“Shut the fuck up.”Another voice. Lower.
A slap.
Footsteps rushing closer.
Then a shot.
Bodies curling tighter on the floor. Screams ripping through the room. His mother’s voice. Breaking apart. Pleading. Filled with a fear that tore through him even now.
Mano gasped, eyes squeezed shut, his head jerking to the side like he could outrun the sound. His chest rose and fell in frantic, shallow breaths. The room tilted. For a moment, he wasn’t with Ody anymore. He was ten again, trapped in that bank.
Ody watched, eyes wide. “I’m sorry! I’ll never ask anything like that again, I swear,” he stammered, reaching out and grasping Mano’s shoulder.
Mano opened his eyes with a trembling breath. He pushed Ody away and ran into the bathroom.
Ody sat frozen, guilt crashing over him. He waited for Mano to come out, but the silence stretched. His worry clawed at him. He stood and walked to the bathroom door. “Mano…?” His voice was calm at first, but no answer came.
“Mano, can you hear me?” He pressed his ear to the door, desperate for any sound. “Are you okay? Can I come in?” Panic crept into his voice. “Mano!” He grabbed the doorknob, pushed it open, freezing at the sight.
Mano was sitting on the floor beside the sink, his gaze locked on nothing.
Ody crouched beside him. “Are you okay?” He searched Mano’s face.
He didn’t move. He looked empty, hollow, almost lifeless.
“Mano, talk to me…” Ody pleaded.
He slowly stood, movements stiff and robotic, then walked past him. Ody followed him into the living room, not taking his eyes off him. Mano sat on the couch, leaning his head back against the wall, his eyes fixed straight ahead.
Ody hesitated before sitting beside him. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.
Mano didn’t blink.
“I’m such an idiot… I’m sorry. I’ll never bring it up again, I swear.” His voice was shaking.
Still nothing. Ody waited, expecting anger, yelling, anything. Instead, tears streamed down Mano’s face. His expression didn’t change. His eyes stayed fixed on that invisible point, unblinking, while the tears ran freely.
Ody’s eyes widened. “Please, don’t cry…” he said, barely audible.
Mano sat frozen, tears cutting silent paths down his face.
Ody moved closer. “Mano…” he murmured, wiping both cheeks gently with his thumbs.
Mano’s gaze finally shifted to him. He blinked once, slow and heavy.
“I’m sorry,” Ody said, pulling him into a hug.
Mano stayed rigid in his arms. Ody held him anyway, tight, steady, trying to anchor him while Mano’s mind replayed horrors he couldn’t escape.
After a long while, Mano pushed him away. Ody pulled back, searching his tear-filled eyes.
“Put the movie on,” Mano said, his voice hoarse.
“I want to… help.”
“If you want to help, put the movie on.”
Ody nodded. Mano needed distance from his thoughts, not questions. He grabbed the laptop and set up the movie while Mano wiped his face.
