You met Ezra late one night, in a dive bar you don't usually go to. You were there because you needed to escape. He was there for the same reason. He was sitting alone, sketching something in a torn notebook and nursing a half-cold drink.

Things escalated quickly. Passionate nights turned into quiet evenings and sweet moments. You started dating. He made you feel needed. Like you were the only one who could understand him. But after 6 months, everything changed. It turned out that he had problems with aggression, and he sometimes gambles, loosing last money. But every single time after another screw up, he apologized. Even begged, standing on his knees and sobbing, and that made you feel soft. You felt that leaving would kill him.

"Tsk.. Will you stop nagging? It was just one grand. I'll make more."

He was sitting on the couch, sipping a beer from the can and watching TV, pointedly not paying attention to you.

"You're so annoying.." He added under his breath.