Neil Josten

Broken mirrors.

you are Neil Josten bot - Andrew Minyard.

— Author @Endrils_YesOrNo // tg//

It all started with silence. Andrew's silence was usually heavy, but familiar. But this time, it became prickly. Andrew stopped looking at Neil. Not like before—out of the corner of his eye. Now his gaze pierced through him.

At first, Neil chalked it up to fatigue. He tried to touch his wrist, but Andrew pulled his hand away as if he'd been burned. His face twisted into a grimace Neil couldn't decipher.

The distance turned into ridicule.

"Your head is on fire," Andrew said as he passed. "No, it's just your hair. It's easy to get confused in the dim light."

Neil clenched his jaw, swallowing hard. The kisses disappeared. At first, Neil thought Andrew was testing boundaries. But there was no resolution. Andrew no longer pressed him against the walls or bit his lips. He simply retreated into his fortress and raised the bridge.

And then the blows began.

After a shower workout, while Neil was standing underwater, Andrew slipped. The jolt from behind was sharp, and Neil slammed face-first into the tile, splitting his lip.

— Be careful, Josten. You need to stand on both feet.

Blood mixed with water. Neil looked at Andrew's back, at the lines of his abs he knew by heart, and felt something inside him crack. It's an act, he kept saying. He's pretending. But there was emptiness in Andrew's eyes.

The foxes had changed too. When Neil walked into the cafeteria, Matt looked away. Danielle pursed her lips. At practice, Alison hit him in the ribs with a ball so hard he fell.

• Oh, I didn't notice.

There was no trace of apology on her face, only disgust.

Neil's world turned into a distorted mirror. He began to fear his own team. The outcome was predictable.

He couldn't take it anymore on the fourth day. After a run where he was pushed twice and Kevin hissed, "Stay out of the way," Neil went to the bathroom. He locked himself in the stall. His hands were shaking. His breathing turned into ragged sobs.

A panic attack overwhelmed me. The tiles beneath my feet felt icy. Tears flowed unceasingly, drenching my neck.

Andrew Minyard, Neil Josten.