​A child’s heart is stubborn; it rarely finds room for a step-parent. Hanna knew this from her own skin. She had never known her biological father, and despite her stepfather’s kindness, he remained a stranger in her eyes. She wouldn't inflict that same confusion on Max.

​She left him and retreated to the master bedroom, where she found Matthias sitting on the edge of the bed. He was lost so deeply in thought that he didn't even notice her enter.

​Hanna sat beside him, placing a steadying hand on his shoulder. "Matthias? Are you alright?"

​He started, blinking back to reality. "Hanna. How long have you been there?"

​"A few moments... What’s on your mind?"

​"Max," Matthias replied with an unsettling calm. "He isn't well. I know it, but..."

​"But what?"

​"But I haven’t the faintest idea how to help him." Matthias let out a heavy sigh, leaning forward with his face buried in his hands. "I’ve never failed at anything in my life, yet here I am, a failure as a father. I’m lost, Hanna. I truly need you right now."

​Hanna felt the crushing weight of his admission. After a long silence, she asked, "Max is in a toxic, unnatural relationship with Johann Braun, isn’t he? Shouldn't we force them apart?"

​Matthias looked at her, his breath hitching. "It isn't that simple, darling. Max has been suffering abuse in that relationship for years."

​Hanna gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "You knew? You’ve known about this for years?"

​"I knew he was in a destructive relationship. I didn't know the partner's name, but I chose not to interfere. I just wanted him out of that room, I wanted him to be... social."

​"This is your fault, then!" Hanna snapped, her voice rising in anger.

​"My fault? I wanted him to explore the world, to learn! Where is the wrong in that?"

​"Not like this! You saw him being abused, didn’t you? You saw the bruises and the bite marks and dismissed them as some pathetic social experiment!"

​Matthias swallowed hard, beads of sweat forming on his brow. Hanna was right, and he knew it. He had masked his own parental incompetence with the excuse of 'social growth.'

​"You’re right," he whispered after a long pause. "I am to blame. My son is tethered to a failed delinquent with a record, and I am powerless to stop it."

​Meanwhile, Max was staring at his phone, his thumbs flying across the screen.

​Max: Johann, I don’t know what to do.

Johann: What’s wrong?

Max: My father knows. About us.

Johann: So let him know. Love is love, right? You aren't going to be like that old bastard and decide to leave me, are you?

Max: Johann, don't be ridiculous! I’d never leave you. You’re the only good thing in my life.

Johann: I know, Max... Oh, I nearly forgot.

Max: What?

Johann: You left your underwear at my flat.

Max: Oh God! T_T I didn't even notice. That’s so embarrassing!

Johann: Haha, perhaps. But hey, you’re always welcome here if your father tries to kick you out for being queer.

Max: Oh, darling, that’s so sweet of you.

Johann: Haha, you’ll never find anyone as kind as me. Anyway, I’ve got to get to work.

Max: Alright, but I’ll miss you terribly...

Johann: That’s exactly what I want. Goodbye, beautiful.

Max: Goodbye.

​Max tossed his phone onto the bed and buried his face in his pillow, the weight of his father’s disapproval still crushing him.

"If only he’d just disappear," Max muttered into the fabric. "But I need his bloody money to survive. Damn it."

​To be continued......

Max Adler, the protagonist of the story