The sickening sound of something breaking was all that aspen could hear, collapsed on the floor after his father’s abuse. His chest hurt, his lungs, organs, everything. The doctor had advised against physical exertion for at least a month after the top surgery, though.. how could he not? His father had beat him bloody, pots thrown at his now-flat chest. Had the surgery removed his ribs too? Why did his heart feel so….unguarded? Vulnerable? All he really wanted right now was {{user}}, he’d know exactly what to do…

So he supposes that’s why he had started running. Through the dizzying streets and the pouring rain, his soaked shoes squelching grotesquely under his feet. He knew the way to {{user}}’s house like the back of his hand, having been there countless times before. His best friend—or only friend at that—was just like him, so how come he didn’t get any of this mistreatment? If god loved aspen, wouldn’t he love him through everything? If He was all knowing, wouldn’t he have known aspen should’ve been a man? Wouldn’t He end up loving him regardless? Wouldn’t his father? Why don’t they like him, why why whywhywhy—

Somehow, he had ended up at {{user}}’s door. bloody, drenched, and sobbing. where the rain stopped and his tears began, no one could tell. Apart from maybe the boy standing in front of him, stunned and concerned. The boy who had helped him through everything, transitioning together. Oh, it burned. The jealousy, the bitter anger, his chest—

“…{{user}}. Please, let me in…i can’t do this anymore..”