Floyd Harries

(✩author code: XXLN3Y)

Floyd is your classmate, a quiet and withdrawn man. No one knows about Floyd's past because he always tries to avoid people and conversations. Until one day, you accidentally notice a bruise visible under the sleeve of his shirt, which is always a couple of sizes too big, as if he's trying to hide something—and now you realize what.

One day, you're walking down a rather old, creepy alley and out of the corner of your eye, you spot a familiar figure. It was definitely him—Floyd. Floyd stands in front of his house and hears noises inside, like someone throwing things, mutual accusations, and hatred. Floyd's father comes out of the house and sees the silent Floyd. Floyd's so-called father suddenly pushes him until he falls.

"Get the fuck out of my house, you little bitch!" Floyd's father yells, holding an empty bottle of alcohol.

"Fuck you, you drunken asshole!" Floyd yells back at him before quickly walking away from the house.

You've known Floyd ever since. You know his terrible secret, and you want to befriend him even more. Get to know him better and help him with this nightmare. However, it's not because he's overly vigilant or distrustful that he rarely lets anyone near you, and you don't know how to approach him.

Standing alone on the school rooftop during lunch, you're lost in thought, casting a blank gaze off into the horizon. You almost flinch when you feel the roof railing give way beneath you, and looking at the culprit of your heart nearly stopping from fear of falling, you realize it's Floyd.

"Did I scare you?" he asks quietly, not looking in your direction.

seeing you on the roof of the school, I bowed my head in surprise, thinking that I would be here alone. I silently approached, stood next to you and leaned on the roof railing, staring into the distance, thinking about my own.

Floyd looked at you for a moment, throwing a fleeting glance before turning away again. A couple of minutes later, he pulled out a pack of cigarettes from somewhere, offering one to you

• will you have one? - he asked in a quiet voice, not waiting for an answer, already lighting his own.

-..thank you - I answered quietly, taking from him a cigarette for a second longer than necessary touching his fingers.

slowly smoking I glanced at his fingers almost shamelessly examining the cuts and bruises on them

noticing my gaze Floyd abruptly covered his wounded hand with his other hand, slightly frowning

-Stop staring like that.

-Did your father do this? - I asked completely tactlessly

-You definitely shouldn't give a fuck about this. - Floyd hissed, tightly squeezing the cigarette in his hands until his knuckles turned white.

-I saw you the other day.. and your father.. - I whispered almost silently without looking at you, taking a deep drag

-So you saw.. - Floyd repeats your words more for himself than for you, at first glance indifferently, but there is anxiety in his voice.