I was just looking for a sunrise.
That's it.
I didn't ask for a girl hanging from a tree.
I didn't ask for blood. For a rope. For broken breaths clawing at death.
But there she was.
And before I even knew it—
"Ourghhh!!!"
I was running.
My arms wrapped under her legs. I lifted her—fast—just enough. Just enough so she could breathe.
"Untie it! Come on—just hold on!"
She gasped. Fought. Trembled.
Her eyes—god, her eyes—they weren't afraid. They were furious.
And somehow, she managed to free herself.
The rope unraveled. She dropped like a puppet with cut strings.
I was ready to catch her—
Instead—
"STAY AWAY!!!"
CRACK!
Her fist hit my face like a sledgehammer. I heard the pop—my jaw? Yeah, that was gone. Dislocated. Probably shattered.
I hit the ground, hard.
And you know what the crazy part was?
She wasn't running.
She was standing there. Knees low, ready to kill me with a rock the size of her fist.
Breathing like a beast.
Eyes wild.
I groaned and felt around my jaw.
"You dislocated my jaw…"
clack
I shoved it back in place.
That made her flinch. Not in fear. In memory.
"Why did you save me?! What the hell do you want from me?!"
I blinked. "Huh?"
"The way you touched me—it was disgusting!"
Seriously?
I nearly died saving her, and this is what I get?
"Whoa, okay. Chill for a second. You're missing the point here, no?"
But her hand twitched.
And the rock flew.
Right past my head.
THUMP.
It buried itself in the tree behind me like a damn throwing axe.
"...The lady's crazy," I muttered.
She was still panting.
Her body shook.
She wasn't weak.
She wasn't broken.
She was something else.
"Are you crazy?!" I shouted.
She didn't answer.
She was watching me. Like an animal deciding if I was worth killing.
I raised my hands slowly.
"Haaa... Listen, lady… I mean no harm. Alright? I promise."
"I don't believe in promises."
A crow cawed overhead.
Nice timing, bird.
"Why did you save me?"
Her voice was quieter. Still sharp.
I shrugged.
"Because I'm a human being?"
Pause.
No reaction.
So I added—
"Also… I'm here to watch the sunrise."
And just like that, the sky lit up.
Gold poured over the horizon.
And for the first time…
She looked away from me.
She looked up.
And her shoulders dropped.
Something inside her crumbled.
She fell to her knees.
And then she sobbed.
Loud. Ugly. Real.
I didn't go to her.
Didn't say a word.
I just kept watching the sky.
"You could say my act was selfish," I muttered after a while. "Didn't want a corpse dangling in the background while I enjoyed the view."
I smiled faintly.
"Still... I'm glad I helped you."
She sniffled.
Paused.
I turned my head just a little.
"I'm serious. I'm not gonna hurt you. Not in any way."
--
Still no reaction?
Am I really the bad guy here?
Should I ask her what this is all about?
...Nah.
She already said the way I helped her was "disgusting."
That word? Yeah, it kinda stabbed me right in the heart.
I slumped my shoulders.
I mean, I know I'm not some Prince Charming here to save the day, but damn.
I sighed.
Then glanced at her — just a little peek.
Barefoot.
Lacerations on her feet and wrists.
A runaway captive?
Unwashed hair.
Bruises on her neck — probably more where I can't see.
Nails?
...Yikes. That's painful just to look at.
"Hey. You must be cold. Take this."
I shrugged off my only cloak and set it down between us.
The moment the fabric landed near her, she hissed — like a cornered animal.
I quickly pulled my hand back.
She might actually bite it off.
After all, she almost turned my skull into a mango smoothie with that rock earlier.
But... she took the cloak.
Wrapped it around herself.
"...what—"
Not even a "thank you," huh?
Well... considering she tried to hang herself not five minutes ago,
I guess now's not the time to expect manners.
--****
This silent ruining my enthusiasm on the sunrise
My eyes twitching like my body forcing me to do and say stupid stuff.
I turn my head like other me from inside forcing it to turn.
To be honest,I'm still pissed off from her punch and accusations.
"Named Suma"
"..."
"Are you on the run?"
"..."
"Hello?—"
"Stop asking"
She didn't turn to me.
"Are you hungry?"
She turn to me right away.
The turn making me flinch a bit.
****
Somewhere I don't even recognize.
A tree.
A suicidal woman.
A sunrise.
Now I'm just sitting here, basking in the morning light with a stranger who tried to die…
…who's now acting more feral than any stray cat I've seen back in the city.
"Again, are you hungry?"
"What's it to you?"
"Hey, I'm trying my best here to be the nicest normal stranger possible—"
"!!!"
She stood up, fists clenched.
Oh crap...
"Who are you to say you're the nicest person?!
I've been broken! Left behind! Unwanted!
I tried to end this miserable life of mine—and you just took it away from me like it's nothing?!
Because you didn't want to see a corpse while enjoying your sunrise?
Do you think I'm a fool?!"
Her voice cracked from screaming.
"You stole my right to die! ARRGH!!!"
I kept my eyes on her—stern. No reply.
She grabbed my collar.
Wham!
Her fist smashed into my face.
"You just want me to feel in debt to you!
Then you'll use me however you want!"
Crack!
Second punch. Right on the nose. I felt it break. Blood trickled down.
Still, I stared at her. Eyes locked. Nose bleeding.
I braced for a third hit—but it stopped midway.
She froze.
"And... stop looking at me like him!"
I had no idea who he was. But something in her voice changed.
She let go and shoved me backward.
I staggered but stayed on my feet.
Steadied myself. Blew blood out from my right nostril.
My gaze never left her.
She stood there, shaking.
Her fists trembling.
Her legs barely holding her up.
She was exhausted.
"Listen, lady…" I said, my voice low.
"I'm sorry for the crap you've been through.
But saving you wasn't just selfishness.
I don't know your past…
But that doesn't mean I should've stood by and done nothing."
"Like I said, who are you to do that?!"
"I'm nobody!" I barked back.
That made her flinch.
"Helping you was something that needed to be done.
Because I wanted to.
So I don't give a single damn what you think of me."
"What—?"
"Now follow me to my camp and eat, for God's sake!"
…Okay. That came out wrong.
"No way!" she shot back.
For real though—I couldn't stand to see her like this.
My brain was itching. She looked like a starving wolf ready to drop.
"Look. I got nothing on me."
I raised my arms slowly, then turned around.
"No weapon. No tricks.
Plus, you've already punched me twice— no, three times—and it's clear you're strong enough to take me down."
She didn't say anything, but I could see her hesitating.
Still alert. Still full of anger.
But hunger was catching up.
Her red eyes, puffy from crying, kept darting between me and the ground.
A dilemma.
Then—finally—she gave a silent nod.
"Strip your clothes first."
My face went pale.
"…Say what now?"
Is she for real?!
But… this is probably the trauma talking. She doesn't trust anyone.
And honestly, after everything, I really don't want another punch or a stabbing followed by more accusations.
Fine.
"Fine…" I muttered.
I stripped down, leaving only my shorts.
Seconds passed.
No reaction.
She didn't even flinch.
...This is so weird.
Arms lifted, I turned around again, facing away.
"Satisfied?"
I sighed.
She nodded again.
I held back my thoughts. I'm trying to help her, and this kind of treatment is wild, but…
Can I really say anything? Not after that breakdown.
She needs this.
She needs to trust someone.
Even if it's on weird terms.
I quietly put my clothes back on.
---
There. She must have some slight trust in me now, right?
Nothing else could make me happier—
Wait. Her face?
Yep. Still on high alert.
"Walk."
"I'm already doing it. You didn't have to order me."
What a pain...
We both move away from the tree, heading back into the woods where I came from.
I'd set up a makeshift camp not far from here.
Once I give her food, we'll go our separate ways.
Then I'll feel a little less bad about all this.
...Right?
We pass through the narrow gaps between trees.
She's not far behind me.
I glance over my shoulder.
Yep—still carrying one of the damn rocks from earlier.
I turn my head back to the trail, eyes twitching.
I mean—didn't I literally strip down to show I wasn't armed!?
Oh my God. This is infuriating.
I got punched, accused of being a pervert, and treated like some monster—
after saving her life.
What the hell is her problem?
...Relax. Just go with the flow. No sudden moves.
That's the only way to deal with her right now.
The scent of smoke greets us as we approach camp.
One sleeping bag, still warm near the bonfire.
"I don't have any hot food right now," I say, crouching at my pack, "but I got beef jerky."
I rummage a bit, then hold the jerky out to her.
Carefully.
I really don't want to lose a limb. That'd be super inconvenient.
"Here."
Snatch.
Okay, yeah—I flinched. Sue me.
I sigh.
She's eating like she hasn't seen food in days.
"Hey—slow down. Sit while you eat."
I sit near the fire, warming up, tossing a few extra logs onto the flames.
Cool. She sits too.
Not exactly close—she's still keeping distance.
She's facing me while munching like a feral cat with trust issues.
"I got clean water too. Here."
I toss a leather flask near her feet.
She takes it without hesitation—drinks from it, eyes never leaving me.
"What's your name?" I ask.
"I don't have one."
Liar.
"Alright then... Sunshine it is."