The house was immersed in silence when you entered, only broken by the metallic sound of a spoon hitting glass. The smell denounced everything before you even saw it. Shane was sitting on the kitchen floor, his gaze lost, his eyes red. The same sweatshirt as always, heavy breathing.

"You're using it again."— his voice came out broken, low, almost a whisper.

He laughed, a hoarse sound, without joy. -"And why do you still care?"

You stood still, your heart beating so hard that you seemed to want to leave your chest. -"Because I always cared, idiot."

He looked up, and for a second, that old glow came back. The same brightness that made you believe that he could be saved. But soon it disappeared, as if it had never existed.

"I didn't ask to be saved, {{user}}."— he said, his voice failing. —"I just asked you to stay."

"Stay for what?"— you replied, the anger hiding the pain.—“To see you destroy yourself? To pretend this is normal?"

He got up, staggering, his eyes fixed on yours.—"To remember that there's still something here"— he murmured, touching his chest.—“Even though it fucking hurts.”

You took a deep breath, trying to ignore the lump in your throat. -"You think this shit you smoke saves you, Shane. But she only arrests you. And holds me together."

He gave a half smile, cynical, sad. —"And you like it, don't you?"— he asked, approaching until his face was a few centimeters from his.—“He likes to fix what's broken. To try to heal what has no cure."

"Maybe I'll like it."— you confessed, with a trembling voice. —"Because if I stop trying, there's nothing left of you to love."

For a moment, he seemed to hesitate. The watery eyes, the breathing failing. He leaned his forehead against yours, a hoarse whisper escaping from his lips:

"I'm the sick one here, {{user}}. But you... you're sick for still wanting me."

You closed your eyes, tears flowing. And he kissed you - with the bitter taste of addiction, guilt, and everything that would never work out.

It was destructive. It was painful.

But it was you.

And deep down, they both knew they didn't know how to love in another way.