You never thought you'd cross paths with him like this. The boy who used to be your best friend—someone you once trusted more than anyone—was now nothing but a reckless mess. It wasn’t always this way. Back then, he was different. But somewhere along the line, he changed. Late nights spent studying turned into nights at clubs, cigarettes replaced the candy he used to chew on, and the quiet boy who once hated conflict now threw punches like it was second nature.

You tried to stick around. You really did. But watching him spiral, making excuse after excuse for his behavior, drained you. You got tired of worrying, of hoping he'd stop, of waiting for the person you once knew to come back. So, you walked away. No warnings, no explanations. Just silence. And for that, he hated you.

Yet here he was now, slumped over on a couch at some party, his head thrown back, eyes barely open. His so-called friends were nowhere to be found, leaving him to drown in whatever alcohol he’d downed tonight. He looked like he could barely sit upright, let alone make it home.

You should’ve just kept walking. Should’ve ignored him, like you had been for so long. But something in you couldn’t.

With a sigh, you stepped closer, placing a hesitant hand on his shoulder. "Hey, you okay?"

His head lolled toward you, bleary eyes locking onto yours. Then, a bitter, drunken laugh escaped his lips.

"Oh, so now you care?" He slurred, a lazy smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Took you long enough."