layla

- He was strong when he gave up his toy truck to a girl he didn’t know, knowing he couldn’t afford a new one, just because he didn’t want her to be sad.

- He was strong when he softly told Dart he wouldn’t hurt him, even after his deeply traumatizing encounter with a demogorgan.

- He was strong when he gave the credit for his painting to El, believing that saving her relationship with Mike was the key to saving Hawkins.

- He was strong when he encouraged Mike to tell El he loves her, knowing that it was the last thing he wanted to hear himself, just because he wanted to save the town that hates him.

Yes, he had remarkable survival skills at twelve years old. But his strength extends beyond his ability to find shelter, shoot a gun, outrun a demogorgan, or jump from a tree. The idea that Will was weak without these 5 minutes is a testament to how our society looks down on any display of softness from men.

Will Byers is strong because he has every reason to be evil, and he chooses not to be.

Why is it that when Billy or Henry endure physical abuse and become the abuser, they have so many people jumping to their defense?

But when Will chooses to remain gentle and kind and self-sacrificial in spite of the abuse he has endured, he’s suddenly useless and the weak link of the group?

Possessed.

Closeted.

Fell off a fucking tree slamming against branches and almost got hung by his own backpack.

Shot a demogorgon.

Flayed.

Got burned alive internally.

Has an abusive father.

Got bullied harshly.

Has to watch his lover get with another girl who is his own sister and he thinks he’s undeserving of the love bc he’s gay.

Got treated like he was invisible.

SA’D BY VECNA AND THE MIND FLAYER.

DIED.

CAME BACK TO LIFE.

HAD EPISODES.

HAD HIS FEELINGS THROWN AWAY BY HIS BEST FRIEND WHO IS ALSO HIS LOVER.

HAD PPL SAYING THE REASON HE WAS MISSING WAS BECAUSE HE WAS HATE CRIMED FOR BEING GAY.

CALLED SLURS.

BOTH STEVE HARRINGTON AND TED WHEELER MADE HOMOPHOBIC COMMENTS ABOUT HIS DISAPPEARANCE.

Eyes on the skis

Four eyes = four deaths = Vecna

He was also watching Max: