The next day at school, Ben noticed her red eyes immediately.
"Are you okay, Lily?" he asked, his face full of genuine concern.
She nodded, trying to keep her voice steady. "I'm fine."
Ben didn't push her, but he sat beside her the entire day, cracking jokes and making faces at her during lunch until she finally cracked a smile.
Somehow, he knew just how to bring her back from the dark places.
The years went by, and as they grew older, Lily and Ben's friendship only grew stronger.
They knew each other's quirks, secrets, and dreams. Ben would often drag her along on little adventures after school, from exploring the woods behind his house to searching for "hidden treasures" he was sure were buried somewhere in the playground.
One rainy afternoon, when they were twelve, they took shelter under a large tree, watching the storm roll in. Ben looked over at her, a mischievous glint in his eye.
"Wanna know a secret?" he asked, leaning close as if he was about to reveal the meaning of life.
Lily tilted her head. "What is it?"
He grinned. "I think you're my best friend, Lily."
She blinked, surprised by his honesty. They had been friends for years, but hearing it out loud made her heart swell in a way she didn't quite understand.
"You're my best friend, too," she replied, smiling shyly.
Ben punched her arm lightly. "Good. Now, don't go ditching me when you become all famous or whatever."
Lily laughed. "I'm not going anywhere, Ben. I promise."
But as they turned fourteen, things at home for Lily became even more unbearable.
Dan's temper was explosive now, and Alice had grown completely indifferent, barely speaking to her at all.
Lily spent more and more time at Ben's house, his family welcoming her in with open arms.
One evening, Ben noticed her staring at the ground, her face clouded with worry.
"What's going on, Lily?" he asked softly, nudging her shoulder.
She hesitated, biting her lip. She'd never told him the full story about her home life, about the way she was treated.
But in that moment, the weight of it felt too heavy to carry alone.
"It's just... it's rough at home," she admitted, her voice barely a whisper.
Ben's face hardened, and he looked at her with a seriousness she'd never seen before. "Does he... do they hurt you?"
Lily shook her head quickly, not wanting him to worry too much. "No, it's just... they don't really want me around. They're angry all the time. I feel like... like I don't matter."
Ben's fists clenched, his jaw tightening. "Lily, you do matter. To me, you matter a lot."
Hearing him say that filled her with warmth, a feeling she rarely experienced at home.
She smiled, blinking back the tears that threatened to spill over.
"Thank you, Ben," she whispered.
He pulled a silly face, trying to lighten the mood. "Hey, no crying allowed! I'm not good with all that emotional stuff. Just know that I'll always be here, okay?"
She laughed, wiping her eyes. "Okay."
The next day, Dan noticed her smile as she walked through the door.
For whatever reason, it seemed to set him off. He looked at her with a glare that could cut steel.
"Think you're special, don't you?" he sneered.
Lily felt her stomach twist. She didn't answer, just kept her head down, hoping he'd leave her alone. But he stepped closer, towering over her.
"Don't think that just because you have friends you can act however you want in this house," he said coldly.
"Yes, sir," she whispered, her voice trembling.
That night, as she lay in bed, she thought about Ben's words, how he'd said she mattered, how he'd promised to be there.
And as the dark surrounded her, she held onto that memory, the thought of his goofy smile and the way he'd stuck up for her.
In the shadows of her room, with her heart heavy and her eyes closed, she clung to her best friend's promise, a flicker of light in a world that felt endlessly dark.