal boy, plain looks, average grades, the only thing I did well was drawing.
But during those days, I never thought I didn’t match her.
She told me we gave her all the warmth a family should hold, that we were her real home.
She also told me I was the ray of brightness in her dark life.
In our first high school year, after night study, I walked back with Calliope as always.
Along a quiet path, we met her dad.
He was drunk, swaying, acting wild.
He had gone bankrupt, the lover who cheated with him had left, and now he came to take Calliope again.
She refused to follow, and he suddenly rushed forward, trying to drag her away.
At that second, I couldn’t think of anything else and moved in front of her without pause.
My knees shook from fear, yet I feared more that she might be harmed.
That night, Calliope held me firmly and promised that in her whole life she would only care for me.