2. No One Cares

Ethan walked through the empty hallway. His steps were slow and shaky. His uniform was stained with food. His hair was messy. His hands were still shaking. He could feel the stares from the few students who passed by. Some looked at him with pity. Some looked amused. But most just did not care.

His chest hurt. Not just from the bruises. It came from something deeper. Something heavier.

He reached the teachers' lounge and stood at the door. A part of him told him to go back. That this was pointless. That no one would help him.

But he had to try.

He took a deep breath. Then he pushed the door open.

Inside three teachers sat at a long table. They were sipping coffee and talking. The room smelled like old books and burnt toast.

Mr Callahan the school's head disciplinarian looked up from his newspaper. His sharp eyes landed on Ethan. His face showed he was annoyed.

"What is it Collins" His voice was cold. It was not patient.

Ethan swallowed. He stepped forward. "Sir I I need help" His voice was weak. It was about to break.

The other two teachers Mrs Harris and Mr Donovan looked at him for a second. Then they went back to their talk.

Mr Callahan sighed. He put down his paper. "What happened"

Ethan waited. He hated this. He hated having to beg. But he had no choice.

"It's Damian and his friends" he said in a small voice. His fingers held his sleeves tight. "They… they humiliated me again. They made me eat food off the floor. Everyone saw. They pushed me. Hurt me. And this is not the first time. It has been happening for years sir"

He took a deep breath. His voice shook. "Please. Do something"

For a moment the room went quiet.

Then Mr Callahan leaned back in his chair. He rubbed his temples. "Ethan" he said. His voice sounded tired. It sounded like he did not care. "I have told you before. You need to toughen up"

Ethan's heart dropped. "What"

"You keep coming in here. You always complain about the same thing" Mr Callahan said. "But what do you want me to do. Kick out the school's best students because you are too weak to stand up for yourself"

Ethan could not breathe. His hands became fists. "But they are hurting me"

Mr Callahan sighed. He picked up his coffee. "Boys will be boys"

Boys will be boys.

The words hit Ethan like a knife.

"Sir please" he said in a whisper. "They will not stop. They—"

"Then stay out of their way" Mr Callahan snapped. "If you stop acting like a victim maybe they will leave you alone"

Ethan felt his throat close.

Was this his fault.

Was he the one to blame.

Mrs Harris spoke at last. But she did not look at him. Her eyes stayed on her tea. "Ethan maybe you should just try to ignore them"

Ignore them.

How could he ignore them. The bruises were real. The shame was real. The pain was real. It burned his skin. It burned his soul.

"But—"

"I think we are done here" Mr Callahan said. He already turned back to his newspaper.

Ethan felt all the air leave his chest.

It was over.

They would not help him.

No one would.

He turned and walked out. The hallway felt colder now. It felt empty. His eyes were wet but he did not let the tears fall. Not yet.

He still had one more hope.

---

Ethan reached the courtyard. His only two friends Jonah and Felix sat under a tree.

His heart hurt when he saw them. They were laughing at something. For a moment he felt hope.

Maybe they would listen. Maybe they would help him.

He ran to them. "Jonah Felix"

The boys looked up. Their smiles faded when they saw him.

Ethan swallowed hard. "Guys I—" He stopped. His voice cracked. "I need your help"

Jonah looked around like he was nervous. Felix moved in his seat.

Ethan took a deep breath. "Damian and his guys… they did it again. They made me—" His voice broke. "They made me eat food off the floor. They—" He stopped. He shook his head. "I cannot take it anymore. Please. I just I need someone to stand with me"

Silence.

Felix would not look at him.

Jonah scratched the back of his neck. "Look Ethan… I get it. What they do is bad. But—" He sighed. "You know how it is. If we get involved…"

"They will come after us too" Felix said in a quiet voice.

Ethan's breath caught.

"But you are my friends" he said. His voice was shaking. "Does that not mean something"

Jonah winced. "Of course it does man. But we cannot fight them. They are too strong. If we try they will ruin us too"

Felix nodded. "We are sorry Ethan. Really. But we cannot help you"

Ethan felt his chest fall in.

Not them too.

Not the only ones he trusted.

His lips trembled. "So… that is it. You are just going to let them do this to me"

Jonah looked away. "I am sorry"

Ethan let out a shaky breath. Something inside him cracked.

His friends—his only friends—were leaving him.

His eyes were wet. He turned around. "Forget it" he said. His voice was empty.

He walked away without looking back.

They did not call him.

They did not stop him.

And that hurt more than any punch Damian had thrown.

---

Ethan sat on his bed. He stared at the wall.

His dorm was dark. It was quiet.

Tears rolled down his face. But he did not wipe them away.

He had tried.

He had begged.

But no one cared.

The teachers did not listen. His friends left him. The students watched and did nothing.

No one was coming to help him.

No one would stop the pain.

A cold laugh came from his lips.

Maybe Mr Callahan was right. Maybe he was too weak.

Maybe it was all his fault.

Maybe he really was nothing.

His fingers grabbed the sheets. One thought filled his mind.

If no one would save him…

Then maybe it was time to stop waiting.

Maybe it was time to stop being weak.

Maybe it was time to stop being human.