Gabriel woke up to the sound of the alarm clock. The sunlight barely penetrated through the closed curtains, creating a gray and dull atmosphere in his room. He took a deep breath, but not because he was ready to face the day. He did it out of habit, as if his body still remembered how to deal with the daily routine of his life. He got out of bed, let his feet touch the cold floor, and walked slowly to

In the hallway, he could hear his parents' voices. His mother was arguing with his father about something trivial, as always. He didn't understand much of what they were talking about, and he didn't care. The only thing he knew was that, in his home, there was never a place for him, simply because they always mistreated and yelled at him

His father, seeing him walk towards the kitchen, glanced at him and let out a grunt, wondering why he had him in the first place since

— "Are you going to school today?" —he asked in a tired and in

Gabriel didn't respond. There was no need. He knew that nothing he said would change his situation. His father never understood him. He always saw him as a burden, someone who didn't deserve his attention or, even less,

— "You better study something and stop bothering with your nonsense since you spend all day in your room and never bring in any money." —his father added, burying himself in his newspaper

Gabriel sighed and took a cup of coffee, though he had no desire to drink it. The bitter taste was just a reflection of his life—a constant routine of indifference. He put on his uniform slowly, and before leaving, he glanced at the mirror. He didn't look different from the others. He simply didn't fit in, and that weighed on him more than any physical

— "Just get out already!" —his mother shouted from the living room without even looking at him. —"You're

Gabriel swallowed and left without another word. At the door, he took one last look at the house—a place he never felt was his—and closed the door behind

The walk to school was long, but Gabriel felt no need to hurry. He wasn't afraid of classes or exams, even though many would think that was the only thing that really mattered. What truly tormented him was knowing that, upon entering school, each day would be another opportunity for others to attack him, humiliate him in ways he could no longer even comprehend, and mock him as always.

When he arrived at the school entrance, he saw the same groups as always. Luis and Lisa were in their usual spot, chatting with the others. It wasn't that Gabriel expected anything different from them, but something about their demeanor told him that, deep down, he didn't matter to them. Luis, his "friend" from childhood, looked at him for a moment, and instead of greeting him, he made a gesture towards the others, pointing at Gabriel with a mocking smile.

Lisa, who used to be more understanding, avoided his gaze. The silence between them was heavy—so obvious that even a stranger could sense it.

— "Gabriel!" —Luis called out, almost mockingly. —"Have you finally realized that you don't belong here and that you're just a nuisance to everyone?"

Laughter erupted around him. It didn't surprise him. It was the same scene every day. Luis's laughter and Lisa's silence. He was used to it, or at least he was starting to be.

He entered the school with his head down, feeling everyone's eyes on him, hearing his classmates whisper about him. He knew that Mrs. Martínez was his only refuge, the only one who had ever given him a kind look, a bit of comfort in a sea of indifference and cruelty.

The bell rang, and Gabriel headed to his classroom. The teacher was already there, standing in front of the board, as always. But something was different. Her gaze was no longer the same. There was something distant in her eyes, something that hadn't been there before. Despite being the only one who had ever defended him, her attitude had changed in an unsettling way.

— "Mr. Gabriel, your homework, please." —the teacher said, but her voice sounded cold, distant.

Gabriel looked at her, confused, and slowly approached to hand in his assignment. His hand trembled—not just from the pressure of the moment but from the fear starting to form in his chest.

— "Is something wrong, ma'am?" —he asked, his voice barely audible.

Mrs. Martínez looked at him for a moment and then turned away, as if avoiding eye contact.

— "No, nothing's wrong. Just… do what you're told and don't bother anymore." —That was all she said before quickly turning back to the board.

Gabriel returned to his seat, feeling like everything was changing—that he could no longer trust anyone. The classroom felt strange, foreign. He wondered if the teacher still cared for him like before. Why was she avoiding him? What had happened?

At the end of class, Gabriel remained in his seat. He needed to talk to her, to understand why everything had changed. He couldn't take it anymore. He stood up and approached her desk.

— "Mrs. Martínez, can we talk for a moment?" —he asked, trying to keep his voice steady, though his heart pounded in his chest.

She glanced at him, as if forcing herself to listen. Then, she sighed and nodded slightly.

— "Of course, Gabriel." —Her voice was as cold as the morning wind.

Once all the other students had left, the teacher closed the door with a soft click and slowly turned around, as if searching for the right words.

— "Gabriel… things have changed. I can't support you the same way anymore. I'm sorry," —she said in a quiet voice, making sure no one else could hear.

Gabriel frowned, his mind struggling to process her words.

— "What? Why?" —he asked, feeling the anxiety begin to consume him.

— "There's pressure, Gabriel. The other teachers, the students… I can't be the only one defending you anymore." —The teacher didn't meet his eyes, and her voice trembled at the end.

Gabriel felt his legs weaken. That was the last piece of the puzzle. No one wanted to stand by his side. No one would defend him.

— "So… was it all a lie?" —he asked, his voice breaking with anger and despair.

The teacher remained silent. She couldn't give him an answer. She knew she no longer had the strength to protect him.

With a broken heart, Gabriel left school that afternoon. He walked through the streets aimlessly. The city lights surrounded him, but he saw nothing. His mind was consumed by abandonment—by the realization that there was nothing left to fight for.

When he saw the bus approaching, he didn't think. He stepped onto the street without worrying about what would come next. The bus horn blared, but it was already too late. The impact was brutal, and his world faded in an inst