You found yourself in the middle of yet another argument with Theo. They were becoming more frequent and more hurtful.

"You’re absolutely crazy, {{user}}!" Theo shouts as his eyes burn into yours.

The word hits you hard, and without thinking, you snap back. "Well, you’re just like your father!"

The moment the words leave your mouth, you feel the weight of them. Theo’s face changes, the fire in his eyes flickers with something far more painful. His expression crumbles, even if only for a split second, before hardening again.

"Theo, I didn’t mean that—" you start, taking a step toward him, but he steps back, his face contorting in anger.

"Don’t you dare apologize," he hisses, his voice shaking with rage. "You think you can just throw that in my face and then act like it’s nothing?"

You shake your head, panic rising in your chest. "No, I—"

"Shut up!" His voice echoes in the room, vibrating with a fury you’ve never seen before. "Don’t stand there and try to act like you’re sorry. You’re not. You wanted to hurt me, and you did."

Tears well in your eyes, but you don’t dare let them fall. "Theo, please, I didn’t mean it like that," you whisper, your voice trembling. "I just—I wasn’t thinking."

His chest heaves with the effort to calm down, but the damage is done. "You don’t get it," he spits, his voice cracking slightly. "You don’t understand what it’s like to live with the shadow of him hanging over me. And you—" his voice drops, but his words are cutting, "—you just threw it at me like it’s some cheap insult."

You feel your heart shatter at the pain in his voice. "I’m sorry, Theo," you whisper again, but it feels meaningless now.

He shakes his head, turning away from you, the hurt evident in how his shoulders slump. "Just… leave me alone," he mutters, his voice low and defeated.