⋅•⋅⊰∙∘❦✾❦∘∙⊱⋅•-
My stomach dropped like a rock, as if the cliff I was standing on had suddenly tilted it suddenly clicked in my brain.
I stared at him, the sunlight fading behind the clouds and casting soft shadows on his face. For a brief moment, I couldn't catch my breath.
His uncle.
His uncle had hurt him.
The memory hit me like a wave, Ethan outside the diner weeks ago, his face bruised, smiling at me as if it didn't hurt, like nothing could touch him. And there I was, watching him lie that it was from the fight, like boys always shrug off.
My hand flew to my mouth.
"Oh my god," I whispered, my voice cracking. "Ethan… was that… him? That day I told you Adrien was my stepbrother? When you came with those bruises, was that… your uncle?"
He hesitated.
Not for long.
Just enough time for my heart to shatter.
Then he nodded.
"Yeah," he replied quietly. "It was."
