Whispers Across the Moon

1

When I was thirteen years old, I was abducted away by human traffickers.

I yearned to return home every single day.

During a transfer as they were loading me into a van, I seized an opportunity when they weren't paying attention, broke free from the ropes, and leaped out of the moving vehicle.

One of the men inside the van cursed and swiftly jumped out to chase after me.

I sprinted wildly ahead, running until I reached a bustling street.

I stumbled and fell right in front of a woman.

With tears in my eyes, I pleaded, "Ma'am, I've been kidnapped, please, you've got to save me."

The trafficker caught up to me and seized me, then he told the woman, "I apologize, she's just having a tantrum and saying nonsense. She's my own daughter, and this is a tantrum she likes to throw."

I was utterly terrified, and my attempt to argue was met with a swift slap that silenced me.

Standing next to the woman was a tall, thin young man in a school uniform. He fixed his gaze on her and calmly said, "Mom, I believe what she's saying."

Without much delay, he dialled the police.

The trafficker's face grew darker.

He quickly turned aggressive, forcefully pulling me back.

I clung tightly to the woman, while the young man pushed the trafficker to make him release his grip.

It continued until sirens blared nearby.

The trafficker's expression changed, and he let go of me before making a run for it.

This unquestionably confirmed his identity as a trafficker.

He ran too fast and managed to escape.

But now, another question arose - where could I go?

I was very young and had no recollection of any information about my family.

At that time, it seemed like the only option was going to a foster home.

But the boy pleaded with her to adopt me.

The woman's face bore signs of exhaustion and aging.

I knew she wasn't initially keen on taking me in.

However, in response to her son's heartfelt plea, she eventually relented.

And so, they brought me to their home.

Their house had warm lighting and cozy blankets, creating a truly comforting atmosphere.

Yet, as welcoming as this home was, it wasn't my true home.

Every day, I still dreamt of returning to my real home.

2

Even though I was abducted, I still recall my biological parents naming me Kathryn Wilson.

And this young man, his name is Travis Lewis.

He's a top-notch student. Once, I peeked into his locker and noticed a stack of achievement certificates.

It seemed he didn't have a father figure in his life, being raised solely by his mother.

He cared deeply for me, and when he learned I was missing my family, he took it upon himself to help me find my mom and dad.

First, he printed numerous flyers and distributed them to the locals.

Then, he used his mother's Facebook account to post online, assisting me in my search.

During one of our shopping outings, we passed by a well-regarded high school in town.

He pointed at it and chuckled as he said, "Kathryn, perhaps you'll be my junior there one day."

Upon arriving home, a courier delivered a letter.

Trevis glanced at it and leaped for joy.

He exclaimed, "Mom! Kathryn! I got accepted!"

As it turns out, Trevis had just finished his college entrance exams this year, and he had been anxiously awaiting the arrival of his acceptance letter.

As a young child, I didn't comprehend the significance of the word "Harvard" on the letter but I was simply genuinely happy for Trevis.

Mrs. Lewis, Trevis's mother, joyfully hugged him.

Then, she mentioned that Trevis had received responses to his online posts, and perhaps I would be able to return home soon.

Trevis felt a mixture of emotions but was also excited as he inquired, "Mom, when will it happen?"

Mrs. Lewis smiled and replied, "We're not certain at this point. The family is arriving in town tomorrow, and I'll meet with them. Just in case they make an error or aren't suitable, I wouldn't want to place Kathryn in their care."

The following day, Mrs. Lewis went to meet with that family, and Trevis took me to the amusement park.

We enjoyed various rides - the Merry-go-round, the Ferris wheel...

We played until nightfall.

As it was time to head home, Trevis answered a phone call.

After a brief conversation, his expression suddenly changed.

He turned sharply and rushed out of the amusement park.

I stood there in shock, wanting to follow, but I slipped and tumbled to the ground.

However, he didn't hear me and didn't look back.

I felt abandoned.

I remained there until late at night, and finally, a kind person called the police and brought me to the police station.

The police station was dimly lit, quite dark, and the chilly wind made it even colder.

They inquired about my family's whereabouts, but I simply shook my head and remained silent.

I felt depressed, believing that Trevis was merely finding a way to get rid of me, that he no longer wanted anything to do with me.

It wasn't until three days later that the police obtained some information.

A policewoman approached and sighed, explaining that Trevis didn't mean to do it.

Because the phone call he received at the time informed him that his mother had passed away.

She had died in a car accident.

The driver noticed Mrs. Lewis waiting at the traffic lights and crashed into the barrier, colliding with her against a pillar.

Then, the driver fled the scene.

My heart raced, and I desperately wanted to hurry back to check on Trevis.

The police dropped me off at our familiar home's doorstep.

As I entered, I found Trevis on the floor, clutching a black-and-white photo of Mrs. Lewis, his vacant gaze unfocused.

I rushed over and called out, "Trevis!"

Seeing him like this tore at my heart, but he gradually returned to reality, and when he saw me, his pupils constricted.

He abruptly pushed me to the ground. "Get lost!" he shouted.

3

I found myself homeless once again.

I placed my hand on my empty stomach, feeling the hunger gnawing at me.

Since Trevis had driven me away, it felt like I hadn't had a proper meal in ages.

In a nearby trash can, there was leftover food thrown away by others, contaminated with someone's saliva.

Maybe I was truly too hungry, and I couldn't resist anymore.

But suddenly, someone grabbed me from behind.

It was a filthy, drunken man.

He gazed at me and grinned in a lecherous manner.

"Little girl, come home with me. We’ll sleep together. I've slept with someone a little older than you, and it was ...... I can't tell you how good it was.”

His alcohol-laden breath blew into my face, and his strength was too much for me to break free from.

I fought to resist, but he didn't care and started to strip me of my clothes.

Out of nowhere, a person appeared behind him and yanked him by the back of his neck, tossing him aside and delivering a series of powerful punches.

It wasn't until the drunkard had completely passed out.

I stood there in shock, frozen in place, for what felt like an eternity, before clutching my clothes, trembling, and calling out:

"Trevis."

It was indeed Trevis.

He approached, his expression far from pleasant, but he still firmly held onto my hand, guiding me all the way back home.

There, he prepared a steaming bowl of soup, complete with a grilled cheese sandwich.

As I ate, he just watched me in silence.

As I ate, my emotions overcame me, and I couldn't help but shed tears.

I said, "I'm sorry... Trevis..."

During my time of wandering the streets, amidst the discussions and rumors of the people I encountered, I finally knew the truth...

Mrs. Lewis had lost her life on her way to meet for my potential parents.

If it weren't for me, Mrs. Lewis would have stayed safely at home that day.

Tears welled up, and I wept silently. Trevis, sensing my anguish, rose from his seat and guided me to the bedroom, gently closing the door behind him.

Under the comfort of the covers, I tossed and turned throughout that restless night.

I realized that perhaps I shouldn't yearn to return home.

Instead, I needed to remain here and find a way to make amends.

4

When I woke up in the morning, I saw Trevis staring blankly at the acceptance letter.

However, even in my groggy state, I knew that there was no money left at home.

What about Trevis's tuition fee?

So, I made up my mind to go out and earn some money.

He didn't stop me.

That day, I scoured the neighborhood, collecting numerous cardboard boxes and scraps from trash bins.

By evening, I sold them to the scrap dealer, and he handed me four dollars and thirty-six cents.

When I returned home and pushed the door open, I found Trevis still seated at the table, gazing at the acceptance letter, lost in thought.

It seemed as if he hadn't moved all day.

I walked over, proudly handed him the money, and said, "Trevis, from now on, I'll take care of you."

I didn't understand money, but I knew that four dollars and thirty-six cents was a significant sum. It could buy me at least forty candies!

As for Trevis, he stared at the crumpled banknote in his hand, lost in thought. He placed his hand over his eyelids and then burst into laughter.

I had never seen anyone with such an expression before, laughing while tears streamed through the gaps between his fingers.

I didn't know what decision Trevis had made in that moment.

All I knew was that he tucked the acceptance letter away at the bottom of the drawer, and it was never brought out again.

5

The following day, Trevis instructed me not to wander and left.

I followed his instructions and continued collecting recyclables near our neighborhood to earn some money.

When Trevis returned, he was wearing clean white clothes with "Hotel Service Staff" written on the back.

I had a vague feeling that he had started working.

Soon, he received his wages and took me to various important places, including the police station, schools, and government offices.

People said Trevis was helping me with ID registration and school enrollment.

This process turned out to be quite tedious, with Trevis working hard during the day and running errands all over town.

Yet, he always made sure to check on me before resting, ensuring I was asleep and safe.

A month later, all the elementary and middle schools in the city were gearing up for the new school year.

On that particular day, Trevis opted not to wear his work uniform. Instead, he dressed in his everyday attire, a crisp white T-shirt paired with jeans, presenting himself as a tall, well-groomed young man.

He took my hand and accompanied me to school, assuring me, "I'll be here to pick you up later, Kathryn."

I nodded in acknowledgment but couldn't resist asking, "Trevis, aren't you going to school too?"

Considering the timing of the school year's start, it seemed natural for him to be attending school as well.

His expression briefly stiffened, but he quickly flashed a reassuring smile and replied, "Once I drop you off, I'll head to school for my own registration."

My jaw dropped in surprise, and I blurted out, "Wow, Harvard is way closer to our place than I thought!"

No need to travel across states, it's right here in the city.

He chuckled and nodded in agreement.

As he turned away, I called out to him from behind, shouting loudly, "Trevis, you need to study hard, and so will I!"

He paused for a moment, waved without turning back, and left.

For quite some time, I was under the sway of this illusion.

Until...

A girl barged into our house.

6

On that day, she stood there in a white dress, her eyes slightly red, staring directly at Trevis.

"Trevis, why did you give up?" she asked. "Do you know how disappointed Mr. Peterson was when he heard the news? You clearly did so well in your exams!"

He sat with his head down against the wall, not uttering a word.

The girl persisted, "What about me? I worked so hard to get into Harvard just to be with you at the same university. Why are you giving up?"

She took out a check from her bag and approached Trevis, placing it in his hand.

"I know about Mrs. Lewis… Here's some money for your college expenses. You don't have to repay me, but..."

Trevis finally reacted. He pushed her away and handed the check back.

"Lucy, thank you for your kindness, but I can't accept this," he said.

Lucy covered her face and cried. "You're always like this."

I felt a wave of unease.

I stepped out of the room and hugged Trevis.

"Trevis, you mentioned you were going to college, right?" I looked deep into his eyes, hoping for honest reply.

It seemed like he realized that he couldn't keep it from me any longer. He gently touched my head and confessed, "Massachusetts is thousands of miles away. How could I leave you behind?"

My eyes welled up with tears.

Lucy, who had noticed my presence, quickly grasped the situation, her face registering shock.

"You... sister? Wait, where did this sister come from?" she exclaimed.

"You—this is all because of her?" Trevis's gaze shifted towards Lucy, his tone growing colder.

"Lucy, please leave. This doesn't concern you," he said.

Lucy left the room, but as she walked away, she shot me a jealous and resentful look.

I was feeling somewhat afraid, and Trevis noticed it, so he stood protectively in front of me.

After she left, Trevis brought me to the desk and began explaining the question to me. His voice was gentle and soothing, flowing naturally like a calm stream. However, as I listened, tears welled up in my eyes, and I couldn't help but cry.

Trevis, he was exceptionally intelligent, capable of tackling even the most challenging questions. If not for me, he should have been enjoying a top-tier education at a prestigious institution, continuing to be that prodigious talent.

With teary eyes, I confessed, "Trevis, I feel like I'm a burden to you."

In that moment, I wished I had never been rescued from those traffickers.

Trevis wiped away my tears and replied sincerely,

"Kathryn, that's not true.

“You're the family I have chosen for myself.

“You're all I have now."