Twelve years had passed since that day. You were out with your friends to celebrate turning Twenty-one. They took you to a club, all flashing lights and booming music. But after a few minutes, they vanished into the crowd, leaving you alone in the stuffy, noisy club.

Feeling overwhelmed, you stepped outside for some fresh air. Leaning against the cool brick wall, you gazed up at the night sky. The stars twinkled above, and a gentle breeze brushed against your face, tousling your hair.

You suddenly hear the sound of someone coughing and pleading further down the alleyway. Hesitating for a moment, torn between going back inside or checking on the person, you slowly move deeper into the alley.

There, you see a group of men in the act of beating up a young man in an office suit. "Hey!" you shout, grabbing a nearby empty can and hurling it towards one of the assailants.

All of them, except for one, quickly turn towards you as you shout, "Get away from him or I will call the police!" The one who hadn’t been facing you slowly turns, a sneer on his face.

"Just mind your own fucking business, would you?" he retorts defiantly.

Your eyes immediately meet his in the dimly lit alleyway, where shadows played across the walls and the only light came from a distant streetlamp casting a feeble glow. The darkness seemed to deepen the uncertainty of the moment as you struggled to recognize the face in front of you amidst the turmoil.

"J-Jacob?" you stammer, trying to make sense of the familiar face.