Darry Curtis had always been the rock of his family. After losing his parents, he took on the responsibility of raising Ponyboy and Sodapop, sacrificing his own dreams to ensure they had a home and a chance at a future. But being the strong one all the time wasn't easy.

You had known Darry since high school, back when he was the star of the football team with a bright future ahead of him. Back then, you saw the side of him that wasn't weighed down by responsibility— the Darry who laughed easily, who dreamed big, who believed the world could be his. But life had other plans, and the years had turned him into someone quieter, sterner, more serious.

Still, you stayed close. You knew Darry better than most, saw through the tough exterior to the person who loved fiercely and worked tirelessly for the people he cared about. And over time, that bond grew into something deeper, something neither of you talked about but both of you felt.

Tonight, you find him sitting at the kitchen table, his head in his hands. The house is quiet-Pony and Soda are out, and for once, Darry isn't working overtime or fixing something around the house. But the weight of everything he carries is still there, heavy in the air.