Inside the small grocery shop, she unfolded her worn pouch with trembling fingers.

Emptying its contents into her hand, her heart clenched as she saw the two solitary coins glinting in the harsh fluorescent light. The grim reality reflected in the shopkeeper's brief glance towards her made her press her lips together in silent apprehension.

With a dismissive flick of his wrist, the shopkeeper scooped some rice into a plastic bag, plopping it onto the counter with a dull, soft thud.

His gaze followed the coins as they were gingerly placed on the counter, his brow furrowing into a disapproving frown.

"You think you can waste my time with this?" He growled, pointing to the paltry offering. His tone was harsh, his displeasure evident.

A tremor passed through the woman as she attempted to plead with the irate shopkeeper, her voice quavering with desperation, "I know this isn't enough. Please, let me have it as a loan. I'll pay you back tomorrow."

A scoff echoed in the small confines of the shop, "Who gives a loan to a dirt bag like you?" The shopkeeper retorted, his words dripping with disdain.

He grabbed the bag of rice, dumping most of its contents back into the sack before tossing the now nearly empty bag back onto the counter, "This is all you get for this money."

Her pleas turned desperate, "I-I lost my job today because of a misunderstanding. I will find another job soon, I promise. This...this isn't even enough for my son," Her voice wavered on the last word, a sharp note of fear and despair cutting through the silence of the shop.

The shopkeeper slammed his palm on the counter, his face contorting in a cruel sneer. He glanced pointedly at her leg, a mocking glint in his eyes, "Who would hire a broken thing like you to clean their toilet when there are younger, healthier people ready to work? You won't find a job even after a month, I'm certain. Your boy will survive on this rice. As for you, it doesn't matter if you starve. His life's ruined either way."

He pointed towards the exit, his voice taking on an even more menacing tone, "Now scram, before I lose my patience."

From his waiting spot, Andrei watched with wide, worried eyes. The shopkeeper's raised voice reached his ears, making his heart pound with apprehension, though he didn't hear what he said.

He then saw his mother coming out with a hunched back as if her shoulders were burdened with something heavy.

As he watched her limp back, he immediately ran up to her, taking the small bag from her hand, as if trying to lessen her burden, "Mama…this seems less than usual. What happened?" He asked with innocent curiosity.

He had always been attentive, his young mind adept at picking up patterns.

He had noticed the usual amount of rice his mother brought home, and the lesser amount didn't escape his keen eyes.

His mother's lips trembled, her heart breaking at his innocent inquiry. She mustered a smile, warm but fragile like a dying ember, "I ate at work, my dear. This...this is for you." Her voice was a comforting murmur against the encroaching darkness of the night.

Andrei's face morphed into an expression of realization, his mouth forming a perfect 'O', "That's good. I have been feeling hungry for a while."

—

*growl*

Inside, Andrei was huddled in a corner, his small body shivering slightly in the chilly night air.

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The small portion of rice he'd been given was long gone, his stomach still growling its protest at the lack of sustenance. He sighed, his young heart heavy with the understanding that the pangs of hunger were a companion he had to endure until dawn.

Their humble abode was a single room, barely large enough to hold their modest belongings.

The space was cramped and dimly lit, bearing the evidence of countless hardships, with a kitchen corner that had seen more than its fair share of wear and tear.

Yet, despite its meager size and the grime etched into its walls, this room was home to Andrei and his mother.

Outside, under the indifferent glow of the moon, he didn't know his mother was locked in a heated conversation with their landlord.

The woman was stout, with large glasses that magnified her hard gaze.

Her expressions were cold and indifferent as she delivered the dreadful news, with an air of finality that left no room for negotiation.

"Are you serious? We...we have to vacate by tomorrow?" Her voice trembled with despair. Her tired eyes darted around, a desperate attempt to find some form of empathy in the landlord's face.

The landlord clicked her tongue in impatience, "Are you deaf? As I said before, an F Rank Hunter from around here wants this space to start his business. Hunters are more important than any common man, let alone beggars like you. Imagine the prestige I would get after people hear a Hunter is procuring my services. Do you get it?"

A sense of desperation gripped Andrei's mother, causing her to fall to her knees. She grabbed the landlord's feet, her voice choked with tears.

"Please... reconsider. I lost my job, but my son can't survive on the streets in this cold. I haven't eaten since yesterday... If we lose this home, finding a job will become even more impossible," she pleaded, her voice a thin wisp in the cold night air.

The landlord's face twisted into an expression of revulsion, "How dare you beg me to reconsider, after you've lost your job?" she spat, a bitter laugh leaving her lips, "It's a good thing that Hunter came to me with an offer. Otherwise, a beggar like you would've cheated me out of an entire month's rent!"

The raised voices outside drew Andrei from the safety of their home. Fear gripped him as he slowly approached the door, his small body trembling.

His heart nearly stopped as he saw his mother kneeling at the feet of the scary lady. Why was his mother doing that?

But what came next was worse. The landlord's foot swung back, connecting with his mother and sending her sprawling on the ground.

Andrei's heart clenched in his chest, and he cried out, "Mama!"

Ignoring the sting of fear, he rushed towards her, but his little legs gave way, and he stumbled down the two steps that led to their home.

"Ahh!" A gasp of pain escaped him as his knees scraped against the hard ground, a quiet whimper echoing into the night.

His fall caused his mother to whirl around, her heart twisting as she saw her son's tears and the raw skin of his scraped knees, "Andrei!" she cried out as she rushed to him and helped him sit while taking a look at his injured knees.

As Andrei's soft sobs filled the night air, his mother drew him close, her hand gently soothing his quaking shoulders. His tears felt like a bitter potion, stinging her heart as they ran down his cherubic face.

The landlord looked down at them, a disdainful scoff leaving her lips, "I'll be back early in the morning. Don't push your luck, or I will have someone throw you two out," With that final warning, she turned her back on them, her retreating figure swallowed by the darkness of the night.

Andrei's mother watched her walk away, the landlord's heartless words echoing in her ears. Her gaze dropped to her son, his young face marred by sorrow.

The sight filled her with an overwhelming sadness, but she forced herself to wear a comforting smile, "Andrei, it's okay. Your knees... it's nothing bad," she reassured him, her voice steady despite the turmoil within her.

She helped him up, her frail arms supporting his little body, "Let's clean your knees, okay?" Her tone was gentle as Andrei slowly nodded, sniffling while entering the house with her.

After a while, once her son was tucked safely into their makeshift bed, Andrei's mother hobbled her way to the kitchen.

Her legs gave out, and she slid down the rough wooden wall, collapsing onto the cold, unforgiving floor. Her features were drained of life, the despair and hopelessness within her reflected in her vacant stare.

Her stomach churned with hunger, each pang a stabbing reminder of what awaited her and her son. Her vision blurred intermittently as reality seemed to fade in and out.

Tomorrow...The word rang in her mind like a death knell. Homeless and jobless, how would they survive?

A lone tear slipped from her eye, trailing down her worn face. She turned her gaze to the knife that rested on the kitchen shelf. Its blade glinted ominously in the dim light, reflecting the agony within her soul.

Yet she quickly averted her gaze, hastily wiping her tears as if rejecting the dreadful thought that had momentarily consumed her.

She mustered the strength to stand, but as she moved, a gasp tore through her lips. Her eyes widened, and then, without a word, she crumpled to the floor, her frail body surrendering to unconsciousness.