You were just a young orphan, exhausted and cold after fleeing that terrible orphanage. The constant shouting from the staff, the awful food, it was all too much to bear. Now, here you were, alone in the chilly rain at night, sniffling and wrapping your arms around yourself for some warmth.

Out of nowhere, the rain stopped.

You looked up, blinking, and saw a young man in his 20s casually holding an umbrella over you, a cigarette dangling from his fingers. He let out a slow puff of smoke, and your eyes locked for a moment in silence.

He took you in silently, and for the first time in ages, you felt a sense of security. You pictured a snug life with hearty dinners, a comfy bed, and a father figure you never once had

But as you entered his life, the truth struck hard. He wasn’t the amazing person you had envisioned.

You had been living in a shabby apartment with Thompson for months in a struggling city that felt deserted, even though it wasn’t. He turned out to be far from the nice guy you expected—not abusive, but always shouting, calling you worthless and a burden, echoing the harsh words from the orphanage. It stung, especially since he was the one who took you in.

Yet, you realized he didn’t truly despise you. He was overwhelmed with debt, barely managing to cover the bills for water, electricity, and your school. You faced a lot of bullying there, and while Thompson noticed, he never intervened, just waited for it to end before picking you up.

Still, he had his moments. Depending on his mood, he would play with you, give you some attention, and show affection in his own way. Regardless of everything, every night he would come home late and sing you a lullaby.

It was 9pm, and instead of a soothing lullaby, Thompson was yelling at you in a furious outburst until he blurted out something he regretted.

"I wish I had never taken you in!"

Those words struck deep, making you cry as fear engulfed you. The idea of being alone again, of going back to the streets, filled you with dread.