Ethan lay on Damien's bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, letting the dull glow of the dim light spill over him as if it could wash away the exhaustion gnawing at his bones. It had been a week—a full, grueling week—since he'd walked out of his father's house. At first, there had been relief, a lightness in his step as he left behind the walls that had seemed to close in on him. But now, staying at Damien's, that feeling was beginning to fade, replaced by a raw, constant ache that he couldn't shake.
Damien's place was small, cluttered with piles of books and clothes strewn across the floor, a familiar chaos that felt warm and lived-in compared to the cold, sterile mansion Ethan had called home. There was comfort in the clutter, in Damien's easy laugh, in the way he slouched into his worn armchair and talked about everything and nothing. And yet, beneath it all, Ethan felt a gnawing emptiness that Damien's companionship could only temporarily cover.
Damien's voice interrupted his thoughts, soft but firm as he came over, settling onto the edge of the bed with a sigh. "Ethan," he began carefully, as if testing the waters. Ethan's gaze shifted to him, noting the concern etched on his friend's face, the way his brow was furrowed slightly, his mouth set in a thin line. "Look, you've been here a week now. And… I'm glad to have you, really. But… don't you think it's time to… maybe talk to your dad?"
Ethan's face hardened, his jaw tightening at the suggestion. "There's nothing to talk about," he replied, his tone clipped. "He's made it pretty clear where he stands, Damien. He doesn't want anything to do with me."
Damien's shoulders slumped slightly, but he didn't back down. "Ethan, you're his son. Maybe he just… needs time to adjust. People can be stubborn, yeah, but they can change. Family can… surprise you."
Ethan shook his head, his fingers digging into the fabric of the bedspread. "Not him. He doesn't care, Damien. He never really did." He felt his throat tighten, memories bubbling up that he'd tried to keep buried. The cold stares, the way his father had looked at him when he'd finally confessed his truth. Like he was some stranger, like he'd betrayed him.
"Look, I'm not saying he's right. I'm just saying maybe… maybe there's a chance he'll come around," Damien said, placing a hand on Ethan's shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Maybe if you just try to talk to him again, he'll see that he's wrong. Maybe this time, he'll actually listen."
Ethan met Damien's gaze, the familiar, steady kindness in his friend's eyes a stark contrast to the chaos in his own mind. "And what if he doesn't?" he murmured, his voice barely a whisper. "What if… he never does? What if he'll always look at me like that?"
Damien sighed, letting his hand fall away as he looked at Ethan with a mixture of sympathy and frustration. "Then you'll know you tried, Ethan. And maybe that'll make it easier to move forward." He paused, his gaze softening. "I just… I don't want you to have regrets. You're strong, but this… this isn't something you can just run from forever."
Ethan's mouth twisted in a bitter smile. "Running doesn't feel like a choice. More like survival."
Damien sat there for a moment, letting the silence hang between them, before finally reaching over and pulling Ethan into a hug. "Whatever happens, you've got me. You know that, right?"
Ethan nodded against his friend's shoulder, his throat tight as he fought back the sting of tears. "Yeah… I know." He pulled back, managing a faint smile, grateful for the solid, unwavering presence of his friend. "I'll… go tomorrow. Just to see."
Damien's face broke into a smile, his relief evident as he clapped Ethan on the shoulder. "Good. That's all I ask. Besides, I'll be here when you need me to complain about him after." He chuckled, trying to lighten the mood, and Ethan couldn't help but smile, feeling a glimmer of warmth in the midst of his turmoil.
Damien stood, brushing off his jeans. "Alright, I'm gonna head to the store, grab us some food. Anything you want?"
Ethan shrugged. "Whatever you pick is fine. I'm not picky."
"Alright," Damien replied, throwing him a grin as he headed toward the door. "Stay out of trouble, yeah? I'll be back soon."
The door closed softly behind him, and once again, the apartment was quiet, save for the faint hum of the fridge and the occasional sound of traffic outside. Ethan took a deep breath, the stillness settling over him, thick and suffocating. Alone with his thoughts again, he pulled out his phone, his gaze drifting to one contact in particular.
David.
His heart clenched at the sight of the name. He hadn't heard from David since the night his father had discovered the truth. Not a single call, not a text—nothing. He'd reached out time and again, his messages growing more desperate with each unanswered attempt. And now, as he stared at the screen, the ache in his chest felt sharper, like a fresh wound that refused to heal.
He pressed the call button, his breath catching as he listened to the phone ring, each passing second a weight bearing down on him. "Come on, David… please pick up," he murmured, his voice thick with a hope that was quickly fading. But once again, the call went to voicemail, the empty silence on the other end like a slap in the face.
Defeated, Ethan lowered the phone, letting it slip from his grasp onto the bed. The reality of David's silence settled over him, heavy and suffocating. He lay back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, the tears he'd held back finally spilling over, trailing silently down his cheeks as he closed his eyes, letting the exhaustion consume him.
Time passed in a haze, the minutes blurring together as he lay there, his mind drifting aimlessly between memories and regrets. The sound of footsteps outside barely registered, and it wasn't until the door opened and Damien's voice broke through the quiet that Ethan stirred, blinking up at his friend with bleary eyes.
"Hey… you alright?" Damien asked, concern etched on his face as he set the groceries down, studying Ethan's tear-streaked face.
Ethan managed a small nod, his voice hoarse. "Yeah. Just… needed a moment."
Damien's expression softened, and he walked over, pulling Ethan into a comforting hug. "You'll get through this, Ethan. I promise. You're stronger than you think."
And for the first time in days, as he leaned into his friend's embrace, Ethan felt a faint glimmer of
hope. It wasn't much, but for now, it was enough.