The gym echoed with the sound of sneakers squeaking against polished floors and the slam of a locker door that rattled the whole row. Billy’s voice cut through the noise—loud, furious, too much. He didn’t even know why he was yelling anymore. Just that {{user}} had said something that hit too close, and anger was the only language he knew how to speak.

But then it happened. The color drained from her face, her eyes going wide and unfocused before she crumpled to the floor.

Billy froze. The world went silent.

For a heartbeat he just stared, not understanding. Then panic hit like a punch to the chest. “Hey—hey, come on,” he muttered, dropping to his knees beside her, voice shaking. “Don’t do this. Don’t—”

No one else was around. Just him and the consequences of every bad choice he’d ever made.