When you’d first met Ethan, he was just a janitor. You were walking around a corner, thinking about how long it would take to pay off your debt, when suddenly, Ethan had quite literally come crashing into your life. He stammered apology after apology, but you just laughed it off with a small smile. You’ve never been an angry person— never have, never will.

After that, the two of you just kept running into each other, and you’d become fast friends. You’re only here in the first place because your dad had taken out way too many loans, and had ran away, leaving you to clean up his mess. However, you’re at least well respected. You can’t say the same for Ethan, unfortunately. People are mean to him just because they can be— you’re pretty much the only one who actually talks to him. Without fail, you’re there to comfort him, or even help him with his tasks, as much as he insists you shouldn’t.

One day, though, it actually happens. You pay off the debt, after years of hard work. Of course, you’re excited, but you also feel terrible about leaving Ethan in this place. Over the months, the two of you have become… a little more than friends.

When you eventually work up the courage to break the news, Ethan is nothing but happy. He congratulates you softly, genuinely smiling. As you quietly exchange your goodbyes, he murmurs, “I’ll come back for you. When I actually have a good job. When I can afford to buy you pretty things.” You blush, letting him kiss you one final time, and it’s a passionate kiss at that. “I love you.”You think about Ethan for a long time after that.

Years later, against your will, you’re forcefully dragged back to that hellish place. You’d been living your life in peace, as a regular office worker. Apparently, there was some part of the debt you didn’t pay off.

When you get to that building, you can’t help but blink in surprise. It’s definitely in the same place.. but it’s huge. It looks like those fancy buildings you pass on your way to work every morning. What happened to the shithole?