You have a weird name.

“I didn’t ask for this name...”

Why are you always alone when it’s parent’s day? Don’t your Mom and Dad love you?

“I don’t have any parents. They…died.”

You won’t be attending this school if you can’t keep your hands to yourself, Noctis. This is the third fight this week.

“He said my parents didn’t love me and that they were burning in hell…”

I’m terribly sorry, sir. Noctis is just having a really hard time lately. Please, don’t kick him out. There’s nowhere else for us to go…

“Celestina…”

Noctis grabbed his head—trying to force out the absent words that continued to pollute his mind, but it was only until he heard his sister’s voice among the thoughts did he settle down. He was a troubled child at the age of ten-years-old, and there was plenty of regret and sorrow occupying the weighty plate pressing against his heart. The loss of his parents, the bullying, and the adults around him that judged him were the main things he dealt with. The only solace in his life was his older sister—Celestina.

Noctis laid on his back as his stared up at the lit-up night sky, and as such an astonishing view of the stars merging together as one while the moon hung in supervision, he relaxed his grip on his head and sighed. The boy had tanned, wimpy arms that could easily snap in two, legs like broomsticks, and a tasteless voice that squeaked every now and then. The only majestic parts about him was his charcoal hair that was unruly at the front—strands of his hair fluttering just above his thin eyebrows and curling around his ears, but his bronze eyes were rather dull like his courage to stand against those who bullied him. He represented a gentle breeze that sought to never be disturbed, but his sister interrupted his privacy when sliding open the backyard door.

“Noct! Dinner is ready!”

He didn’t respond. She tilted her head at the boy on the ground, noticing he had his eyes closed. She furrowed her eyebrows and stomped over the low grass to reach him. She crouched beside his head and her long, frilly white skirt kissed the floor of the world as she pulled his cheeks, “Helloooo! Earth to little brother!”

Noctis opened his eyes and snarled, “Let go of my cheeks, Tina.”

“No can do, mister,” she smiled brightly. “Your cheeks are just so soft and—”

He pushed her hands away and rolled out of her reach like usual, “Just…what do you want?”

“Dinner’s ready,” she explained. “I made your favorite…spaghetti and meatballs with garlic bread!”

“Oh, food…” he said softly, brushing aside his hair from his eyes. “Thanks, Tina.”

She stood up while pulling her jet black hair that fell in waves to her back behind her ear. She giggled at the flush that stretched over his face, “No problem, kiddo. It’s just a basic meal, but I guess even the simplest things can cheer someone up. Just…go easy on me with the rating of the food—I’m still learning!”

“Alright,” he nodded, but as soon as he directed his gaze to a star separated from the others, his face became grim. “Hey, Celestina…”

“What’s the matter?”

“Did…Mom and Dad love me?” he stared up at her solemn face.

“They loved you, Noctis. It didn’t matter if you kept them up all night as a little baby, or did mischievous things behind their backs—they loved you,” her face twisted with anger. “Did someone—”

“D-Don’t worry about, Tina. I was just…curious,” he lied.

“There’s no use hiding it, Noctis. Please, don’t listen to that nonsense. If our parents had the option to stay with us forever, they would have took it. Never let anyone tell you otherwise.”

“But I don’t know!” he snapped at her. “I was too young to even remember their faces or even voices. You say they loved me, but…they aren’t even my real parents. I’m just an orphan—”

“Noctis!” she balled up her hands. “Who told you that?!”

“See, it’s true!” tears welled up around his eyes, leaning just off the edges of his eyelids. “I’m just an orphan with a stupid name!”

“Noctis…”

“No, I hate that name—”

“Look at the sky.”

Despite his fury, he obeyed his sister’s request and stared up at the stars painted over the night sky, and even the blue-silver lining at the horizon appealed to the beauty they witnessed. His sister ended up sitting beside him, watching all the stress, worry, and anger flow out of the young boy when he was captured by the night. She grabbed his hand, pulling him close to her, “It doesn’t matter if you were an orphan or if people say your parents don’t love you. They loved you because they named you, and cared for you. You wouldn’t be here today without them, and even if they passed on and left us behind, they are still with us. Do you want to know why they named you Noctis?”

“I do,” he sniffed, snuggling up beside his sister’s breasts.

“Mom and Dad always told me that our family would always be connected, and it all relies in our names. Noctis means night, Celestina is the sky, Stella—our mother, represents the stars while our father, Jace, is the big ol’ moon watching over us. We will be together every day, for night is destined to come. You are our legacy.”

“W-Woah…” Noctis was amazed by the thoughtful depth of their names. “Our parents really cared…”

Celestina giggled and tickled her brother underneath his armpits, “Of course, silly!”

The boy laughed uncontrollably from her delicate, but swift touches, “Okay, okay, stop it haha!”

She pulled back a little, but pointed to the sky with a smirk. “Whenever you feel alone, or you’re just frustrated…look to the night sky and remember where you come from. Don’t ever forget, Noctis. Your family loves you.”

We’ll always love you…

“Celestina?”

“Little brother...how was school?”

“It…went way better than usual. Is everything alright, sis?”

Her expression was dry when she answered, and one of her puffy eyes had a nasty, black mark around it, “Just…a really bad day…”

“W-What happened to your eye?!” Noctis shut the front door and ran up to his sister sitting on the entrance staircase leading to their bedrooms. “Are you okay?!”

“I’ll be fine, Noctis,” she gave a small smile and stroked a thick, curly strand on his hair around his right ear. “Everything will be fine. Your sister is working very hard to keep this house. I’d do anything to keep you happy if I had the opportunity, so don’t worry. As long as you’re fine—I am, too.”

“Who hit you, Tina?!” Noctis held her face by her cheeks, noticing that her face was drained of color and she was extremely tired. “Who did this to you?!”

Celestina closed her bruised left eye, and stared at younger brother with her right eye that glowed an azure blue. She rested her hand on the top of his head, caressing his hair and pulling his head down so she could kiss his forehead. Noctis could not utter a single word when he witnessed tears falling from his sister’s eyes and how she struggled to keep her smile. He never seen her so vulnerable and broken. He never seen her cry before, for he always saw her as a positive role model who was courageous, strong, and too kind for her own good. Noctis never understood her struggle as a young adult who took care of him and payed the bills around the house. Her job never pay her the right amount, so she had to get her hands dirty and that involved treating other men at a local club. She dealt with outrageous customers that wanted more than she offered, and forced themselves onto her. She felt violated every night she worked, but she wouldn’t stop serving them because she needed to pave the road for Noctis.

Our legacy…

“I’m sorry, Noctis. I shouldn’t be crying. An older sister shouldn’t be a crybaby,” she grinned, using the tips of her index fingers to bend up the edges of his lips to make him smile. “Everyday…I want you to smile for me. I know it’s selfish, but…it’s what keeps me going. Promise?”

"I promise…"

Next Chapter: Forgotten Stories(Aria)