Damian gasped for breath, his chest heaving, and his heart pounding like a drum. He couldn't decipher if it was due to the intense sprint he had just undertaken or the turbulent whirlwind of emotions churning within him. He desperately clung to the belief that it was the physical exertion causing his disarray.
 
With each step, he seemed to be fleeing from everything: from his past, from his tangled emotions, from the burgeoning feelings he harbored for Aleena. Damian had never thought he'd be in this situation, running away from his own emotions. Yet, here he was, dashing through the labyrinthine streets without a destination in mind.
 
His connection with Aleena had transcended the boundaries of mere friendship or gratitude. It was a complex sentiment, one he couldn't easily define. The girl had shown Damian kindness, a rarity since his mother's passing. Aleena was the first to truly see him, to treat him as a person, despite Damian's persistent silence. Aleena's heart seemed boundless, leaving Damian to wonder how it could possibly fit within the confines of his chest.
 
Yet, Damian was painfully aware that Aleena's affection stemmed from compassion, not romantic interest. It was pity, he told himself, but his emotions stubbornly tried to persuade him otherwise. He couldn't deny that Aleena still held a torch for Shane, a love that had been evident from the start. Damian had witnessed the longing in Aleena's gaze whenever Shane was around. That look, the love and adoration she reserved for Shane, was something Damian could never hope to receive.
 
Shane's words echoed in Damian's mind. "Would you wait for me, Aleena? If in the future, I could return your feelings?" It was a question that would likely elicit an ecstatic affirmative from Aleena, a prospect that tore at Damian's heart. Aleena's joy, his happiness, it all seemed to be at the expense of Damian.
 
He scolded himself for entertaining such false hopes. His stay with Aleena was temporary, a fact he couldn't ignore any longer. He needed a plan, a way to stand on his own feet. He had to leave to prevent himself from becoming a burden to Aleena and her family. They couldn't provide for him indefinitely. The thought of leaving gnawed at him, leaving a void that felt impossible to fill.
 
His thoughts shifted to the stash of savings in his old house, money he had hoped never to touch. It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing and would give him a roof over his head for a while. There was no way he could return to live with his alcoholic father, but retrieving that money was the only option to avoid life on the streets.
 
Damian leaned against a nearby brick wall, his decision firmly made. His father was likely inebriated and wouldn't care about Damian's absence, possibly even revel in it. With determination, Damian pushed himself off the wall and resumed his run, sprinting back toward his old address, oblivious to the distant voice calling his name down a quiet side street.
 
***
 
Damian approached the house with trepidation, the porch groaning under his cautious steps. He cautiously tested the doorknob, and to his astonishment, the door swung open effortlessly. His father had become so negligent that he didn't even bother to lock it anymore.
 
Silently, Damian slipped inside, cautiously poking his head inside to ensure no one was home. The living room stood vacant, but the kitchen resembled a disaster zone, a testament to months of neglect. Damian wrinkled his nose at the mess but wasted no time as he sprinted up the stairs, his heart pounding in his ears.
 
His mission was simple: get in, retrieve the money, and exit as swiftly as possible. He rushed to his old bedroom, waves of memories washing over him the moment he stepped inside. Recollections of his mother surged like a tidal wave, but Damian pushed them away, concentrating solely on recovering his savings.
 
He slid beneath the bed, wedging himself into the tiniest corner where it met the wall. His father could never have squeezed in there, which was precisely why Damian had chosen that spot. Nestled within was a bag holding a substantial amount of won, nearly his entire life savings. Damian clutched it tightly in his fist.
 
Swiftly, he crawled out and rose from under the bed, casting one final glance back to preserve the memories. He sighed inaudibly, mouthing a silent goodbye to his mother, and closed the door softly behind him.
 
As he neared the stairs, a stern voice abruptly cut through the air, "Who's there?"
 
Damian's heart raced, fear coursing through him.
 
Heavy footsteps emanated from the room next to the stairs, unmistakably his father's. Damian hurried toward the staircase, but before he could even reach the first step, a large hand shot out, seizing his arm and yanking him backward.
 
Damian stifled a gasp, pain flaring in his arm due to the vice-like grip.
 
His father loomed over him, his face twisted in fury, and his unsteady gait betrayed his recent indulgence in alcohol.
 
"How dare you return, you disgrace of a son!" he thundered, spittle flying in every direction.
 
Damian struggled to break free from his father's grasp, but the hand around his arm tightened, gradually squeezing tighter as his father's tirade continued. Damian gasped when his father pulled on his arm again, twisting it violently to the side. Damian yelped, tears threatening to spill over his cheeks as searing pain coursed through his arm.
 
His father then raised his other hand, delivering a brutal backhand across Damian's face. The force of the blow sent Damian's head snapping to the side, and he tasted the metallic tang of blood in his mouth. His head collided with the stair's edge as he tumbled backward, the sickening crunch of impact audible amidst his flailing descent.
 
Strangely, Damian thought he heard someone shouting his name as he fell. Arms wrapped around him, cradling his head as he landed heavily at the bottom of the stairs.
 
Things began to blur, losing focus rapidly, but Damian couldn't shake the sense of familiarity in those arms. His consciousness slipped away, and just before he succumbed to darkness, he embraced the idea of remaining there forever.