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Poppet's house was a small bungalow. White bricks and vines spread over the old, yellow stained walls from heavy rain. Flowers dangled from the hazel roof and glass windows. The garden was properly tended, there were no flowers and potted plants wilting, nor drained of color.

Chase has spent all his life on the pale moon. Seeing the beautiful color burst of Poppet's garden felt like a revival of senses. He felt like living in a fantasy. It was almost magical.

"I like your plants," Chase said, smiling. "They're bold. Remarkable."

Poppet looked back at him, stunned. "Bold?"

"Mm...Colorful."

"Oh." Her face fell to a frown. "Thanks."

The two went inside her humble abode. The designs of Poppet's home were as bright and beautiful as her garden. Chase was again, dumbstruck. They headed over to the kitchen. Poppet grabbed a box of cookies from the cupboard and placed them on the wooden table. Chase didn't know what to do, so he made himself useful and sat quietly as he waited.

Poppet sat on a chair across Chase's, her hands full with a bottle of milk and two cups for them to drink in.

"You do live alone," Chase said, and drank his milk.

"Maybe I do," Poppet replied.

Chase let out a chuckle but as seconds passed, his face turned bleak. "Where's your family?"

"Why should I tell you? We've just met." Poppet leaned back on her chair and broke a cookie in half. "You could be trouble."

"If I was trouble, you'd be dead-or screaming your lungs off under a sac."

"Do people do that in the moon?" Poppet leaned forward, invested in the guy's words.

"I've seen dreams."

Poppet smiled. "If you're not trouble, then what are you?"

"The moon thinks I'm a blessing." Chase let out a snort. "Right now, it doesn't matter. You need help. I could be anything you want me to be."

Silence crept in again. No words wanted to escape from their lips. They're left thinking, and staring at the wooden table as if fishing for words in an ocean of puzzled letters. It was almost a miracle for Poppet to have said anything.

"You... don't have to be anything for me." Poppet glanced at Chase and went back to looking down at her lap. "I don't need help. There's nothing in me that needs helping."

She rose from her chair and put her cup in the sink. She grabbed a cap and placed it on her head as she walked towards the door.

"If you didn't need help, the moon wouldn't have sent me," Chase said, and stood up from his chair.

Poppet stopped walking and looked back at Chase. "Well, I guess the moon's wrong."

"The moon's never wrong."

Poppet took a deep breath and slammed the door shut.