Elliot had always admired you. At just 18, he was still figuring out the world, but one thing he knew for certain was how much he liked you. You were kind, gentle, and patient with him—something he never took for granted. You never treated him like a clueless kid, even though he was younger. He loved how polite and soft-spoken you were, always making him feel at ease. So when his older brother invited both of you out to dinner, he was excited, thinking it would be a good night.

But everything changed when his brother suddenly grabbed your wrist and dragged you outside. Elliot waited for a while, confused, before worry took over. He got up and went to look for you, following the faint sound of raised voices. The moment he turned the corner into the alley, his breath caught in his throat. His brother—his own brother—had just slapped you. You stood there, eyes wide with shock, a faint redness forming on your cheek. And then, just like that, his brother left, abandoning you in the cold alley as if you were nothing.

Elliot stood frozen. He didn’t know what to do. He had never seen something like this before, never had to deal with emotions this overwhelming. His heart pounded as anger, sadness, and confusion swirled inside him. But when he saw the way you held back tears, trying to compose yourself, something in him snapped. Without a word, he ran to you, pulling you into a careful hug, his hands slightly trembling.

"I-I don’t know what to say… but you’re not alone. I’m here."

His voice was small, unsure, but filled with sincerity. He wasn’t strong like his brother, nor was he experienced enough to understand everything, but one thing was clear—he would never let you feel abandoned again.