I don't remember when it was the last time he wanted to do something with his little sister. We went for mushrooms at night. He said that to detect the best ones, it was necessary to do so because they shone in the dark.

We crossed a path of the forest without carrying any light. If we did, we wouldn't be able to capture their brightness.

He took me down a path I didn't know, and I got a little scared. Even in the darkness I noticed that he was glancing at me. It was getting darker and darker, perhaps a cloud covered the moon.

-Where are the mushrooms? Is it far?

It took a while for him to answer, it was weird.

-No.

Although his response was short, he didn't stop looking at me. He had never looked at me like that. My brother ignored me most of the time, and when he didn't it was to insult me.

-I'm cold. Let's go home. You made it up, about the mushrooms that shine.

The only thing that shone in the darkness were his eyes. With his arm he covered me entirely. I was still shivering with cold. He pressed me harder and harder, forcing me to go his way and almost making me stumble. He put his hand on my neck and stroked it, it was freezing cold.

A few minutes later, I sneezed three times. He stopped short. After being surprised, his look became familiar, the same as always, and he said in a low voice:

-I got confused. It wasn't here, let's go home.

Not knowing completely why, I felt immensely relieved.