Content Warning

This chapter contains references to homophobia, psychological abuse, family coercion, school bullying, and emotional manipulation. Reader discretion is advised.

Noah walked for hours along the road after getting off the train. Fatigue weighed on every muscle, but he couldn’t stop. A family passing by took pity on him and dropped him near his hometown. From there, he continued on foot, his steps clumsy, fighting exhaustion.

He needed to hide. He needed a safe place, and finally, he reached his mother’s house.

The light was off. Claire was probably asleep. Even so, he had no other option. He took a deep breath in front of the door and knocked several times, glancing around nervously, afraid that Sebastian might be nearby.

“Mom… it’s me, Noah. Are you home?!” he asked, his voice breaking.

Claire was asleep, but she jolted awake at the sound of the knocking. She sat up in bed, her heart racing.

Had she heard her son’s voice? He was supposed to be in the city. What was he doing there at this hour?

She pulled on a large sweater and hurried toward the door.

When she opened it and saw him —his face pale, shadowed by dark circles, exhausted— her hands began to tremble.

“NOAH! WHAT HAPPENED?!” she asked, alarmed. “Come in, quickly.”

Noah didn’t answer. He hugged her desperately, resting his face against her shoulder. 

“Sorry for coming like this…” he murmured. “I didn’t know who else to turn to. Everything got out of control.”

Claire wrapped him in a firm, protective embrace and led him into the living room. Any trace of sleep vanished.

“Breathe, sweetheart,” she said softly. “I’m here. Tell me.”

Noah was exhausted. He had visible marks on his neck, remnants of the struggle, and he told her everything: the job, the intimidation from his coworkers, the demands of his boss, how what seemed like just a difficult job became something dangerous.

And then he spoke about Sebastian.

“Mom… do you remember Sebastian? Basti? Like I used to call him,... the boy from high school,” he said, his voice tense. “He’s… my boss. He says he’ll make me pay for everything I did to him. I explained about the accident, the amnesia… but he didn’t believe me. Today he crossed limits I wasn’t going to allow.”

He ran a hand over his face, frustrated.

“I’ve recovered some memories from school, but I don’t understand what was so serious that I bullied him. I know I was an asshole. What I did was unforgivable. He even told me I was an angel… and then I abandoned him. I… I don’t understand it.

Claire listened in silence, her eyes shining with restrained emotion, and took her son’s hands.

“Being sorry doesn’t justify what he’s doing to you,” she said firmly. “No one has the right to treat you like an object. No one.”

Noah gently squeezed her hands and nodded faintly.

“I apologized a thousand times. It was never enough. I’m afraid… next time it could be worse.”

Claire’s concern became evident.

“You’re not alone,” she said. “Even if I’m not as strong as I used to be, I won’t allow anyone to hurt you. You’ll always be my child.”

Then she took a deep breath.

“I need to ask you something, Noah,” she added. “Did he try to physically hurt you?”

Her son lowered his gaze, ashamed.

“H-he kissed me. Touched me. I told him no. I defended myself… and he turned violent. I ran. I don’t know what happened after that.”

Claire’s stomach twisted in horror. She carefully touched Noah’s neck.

“Oh my…” she whispered. “I’m proud of you. You were brave.”

Noah let out a bitter laugh in response.

“After the accident, everything from high school was blurred. Not just that… I even forgot you, my father too. I just… I need to remember. Sebastian and I… were we friends? Did we fall in love? Did I betray him?”

Claire looked at him gravely. She knew the moment had come.

“We did everything to help you,” she said. “Years of therapy, rehabilitation… but now you need to remember. Are you ready?”

Noah nodded, willing to hear the truth that had been hidden in his mind for so long.

“I need it.”

His mother took a deep breath, lowering her head slightly but never breaking eye contact.

“Everything began when you were ten,” she started. “A new boy arrived at your school. Sebastian Cross. His family was complicated. His father was an alcoholic. His mother… neglectful. He was distant, always on the defensive.”

She looked at him closely.

“You became very close friends with him. And he grew deeply attached to you. He was sweet, respectful. He used to come to our house when your father was still alive.”

Noah listened, motionless, but his mind still didn’t remember.

“At thirteen, Sebastian confessed that he liked you,” she continued. “It wasn’t a simple crush. He was deeply in love. He said that with you he could be himself.”

Claire pressed her lips together.

“You told me it was your first kiss. I was surprised, but I accepted it. If you were happy… I was fine with it, but… your father… oh, he wasn’t. He didn’t want that.”

Noah’s heart pounded. It was true —his father openly did not accept that his son felt attracted to other men.

“Your father gave you an ultimatum,” she said. “If you didn’t break things off with Sebastian, he would fire his father and falsely accuse him of stealing from his company. At that time, Sebastian’s father worked for him.”

Noah closed his eyes, disturbed by what he was hearing.

“You chose the cruelest way,” his mother admitted. “Bullying. Humiliation. To make sure he would never come near you again. I never agreed with it. I argued with your father, and I punished you for what you did.”

She paused, then continued.

“But… that bullying didn’t last long, only a few days, and then you made a decision. You acted with maturity. You decided to look for him… to apologize and explain the whole truth. You tried to talk to Sebastian… but the boy had already left town.”

Noah felt a knot form in his throat, angry at himself.

“My father…” he murmured. “He didn’t accept who I was… who I am now.”

“He…” Claire replied. “He was traditional. Narrow-minded. He didn’t want a poor and… gay boy to be his son’s partner.”

The truth fell like an unbearable weight, and silence filled the room.