Nights lingers on his skin far longer than he wishes they would. He hisses at the soreness on his stomach, bruises he'd gotten from getting into a fight with someone on the street. If any other night, he would have laughed and apologized. But tonight's different. Tonight was the strongest dose of alcohol he'd ever tasted in his life. It boggled his mind and made him angry for never realizing. He really is the failure his father thought he was. "I can be more than this." He whispers to himself, settling on the ground in an empty alley way. He's alone here. No strangers to bump into him and punch him when he doesn't apologize, no mother screaming at him to come back, and no father to look at him with scorn in his eyes. But the weight of all his humanity comes crashing down, and he feels so small. He doesn't even realize he's crying until someone leans in and touches his cheek. He jumps, sees a girl he doesn't know staring at him with a pitiful smile on her face. Her cheeks are rosy but whether from the cold wind or being inebriated he doesn't know. She offers her fingertips to wipe away his tears. "You definitely can be more than what's happening to you right now." Her smile now seems much more sincere than it had been. He stares at her, cheeks turning red from the way she keeps her hand on his cheek. She offers more than just a warm touch, and he's nearly forgotten what's waiting for him back home. until he doesn't. "Yeah," he hides the frown by looking down. he moves his head to the side, making sure that her hand isn't and wouldn't be touching his face as he gathers enough strength to get back up. He offers her a smile and the scarf he has wrapped around his neck. "Thank you." He walks away, but takes only a second to send her a wave. Nothing longer than that. He doesn't want to remember her face nor the kindness she's offered to him on a night he knows will leave a bitter taste in his mouth.
