The Lost Luna Is In Our Midst (Moon Goddess)

The decision was made to drop Luna off at her best friend Angel’s house. Ella had always found solace in the fact that Angel’s mother, a dear friend, treated Luna like family.

Ella: “Angel’s mom is like family. Luna will be in good hands.”

Cory nodded in agreement, “Exactly. Let’s ensure our little one has a wonderful day.”

Luna, thrilled at the prospect of spending time with her friend, danced around the house, her infectious laughter echoing through the rooms.

Luna: “Daddy, can we bring cookies to share with Angel?”

Cory chuckled, “Absolutely, Luna. Cookies it is. Let’s make it a day to remember!”

…….

Cory, with Luna cradled in his arms, approached Angel’s house. The anticipation of a day filled with laughter and play danced in Luna’s eyes.

As the door opened, Angel, a burst of energy with her short legs moving as fast as they could, greeted them.

Angel: “Luna! I missed you!”

Luna squealed in delight, “Angel! I missed you too!”

The girls, with hands tightly clasped, disappeared into the room, leaving Cory at the threshold.

Inside, Angel’s mother, Belinda, Ella’s dear friend, extended a warm welcome.

Mrs Belinda: “Cory, it’s been too long. Come on in. Would you like a cup of tea?”

Cory smiled appreciatively, “Thank you. I’d love that.”

The aroma of tea filled the cozy kitchen as Cory and Angel’s mom sat down, engaging in a heartfelt conversation.

Mrs Belinda: “So, how’s everything, Cory? I heard you got a new job.”

Cory nodded a sense of accomplishment in his voice, “Yes, indeed. A business manager role. It’s a fresh start for us.”

Mrs Belinda: “I’m thrilled for you, Cory. You deserve all the happiness. And Luna, she’s growing up so fast.”

Cory chuckled, “Tell me about it. She’s our little ball of energy.”

As Cory and Mrs Belinda shared stories and laughter, with Luna and Angel, their laughter echoed from the room.

… ..

The kitchen buzzed with the warmth of friendship as Cory and Mrs. Belinda shared stories over tea. Laughter echoed through the cozy space, momentarily overshadowing the challenges that awaited them.

As their conversation unfolded, the tranquility of the morning took an abrupt turn. The front door burst open, revealing Angel’s father, visibly intoxicated. His arrival cast a dark shadow over the once-cheerful kitchen.

Mr. James (slurring): “Belinda, where’s the money for more drinks? You’ve been hiding it, haven’t you?”

Mrs. Belinda, her eyes reflecting a mix of fear and frustration, responded calmly, “James, you know we can’t afford more. Please, not in front of the children. Talk calmly, please!”

Mr. James (slurring): “Talk calmly? She’s hiding the money from me, I know it! I won’t stand for it!”

Mrs. Belinda, trying to maintain composure, pleaded, “James, please, not in front of Luna and Angel. Let’s discuss this later when you’re sober.”

Cory, growing more concerned about the impact on the children, stepped forward, placing himself between Mr. James and the trembling Luna and Angel.

Cory (inner thoughts): *I can’t let Luna and Angel be scarred by this. They deserve a childhood free from such chaos.*

Despite Mrs. Belinda’s pleas, the confrontation intensified, each word a dagger cutting through the strained air.

Cory (firmly): “Enough, James! This isn’t the place for this. Think about Luna and Angel.”

Mr. James (angrily): “They shouldn’t be here. This is our business!”

Cory: “No, James. This is their home too, and you’ve crossed a line. You need to leave.”

As Cory tried to negotiate with Mr. James, Mrs. Belinda quietly attempted to leave, unfortunately, James hit her angrily on her cheeks.

Mrs. Belinda (whispering to Cory): “I’m sorry you had to see this.

Unknown to the adults, Luna and Angel, frightened by the commotion, had sought refuge behind a partially closed door, their eyes wide with fear.

Luna, clutching Angel’s hand, whispered, “Why are they yelling, Angel? Is Daddy mad?”

Angel, doing her best to reassure Luna, whispered back, “It’s just grown-up stuff, Luna. My mom will make it okay.”

Luna: “But is everything okay?”

Angel, trying to reassure Luna, whispered back, “Don’t worry, Luna. My mommy will handle it. She always does.”

As Cory continued his efforts to defuse the situation, Angel, thinking her father was attacking her mother, quickly rushed out of their hiding place.

Angel: “Stop it, Daddy! Leave my Mommy alone!”

The sudden appearance of Angel caught Mr. James off guard, and in his drunken stupor, he swung his arm, unintentionally knocking over a nearby bottle of alcohol. The glass shattered on the floor, echoing in the room.

Cory, concerned for the safety of both Angel and Luna, tried to shield them from the escalating conflict.

In the midst of this turmoil, Luna, feeling the tension, tugged at Cory’s shirt.

Luna: “Daddy, make it stop. I don’t like it.”

Cory (softly): “It’ll be okay, Luna. We’ll make it stop.

Cory to Mrs. Belinda: “Please, take Angel, Luna, back to the room. It’s not safe here.”

Unfortunately, Angel, in her attempt to flee, accidentally stepped on a broken glass, and she screamed in pain.

Amidst the chaos, the sound of Angel’s scream cut through the air, sending a jolt of panic through the room.

Angel’s scream intensified the gravity of the situation, making it clear that the children were not only witnessing but directly affected by the turmoil unfolding before them.

Cory, his protective instincts kicking in, swiftly moved to Angel’s side.

Cory (urgently): “Angel, are you okay?”

Angel winced in pain, tears streaming down her face. “It hurts, Uncle Cory.”

Mrs. Belinda, her focus torn between the unfolding drama and her injured daughter, rushed over.

Mrs. Belinda (softly): “Angel, sweetheart, let me see. We need to clean this up.”

As Mrs. Belinda attended to Angel’s injury, Cory shot a stern look at Mr. James.

Cory (firmly): “This has gone far enough, James. You need to leave now.”

Mr. James, momentarily sobered by the reality of his daughter’s pain, stumbled backward.

Mr. James (mumbling): “I… I didn’t mean for this to happen. I should go.”

As Mr. James stumbled out of the house, Cory and Mrs. Belinda focused on soothing the scared and injured children.

Cory (gentle): “It’s going to be okay, Angel. We’ll take care of you.”

Mrs. Belinda, her hands gently wiping away Angel’s tears, whispered words of comfort.

Mrs. Belinda: “You’re brave, my love. We’ll get through this together.”

Luna, wide-eyed and scared, clung to Cory.

Luna: “Why did Uncle make Angel cry, Papa?”

Cory, struggling to find the right words, hugged Luna close.

Cory (softly): “Sometimes, grown-ups have problems they don’t know how to solve. But Ella and I are here for you, and we’ll make sure you’re safe.”

As they tended to the emotional wounds of the children, the weight of the situation lingered in the room. Mrs. Belinda, with a heavy heart, contemplated the challenges that lay ahead.

Mrs. Belinda (inner thoughts): *How did it come to this? I need to protect Angel, and myself.*

Cory, his concern for the family growing, knew that a more profound conversation and support were needed.

Cory (to Mrs. Belinda): “Belinda, we can’t let this continue. We need to find a way to keep yourself safe, especially Angel.”

Mrs. Belinda nodded, determination in her eyes.

Mrs. Belinda: “You’re right, Cory. This has to stop. Let’s figure out how to break this cycle.”

“In the meantime, I will take them to Randy’s house, his mother should be around. You need to get to work on time, ” Mrs. Belinda suggested, and Cory agreed. He kissed both Angel and Luna and after promising to buy them goodies, he left the house, a deep frown on his face.