Addict.

DAVE SHORT STORY

Dave Strider had always been a reserved and guarded person, but no one knew the true extent of the pain he was hiding. Behind his cool demeanor and ironic wit, Dave was living in fear of his older brother, Dirk.

Dirk had always been domineering and controlling, but as Dave grew older, the abuse only intensified. Dirk would berate him, call him names, and physically harm him whenever he felt like it. Dave felt trapped, unable to escape the cycle of violence that had become his life.

One day, after a particularly brutal beating, Dave decided he couldn't take it anymore. He knew he had to get out of the house before Dirk could hurt him again. With a backpack full of clothes and a few meager possessions, Dave slipped out of the house in the dead of night and started walking.

He didn't know where he was going, but he knew he couldn't go back. For days, he wandered the streets, sleeping in alleyways and scrounging for food. He was alone and scared, but he was free.

Eventually, Dave found his way to a youth shelter. There, he met some other kids who had also fled abusive homes. They welcomed him with open arms and for the first time in his life, Dave felt like he belonged somewhere.

Over time, Dave began to heal. He went to therapy, made friends, and even started to explore his passion for music. He still thought about Dirk and the pain he had caused, but he knew he couldn't let that define him anymore.

Years later, Dave was playing a show with his band when he saw Dirk in the audience. At first, he froze, unsure of what to do. But then he remembered everything he had been through and how far he had come. He took a deep breath and started playing.

As he sang, Dave felt a sense of release. He was no longer the scared, helpless kid he had been all those years ago. He was strong, resilient, and had found a family that loved him for who he was. And as he looked out at the crowd, he knew that he was going to be okay.