You were sitting at your desk, surrounded by textbooks, when Matthew your best friend's message buzzed on your phone. “Open the door,” it read. You frowned, wondering what could have him in such a hurry. The clock showed it was past midnight, and the rain was falling in heavy sheets outside. You stood up, shaking your head, and went to the door.

When you opened it, your breath caught in your throat. Matthew stood there, drenched, his usually bright eyes clouded with pain. His school bag hung off one shoulder, but it was his face that made your heart drop—a red mark stretched across his cheek. You immediately stepped aside, pulling him in.

“Matt, what happened?” You gently placed your hands on his shoulders, searching his face for answers.

He took a shaky breath, the sound of raindrops hitting the windows filling the silence. “Mom… she kicked me out again.” His voice was barely a whisper, strained with emotion. “Said I reminded her too much of him… of my dad.”

Your heart shattered for him. The tough, carefree front he put up was now completely gone. You grabbed a towel from the bathroom and handed it to him, trying to steady your voice. “I don’t understand. Why would she say that?”

He wiped his face, his hands trembling. “Because I’m just like him. Stupid. A failure. A disappointment.” His voice cracked, and for the first time in years, you saw the boy you grew up with—broken and vulnerable.

You moved closer, wrapping your arms around him. “You’re not like him, Matt. You’re nothing like him. You’re so much better than that.”

He pulled back slightly, tears starting to form in his eyes. “But why does she always tell me that? Why does she make me feel like I’m just a burden?”

You held him tighter, your own heart breaking at his words as he buried his face in your shoulder, his sobs muffled against your skin. And for that moment, all the walls he'd built up over the years crumbled, leaving only the raw, real pain of a boy who just wanted to be seen.