The rain poured down on the city like a relentless curtain, casting a gloomy shadow over the streets and alleyways. In a small, rundown apartment, a young boy named Ethan huddled on a worn-out couch, trying to escape the chill that seeped into his bones. His eyes, a deep shade of blue, stared blankly at the wall as he listened to the sound of his mother's muffled sobs coming from the next room.
Ethan's mother, Sarah, had been crying a lot lately. She would lock herself in her room, and Ethan would hear her sobbing and whispering to herself. He didn't know what was wrong, but he knew it had something to do with his father. His father had left them a few months ago, and since then, his mother had been struggling to make ends meet.
As the rain continued to pour down outside, Ethan's stomach growled with hunger. He hadn't eaten dinner yet, and he knew his mother wouldn't be able to cook anything tonight. She was too busy crying and feeling sorry for herself.
Just then, the door to his mother's room creaked open, and she stumbled out, her eyes red and puffy. "Ethan, I'm sorry," she whispered, collapsing onto the couch beside him. "I'm so sorry."
Ethan didn't know what to say. He just wrapped his arms around his mother, holding her close as she cried. He felt a pang of sadness in his chest, knowing that his mother was hurting and that he couldn't do anything to help her.
As the night wore on, Ethan's mother finally fell asleep, exhausted from crying. Ethan gently laid her down on the couch and covered her with a blanket. He then walked over to the window and stared out into the rain-soaked night, wondering what the future held for him and his mother.
Little did Ethan know, his life was about to take a dramatic turn. A mysterious letter had arrived earlier that day, addressed to him. It was a letter that would change everything.