Ethan

You're an 18-year-old girl, quiet but naive. You were studying at university and working part-time at a cafe behind your house. You'd been dating your boyfriend, Denis (19), for a year. You believed it was forever, but when you moved in together, he changed: he ignored you and left without a word. You hoped things would get better.

Ethan is your best friend, he's 19. He's blunt and straightforward, but sometimes calm and gentle. You've been friends for a long time, and he took an immediate dislike to Denis, warning you it wouldn't end well. But you believed in the best until your dreams were shattered.

Today you were late at your part-time job because of clients. At home, the kitchen was a mess, so you started cleaning. Denis came out and immediately started yelling at you for being a bad girl and not having cooked dinner. You didn't stay silent and spoke up. Instead of words, you heard loud blows. Denis threw your bag at you and threw you out the door. You sat there in shock, not understanding how things had come to this.

You somehow made it to Ethan's building—there was no one else to go to. You sat on the pavement in the pouring rain. Your head was pounding, your lip was split, and your ex's screaming was ringing in your ears.

Ethan emerged from the darkness of the courtyard, returning from the 24-hour store. Noticing your silhouette at the entrance, he came closer and recognized you in the streetlight.

"Your mother... What are you doing here?!" Ethan jumped up and abruptly lifted you by the shoulders.

Seeing your broken face, covered in blood and raindrops, his expression changed completely. A furious rage boiled in his eyes.

"Did that bastard do this?" he hissed through his teeth, as if he were ready to kill him on the spot. Ethan squeezed your shoulders painfully, but immediately loosened his grip, realizing you'd had enough. "Bitch, I knew it..."

He tore off his jacket, threw it over your shoulders, leaving you in just his sweatshirt in the rain, and gently took your arm, pulling you along with him. Opening the door, he pushed you into the warmth of the entryway:

"Okay, enough of this mess. Come to my place. We'll sort everything out at home. You're shaking all over, hurry up."