A girl who wears her heart on her sleeve, walks through the streets of Seattle- hoping for anyone, absolutely anyone to bump into her and maybe ask her how she was doing. Truth is, she had been cooped up in her apartment for days now. They seemed endless. Even more now that she finally decided to head outside today, and she instantly regretted it as hours later- heavy rainfall started to pour down on her. 

Up above, the clouds were a dark grey, and it hovered over the various buildings that surrounded Luna at the time. While her long, black hair was up in a bun, there was a frown plastered across her pale face as she looked out into the open path before her. The slabs of concrete underneath her heels were too wet and slippery now to keep walking so she found shelter at a cafe that was very near. 

"We're open for another two hours, Madam," the lady at the door announced gently to her with a warm and inviting smile, which captivated Luna and her interests. She walked inside the cafe slowly, surveying the surroundings which were the cool-toned, beige walls, and the floral paintings that had been hung up by the owner. 

Whoever the owner was, Luna appreciated him/her for how they decorated the place. It made Luna feel welcome, which was generally a rare occurrence in her life. 

It wasn't about not feeling invited in her own family headquarters. That part was definitely not true. She quite liked it at the Empire HQ. It was her workplace after all, so she would have to make herself feel at home either way. Having Shini around helped her get through the day better too. Well, when Lyon wasn't there, she'd keep herself company at the recording studio - even though she couldn't sing. Luna liked to warm up her vocals, although she hoped one day she could spark up the courage to record a song. One more incomplete task on her wild bucket list.

The point is - Luna felt welcome at the HQ. Just that...

It was more about her presence in the streets. Luna imagined no one would have to think too hard about how un-wise, clumsy and extremely stupid Luna was in her ways. 

She would often... forget? Even going beyond that - abandon some of the people and places she had once cherished. 

Just last week, she had promised a friend that she would continue to visit them and even do a quick drop by their businesses. But Luna should have known better. What was she thinking? 

Time and time again, she would shamefully go back into her lazy and depressing cycles again. That meant letting go of everyone and everything, breaking all promises, and giving into her sorrows.

That lazy and depressing cycle being: 

• Cutting off all communication with everyone; the exception being her close friends and family.
• Leaving all house responsibilities (cooking, cleaning and bed-making) to a hired maid.
• Not waking up until 12:00 in the afternoon, consequently putting precious time to waste.
• Making everyone put up with her stubbornness - getting urgent telegrams from Shini asking her why she hasn't blah blah blah

Luna snickered silently to herself as she sat down at a small, wooden table in the corner. It was round and tiny, like her brain. Ha. Ha. 

Although she desperately was asking for a friend or a stranger to come sit next to her, at the same time she wanted nothing to do with the outside world. Completely focused on herself and her worries. She liked being in her own bubble, but liked the attention as well. What was up with her? Pathetic. 

Luna never knew what she wanted in life. She was falling. Slowly. Not into depression, but into a trippy wonderland. Her body had gone into a complete shock over the time she spent being alone at her apartment. The loneliness finally caught up to her, and she admitted to herself that she really was going crazy. Now she questioned herself - what was my purpose here? Am I worth it? Who am I doing it for? 

Then suddenly, as if a sudden rush of tranquility calmed her down - Luna realized she had the answer this whole time. How had she forgotten and neglected the ones who cared about her the most? Clearly, the path to her happiness had been blocked by her unwillingness to move forward. This needed to stop - and she rose immediately from her seat so fast that someone may have thought she got a needle up her butt. 

Luna ran. 

She ran as fast as she could - outside the cafe - back out into the streets she once feared and felt intimidated by. The workers at the cafe looked at her in a shocked manner, but they quickly turned their heads so as not to make a scene in front of the other customers.

"I have a family to nurture. Friends to love. Things to sacrifice. One of them being the lazy and depressing cycle that continues to come after me. I won't let it happen again. I've made it so far, and I can't stop now..." 

And just like that, a tear had started to rush down her cheek. Her chest tightened with every word she whispered to herself. But Luna would quickly return to work tomorrow (bright and early), with a bigger smile on her face, remembering this day with a happy realization.

I noticed a woman jump up and and run out of the cafe I was in. The staff were shocked, as was I. I called over the waitress quickly and gave her a fifty dollar bill, "For me and the lady who left." I said.

I grabbed my coat off the back of the chair and while putting it on quickly headed out the door. I saw her right away, as she was quickly walking down the sidewalk. I fastened my steps to catch up with her. As soon as I was beside her I asked, "You always leave without paying?" I inquired.

She stopped and looked at me. I saw the remains of a tear on her cheek......

A voice was heard by Luna. She spun around quickly in a nervous manner, not knowing what to do with herself. She failed miserably in trying to fix her composure, and was too late to dry off her cheeks when the man standing in front of her noticed. The face he had on looked... concerned. Luna despised that look, but she was also comforted by it. 

It was the familiar look of pity, one that she would often get. She hated being felt sorry for, over and over again. Nonetheless, she appreciated the man's seemingly gentle presence. He wasn't being too forward or direct, nor aggressive or mean. He was simply... concerned. 

The mention of a payment made her eyes widen. Oh. 

"...I... No-.. I mean, I was in a rush.. I would have paid. Oh my gosh." Luna's cheeks flushed with every word in that sentence, and she looked down at the ground shyly with pursed lips. Her fidgeting hands were placed behind her, hoping not to show any signs that she was uncomfortable. 

Luna nodded quickly and felt the coldness of the air rush up her back. She then looked up, gave the man a gentle smile, and gestured towards the path behind her. "Anyways, I really should be going now signore... T-t-thank you.. Um.." 

She disappeared again quickly into the unknown. When she returned home, she still couldn't shake off the thought of the man that had approached her. He seemed familiar. Maybe one of Luna's friends or relatives knew him? She shook her head, and eventually let herself fall into a nap on her couch. 

Tomorrow would be a new day. 

One Week Later

Was there any reason to continue though? Like, really- was there? 

It had been a week since Luna went through a life changing experience of admitting to herself that she had been slacking in a lot of areas of her life. She remembered going back home that particular day of heavy rainfall, and collapsing onto the couch- just after the thought of her family came into her mind. At that moment, she really believed that her family would be the last thing she'd be thinking about just before a nap, and the first thing she'd think about when she wakes up in the morning. 

But things ended up taking an unexpected turn, and then she really had to question herself - was there any reason to continue? She never knew how a small argument could turn into something so.. chaotic. Luna thought she was being rational about it, but after a couple of days, she refreshed herself and ended up apologizing, but even a 'sorry' wasn't good enough to justify her actions. 

Words can only do so much, and so she packed up all her stuff and rediscovered herself in the city of Chicago- where Godmother Marie would be waiting. Luna had never interacted with the boss lady before, but she was eager to find out what Marie had in store for her. 

Telegrams had already been sent between them. Promises were made- and Luna wanted to make sure that she would take whatever secrets to the grave. Of course, unless, anyone of her family requested for them to be unveiled to the public. 

Here goes.

*** 

"...So I'm sure that you and your family are fond of hard-workers. No need to worry madam. I'll do my best to earn my place here," Luna nodded and smiled in a gentle manner in Godmother Marie's direction, "I'll get to work as soon as I can of course, just going to take me a bit of time to adjust I guess. Settle has played a major role in my life. Thank you." 

Luna slipped out of the crime family headquarters, and headed down to another local cafe for a quick snack. As she sat down by a table holding a cup of coffee close to her nose, she wondered how the other members of her family would be like. Hopefully they would like her, but she wasn't holding onto any promises. Nothing comes from nothing, so work needed to be put in first.