Adrian trudged through the front door, the weight of his backpack digging into his shoulders. He dropped it onto the worn floor with a thud, kicking off his scuffed and faded sneakers. The smell of stale cigarettes and yesterday's dinner wafted through the air, making his stomach turn.
"Adrian, is that you?" his mother called from the living room, her voice slurred from the afternoon's drinking.
"Yeah, Mom, it's me," Adrian replied, trying to keep his tone neutral. He walked into the living room, where his mother sat on the couch, surrounded by empty beer cans and cigarette butts. The TV blared in the background, casting a dim glow over the room.
The air was thick with the smell of smoke and booze. Adrian's eyes watered as he tried to breathe through the haze.
"Hey, kiddo, how was your day?" his mother asked, her eyes bloodshot and unfocused.
Adrian shrugged, not wanting to get into it. "It was fine, Mom."
His mother nodded, taking another swig of beer. "That's good, sweetie. You deserve a good day."
Adrian felt a pang of sadness and frustration. This was his life – a never-ending cycle of neglect and disappointment. He longed for something more, something better.
As he turned to head to his room, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. His eyes looked sunken, his skin pale. He felt like he was drowning in his own misery.
Adrian's gaze lingered on his reflection, taking in the worn-out clothes and the tired expression. He looked like a kid who'd given up, like a kid who didn't care anymore.
But that wasn't true. Adrian did care. He cared deeply. He just didn't know how to escape the darkness that seemed to follow him everywhere.
Little did Adrian know, his life was about to take a dramatic turn. One that would bring him face-to-face with the school's notorious bully, Chris.