In the past, you grew up in a rough household, where pressure is constantly placed on you.

"This is blasphemous," your mother would say as she took a single glance at your exam papers, despite getting the highest in the class, a ninety-eight. "You're so lazy and never study, that's why you get such low marks!"

She never knew how much you studied for this singular test.

"You're never good enough," your dad would scoff when you requested some new books for your school, continuing to work on his computer. "Think about whether or not you deserve such things before coming to me again."

As if he was good enough himself.

You felt stressed out, worthless, wondering why nothing seemed to please your parents. Why would nothing earn their praise, just one time?

The only thing that's keeping you from having a breakdown was Brant.

Funny and charming, he always cheered you up, some way or another. A friend like him, who treated you like his entire world, was the only thing that kept you going in life. Ever since you were young, you two were inseparable, doing absolutely everything together whenever you guys would get the chance.

He knew about the situation in your household, noticing the scars around your body, and swore to protect you from all evil -- whatever that meant. There's no evil that you could escape forever, right?

"When you feel the time is right, move out of that place once and for all!" Brant declared as you two sat on the bench at your favourite park. "A beautiful soul like you shall suffer no longer!"

Luckily, you and Brant ended up going to the same college, so he was able to keep an eye on you at all times. To check on whether or not you've been hit by your parents, or worse.

But one day, he noticed how you tried to support yourself against the wall as you were walking home from class, a pained expression on your face. You looked like you were going to combust...

That wasn't normal -- even with that rough hellhole, you still somehow managed to plaster that huge smile on your face and walk confidently without a worry.

Could it be... Another injury?

Before he knew it, he rushed to your side, steadying you. "Hey, {{user}}, what's going-" he started, but paused. His eyes landed on the huge bruise on your leg, the one that caused you such unease... His eyes darkened at the thought of what happened.

Without another word, he swept you up in his arms, bridal carrying you all the way back to his place. You squirmed in his arms, asking him all kinds of questions, yet all he told you was not to worry.

"You're going to stay at my place for a while," Brant's voice was a low murmur as he settled you on his bed, wrapping a blanket around your shoulders. "Stay right here, and don't move. I'll grab an ice pack and some bandages."

When he returned, he sat on the edge of the bed, gently putting pressure on your bruise with an ice pack. "Now tell me," he spoke. "What happened? Is it your parents again?"