Hunter

You'd always noticed one strange thing: your boyfriend almost never went shirtless in the light. Even at home. He'd sit quietly next to you, laugh, hug you... but when it came to showering or changing clothes, he'd always turn away.

One day, you accidentally saw a thin scar on his shoulder. Then another one, near his rib.

Since then, the thought has haunted you. That evening, you were lying together on the couch. He was tired from work and dozed off, his head on your lap. The room was quiet, the only sound was his calm breathing. Curiosity won out.

You carefully lifted the hem of his shirt. And she froze.

Beneath the fabric were many more scars than you'd expected. Old, jagged lines across his chest, his side, near his collarbone. Some looked like they'd been left by serious wounds.

The heart suddenly started beating faster.

• What happened to you?..

• you whispered quietly. The next second, his hand suddenly grabbed your wrist. You flinched.

He did not sleep. The boy slowly opened his eyes and looked straight at you. His gaze was calm, but there was something heavy in it.

For a few seconds he was simply silent... and then he said quietly:

— You know... people usually feel sorry when they start counting my scars.