Rebirth of the Broken Luna A Second Chance at Luna's Heart novel Chapter 294

Chapter 294

RILEY

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“I don’t know how to be his brother,” I admitted, the words coming out quieter than I’d intended. “I don’t know how to be anyone’s son. Sophia trained me to survive, to make her happy, to fulfill her dreams of being Xenois mate and I failed her, because I got a change of heart, and Andy… Andy showed me things that made me question everything I thought I understood about loyalty and love. I’m not sure there’s enough left of me to build relationships on.”

Dr. Sloane’s expression shifted from professional concern to something more personal, more genuine.

“You’re five years old, Riley. You’ve survived things that would break most adults, but you’re still here, still fighting for the people you care about. That tells me there’s far more of you left than you realize.”

I wanted to believe her, wanted to think that the hollow feeling in my chest was temporary rather than permanent.

But every time I tried to access the emotions she was talking about – tried to feel affection for Ollie or gratitude toward Lumina and Xenois – all I found was exhaustion and the distant recognition that I should be feeling something.

The door opened, interrupting our conversation, and Lumina stepped into the room with that careful, controlled expression she wore when she was managing my behavior. She had a lunch tray in her hands and a tablet tucked under her arm the next phase of our daily routine. But there was something different about her today, a subtle shift in her posture that spoke of resolved business.

–

“Time to eat,” she said simply, setting the tray on the rolling table beside my chair.

I looked at the food – a sandwich, fruit, chips, and a bottle of water – then at Dr. Sloane, who was watching this interaction with obvious interest.

The psychologist had seen our “arrangement” in action before, had documented the way I responded to clear expectations and consequences, but I could tell she still found it troubling.

“I’ll eat,” I said to Lumina, not because I was hungry but because refusing would mean losing my afternoon time with Lake. “But I want to stay until visiting hours end.”

“If you finish everything on the tray and let Dr. Sloane complete her evaluation session,” Lumina replied, checking something on her

tablet.

“And you need to take your medication on schedule.”

It was a negotiation, but one with predetermined outcomes. I would comply because the alternative was unacceptable, and she would follow through on her promises because consistency was the only thing holding our fragile family structure together.

As I began eating the sandwich without any vigour, just biting and swallowing it, I caught Lumina watching me with an expression I couldn’t quite interpret. There was satisfaction there – I was cooperating, following the rules she’d established – but also something that

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Chapter 294

looked almost like grief and guilt. Like she was not happy at this being the way we communicated.

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Dr. Sloane cleared her throat, drawing both our attention back to the session. “I’d like to talk about what happens when you get to

Silver Creek,” she said. “The change in environment, the return to familiar places, I learned that your mum…Sophia brought you to silver

creek and you guys had a home together, and you went to school- it might trigger some unexpected emotional responses.”

I chewed methodically, considering her warning. Silver Creek represented the life I’d been building before everything fell apart –

school, friends, the feeling of belonging somewhere.

But that Riley, the one who had been slowly learning to trust and connect with others, who looked at everyone with trust despite

being punished for failing to carry out my missions, felt like someone I’d known once rather than someone I actually was.

“I’ll manage,” I said, though even I could hear how automatic the response sounded.

“Will you?” Dr. Sloane pressed gently.

“Because part of healing means allowing yourself to grieve not just for what you’ve lost, but for who you used to be before all this

trauma. The person you were before Sophia’s death isn’t coming back, Riley. But that doesn’t mean the person you’re becoming can’t be

just as whole.”

The words hit something deep in my chest, a recognition of truth that the medication couldn’t completely suppress. I wasn’t going to

wake up one morning and suddenly be the boy who had been excited about having a twin brother, who had tentatively started thinking of

Lumina and Xenois as parents rather than the people who controlled my access to basic needs.

That version of myself was gone, buried under trauma.

But maybe Dr. Sloane was right about something else – maybe there was still enough of me left to build something new, even if it

looked nothing like what any of us had hoped for.

I finished my lunch in silence, took my medication without protest, and submitted to the rest of Dr. Sloane’s evaluation questions.

When Lumina finally left us alone again, I returned to my vigil beside Lake’s bed, my hand finding its familiar place on his arm.

“We’re going home soon,” I told his unconscious form, though I wasn’t sure either of us would recognize the place we were returning

“Whatever happens, we’ll figure it out together. I know this sounds selfish, considering you got hurt because of me, but I really need

you to wake up. I’m scared of doing this alone.”

The monitors continued their steady beeping, and somewhere down the hall, I could hear the distant sounds of my family planning

our future. It wasn’t the life any of us had imagined, but it was the one we had. And for now, that would have to be enough.

Through the window, I could see the sun setting over the city, casting long shadows across the parking lot where our transport

vehicles would arrive tomorrow morning.

But Lake would be with me, even if he couldn’t wake up to help me navigate it all. And maybe that was enough to start with.

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Reborn From Regret A Second Chance at Luna’s Heart