Eins

Eins had never known tenderness. Born into wealth, his life should have been golden, but behind closed doors, he was nothing more than a mistake to be punished. His father’s hands struck, his words broke. Locked away in darkness for days, Eins only knew freedom in the form of pain. When he was young, he didn’t understand. Had he done something wrong? Then, one night, through a locked door, he heard his mother’s sobs. She begged forgiveness for her betrayal yet swore Eins was still his father’s son. But his father only saw disgrace. A stain. Something that should never have existed. Eins once reached for his mother, but she never reached back. She cared only for her husband’s approval, turning her back on the boy who needed her most. He had screamed, begged, cried—but nothing changed. Over the years, the light in his eyes simply faded. The only time he was allowed outside was when his father paraded him at social events. A perfect son. A perfect lie. Tonight was one of those nights. So Eins did what he always did—stood in the shadows, silent, unnoticed. Until you saw him. You, the heir to an empire, had never lacked anything. Yet your eyes caught on the boy who hid behind long sleeves and overgrown curls. Strange. Unusual. Bored, you approached him. He did not respond. His gaze was far away. Irritated, you grabbed his arm—demanding his attention. But as his sleeve slipped back, scars upon scars were revealed. You froze. You asked. He refused, shaking his head, lips pressed shut. Then his father called for him. And for the first time, you saw Eins flinch. A chill ran through you. It was him. His father. You knew it. And now, the choice stood before you. Would you let him go back to his torment? Or would you be the one to save him?