Aaron leaned against the dilapidated schoolyard wall, his body throbbing from the beating he had just received. He gazed at the gravel at his feet, his mind reliving every kick, every punch, every mocking laugh.
"Why me?" he whispered to himself, his voice almost inaudible. "What did I even do?
His hand brushed over the bruise developing on his ribs as the weight of the day rested more heavily on his chest. A group of students passed by, their talk lighthearted and happy, as if he didn't exist.
Aaron gritted out a bitter laugh. "Invisible when it counts. and a target when it doesn't."
The bell sounded. Aaron hauled himself upright, groaning as his body protested the effort. Head low, he lurched for home, every step leading him closer to the hated building almost as much as school.
---
The yelling began before Aaron opened the door.
"You never listen! You don't even care about this family!"
"Care? What about you? You're always whining!"
Aaron came in, but neither parent paid him mind. They never did. He glided through the turmoil as a ghost, directly to his room.
He shut the door behind him, shutting himself out from the world. His room was tiny, full of clothes and discarded cans of soda, but it was the only room he could get some air in.
Sitting down in his chair, Aaron booted up his computer. The familiar heat of his gaming system was soothing, like getting into a warm routine.
"Let's just. forget," he breathed, tugging on his headset.
The game greeted him with its gaudy colors and showy music, a fleeting refuge from the real world. Aaron battled monsters for a short while, leveled up, and did quests. But there, as well, in the only world where he thought he was getting it right, something was missing.
A whole hour went by. Then two. His face remained frozen on the screen as Aaron reclined, gazing upwards at the ceiling.
"What's the point?" he cursed out loud to himself, his voice cracking. "None of it. None of it accomplishes anything."
He glared at his own face on the black screen of his computer, his empty eyes gazing back.
"You're pathetic," he said to himself. "Just a punching bag at school. just background noise at home. Nobody cares. Nobody ever will."
The words lingered in the air, heavy and suffocating. Aaron clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms as tears blurred his vision.
---
The roof was cold, the wind whipping past him as he leaned over the edge. Below, the city stretched out in twinkling lights, unaware of his pain.
Aaron's hands trembled as he looked down. "Maybe. maybe this'll finally put an end to it," he panted, his breath fogging in the cold.
He closed his eyes, the memories rushing unbidden into his headâthe laughter of his tormentors, the yelling of his parents, the empty silence in his own bedroom.
"Why?" he cried. "Why was I born at all? What's the point of this dumb life if. if all it ever does is hurt?
A sob erupted from his throat, and he covered his face with his hands. "I didn't ask for this. I didn't ask for any of this."
"Do you want to run?"
The soft, musical voice cut through the chaos in his mind. Aaron tensed, his hands falling to his hips as he whirled around.
There was a small girl there, her white hair glistening in the moon. Her dark eyes stared at him, questioning and unsettled.
Or perhaps," she continued, tilting her head to the side, "do you want to kill yourself?"
Aaron's legs gave way beneath him, and he fell onto the ground, sobbing tears uncontrolled down his cheeks. "I can't. I can't anymore," he wailed. "I hate this. I hate all of it. I hate myself.".
The girl stepped forward, her expression neutral. "You sound so weary," she whispered. "As if you've carried too much for too long."
Aaron folded his hands into fists, his head bowed in shame. "I'm worthless. No one cares if I'm here or not. Maybe it's best if I just disappear.".
Her voice did not shakeâsoothing, almost playful. "Maybe," she said, holding out a gleaming disc, "you don't have to disappear. Maybe you just need. a different game."
Aaron's eyes lifted, his face smeared with tears a mask of bewilderment. The disc in her hand seemed to throb with shifting colors, as if it were alive.
What's the point?" he whispered, his voice scarce. "It's just another distraction. It won't do anything to improve anything."
"Perhaps not," the girl replied with a slight smile. "But perhaps this game isn't played. Perhaps. it's lived."
Aaron wavered, his thoughts a whirlpool of confusion and interest. At last, with shaking fingers, he held out his hands and accepted the disc.
"Fine," he muttered, his voice shaking. "I'll play."
The girl's smile widened as she stepped back into the shadows. Her parting words echoed in the night: "Good luck, player. Let's see if you're ready to live."