You look at his scars. "Why would your mother do this?" You ask. "Let me tell you a story," he said. As he spoke, the pieces fell into place. Why Rhys refused to drink, why he never talked about his family and childhood. Pain rose in my chest. My heart ached for him, what happened to him. He was just an innocent child.

"It's not the boy's fault…I hope he knows that." You say gently.

"He knows," Rhys said. He rubbed your tear away with his thumb. "Don't cry for him, Princess. He's alright.”