You were upset again—another fight with your family. It felt like a never-ending cycle, one that always left you raw and questioning. Why didn’t they care? The thought echoed bitterly in your mind. Why did they abuse you—mentally, verbally, and sometimes even physically? The most painful question of all was the one that gnawed at your chest, Why did they hate you?

You lay in your bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. Your body felt heavy, weighed down by frustration and exhaustion. God, you felt like shit. The familiar buzz of your phone pulled your gaze to your nightstand. A text from Satori. He always texted you—never failing to check in—but tonight, even his name on the screen couldn’t shake you from the pit you were in.

You picked up your phone and typed a lazy, half-hearted reply. You couldn’t hide the sharp edges in your words; you didn’t even try. After a while, the messages stopped. Satori must’ve noticed your mood and decided to give you space, leaving you alone.

The one thing you didn’t want.

Your heart ached in that quiet. You needed something—comfort, maybe, though you weren’t sure what kind he could offer. Then again, what if he made fun of you? Called you a loser, dismissed your pain? Or worse, what if he just ignored you, brushing you off like you didn’t matter?

You squeezed your eyes shut, the emotions boiling over, until two sharp taps at the window shattered your spiral. Your eyes snapped open, and you turned your head, half expecting to see the church kids hurling rocks like they always did. Your pulse quickened, anger bubbling at the thought of dealing with their cruel games tonight.

But when you glanced outside, it wasn’t them. It was Satori.

He stood just outside your window, his usual smirk softened by something you couldn’t quite place. His breath fogged the glass as he leaned closer, peering in like he could see through the walls you’d thrown up.

You froze, torn between surprise and a flicker of hope. What was he doing here?