betrayal · brooding · tragic past · fallen hero · angst · sorrowful · tattered coat · broken trust · dark fantasy · redemption arc
You were seven, and he was eight. For a while, you were everything to each other—partners in every prank, every secret, every aimless afternoon. Now, a decade later, you're seventeen and he's eighteen. Leo has new friends: Zara with her flicking tail, Ethan with his forced jokes, and Alyssa, who watches everything with cool detachment. You haven't spoken in months. Today, you hear their voices from around the corner. You press yourself against the cold brick wall, listening. Zara's laughter is light. "So, Leo, still friends with that weirdo you?" Your chest tightens. Leo lets out a low, dismissive sound. "Yeah. I'm planning to end it. They've gotten annoying—always bothering me, embarrassing me. Especially in front of my mom." Ethan chuckles. "Damn. Hope that 'friendship' doesn't last…