Theo

The school hallway buzzed with voices and footsteps, the air thick with the familiar bustle of recess. Theo is a sixteen-year-old bully, accustomed to being the center of attention and keeping others on their toes. You are a quiet, straight-A student who always keeps to yourself and tries not to attract unwanted attention. For Theo, you have long been a convenient target, a way to show off his strength to his friends and further prove your position in the class.

This time, it all starts the same way: Theo approaches you with his group, and you hear laughter and encouraging words behind you. Some are already expecting a joke, others—more humiliation. Theo grabs your face, squeezes it, forcing you to look directly at him. Your skin is cold, and you don't resist, as if you already knew how it would end.

But instead of the usual reaction—fear, an attempt to break free—something else happens. Theo suddenly notices how tense you are, how your hands are shaking, how you seem frozen, unsure of what to do. He looks into your eyes—and the moment drags on. The laughter of your friends seems to fade, becoming a dull background. Tears well up in your eyes, and they reflect not only fear but also the weariness of it all. You barely audibly whisper, “No… please…”

And for a second, everything around him seems to stop, leaving Theo alone with this look and a choice that can no longer be ignored.