Page 34 of Once in a Lifetime, Part 2

Mano shifted on the couch, the movement restless, like he couldn’t sit still under it. “So… you’re just gonna leave me here?”

Ody stayed quiet for a moment, watching him. “Do you want to come?”

Mano hesitated, then shook his head. “No. I’ll stay here.”

Ody held his gaze like he was searching for something that wasn’t there. Then he gave a small nod. “Alright.”

A couple of hours passed without either of them leaving their rooms. Ody came back out, put on his shoes, said a quick goodbye, and left. Not long after, Anastasia stepped out of her room and spotted him in the living room.

“Morning, Mano!” she said, walking over with an easy smile.

“Hey.” He barely glanced at her before looking back at the TV.

“Where’s Ody?”

“Out with friends.”

“And he left you here alone?” Her eyes widened. “What a pig.”

He didn’t react.

“Want some company?” she asked, hovering there.

He shrugged. She hesitated, then took that as a yes and sat down, leaving a bit of space between them. “Your tattoo is so cool,” she said, leaning to get a better look at his forearm. Dark pine trees climbed his skin in heavy black ink, their bases bleeding into a rough band of soil at his wrist.

“Does it mean something?”

No answer.

She glanced up at him, like she was checking if he’d heard her. “Or you just liked the design?” she tried again, softer this time.

Still got no answer.

A small breath left her as she looked back at the tattoo, not pushing it further. “Can I see your other one?”

Mano lifted his right arm without turning his head.

Her eyes lit up. “Wow… it’s like you’re an angel or something.” She tilted her head, studying it. “Why didn’t you do the same on the other side?”

Mano stayed silent.

This time, she noticed. Her smile faltered just slightly, like she was starting to realize she wasn’t really getting through to him. “You’ve got a little cross behind your ear too, right?”

He nodded.

“Any others?”

“Chest… and here.” He tilted his thumb.

She leaned in a little. “What’s that one?”

“It’s a symbol of life.”

“Why’d you get it?” she asked, quieter now.

“Because…” He didn’t finish right away. His gaze drifted somewhere past the TV, like he wasn’t really in the room anymore. “…I lost people. People I loved.”

Her expression shifted, the curiosity fading from her face. “I’m sorry…” she said. “Was it a long time ago?”