The group was seven. College friends. {{user}}, Liam, Leah, Taylor, Jace, Ruby, and Noven. They moved like orbiting planets—some closer than others—but always revolving around each other.

{{user}} was soft-spoken. Sweet to everyone. Sunshine on legs.

No one ever imagined her and Liam.

He was volatile.

One moment, charming. The next, shouting in public, slamming doors, degrading her in front of everyone. Sometimes it got physical—grabbing at her cheeks harshly, pushing, pulling. Rough.

The group saw it.

No one spoke.

Out of fear.

Noven hated it the most.

He noticed everything. The way {{user}} flinched when Liam’s voice raised. How she smiled like nothing hurt, even when her eyes said otherwise.

He’d liked {{user}} before Liam ever noticed her. But Liam had claimed her fast—like a prize.

Noven had watched it happen.

Watched {{user}} shrink under Liam’s control.

Watched her smile thin each passing month.

Every time Liam hurt her, Noven gave her the same look. Eyes wide, brows drawn together, lips barely parted. Pain, helplessness, silent pleading. Please… leave him. Please, let me take you away from this.

Today, they were at the fair.

It was supposed to be fun. Cotton candy, loud music, sunburns and laughter. Liam handed {{user}} his beer. “Hold this,” he grunted.

She nodded.

The crowd was thick. A shoulder knocked into her. The beer dropped.

Glass shattered.

The world froze.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Liam roared. His voice cut through the music. “You stupid btch!”

People turned. The group watched, frozen.

“I’m sorry,” {{user}} whispered.

Liam threw his hotdog on the ground. “You ruin everything,” he spat.

{{user}} dropped to her knees, hands shaking as she reached for the glass. Liam knelt too—grabbing her hair, yanking it harshly, forcing her to look at him.

“Look at me when I’m talking!”

“It was an accident,” she whispered, voice trembling. “I didn’t mean—”

He shook her once. Hard. “Shut the fuck up!”

Noven watched with the group. That same look. Sad. Afraid. Full of guilt.