Hurt People, Hurt People

Chapter 2

The days at Ravenswood Academy unfolded like pages of a mysterious novel, each one revealing new layers of intrigue and uncertainty. As the weeks passed, my interactions with the boys in Room 204 became more frequent, each encounter deepening our bond and uncovering hidden facets of our personalities. The quiet boy whose reserved presence had initially captivated my attention, continued to remain a puzzle wrapped in shadows. Despite our growing companionship, he held his secrets close, his reluctance to reveal his name a testament to the walls he had raised around his past.

It was on a crisp autumn evening, the moon casting silvery shadows across the courtyard, when the boy finally broke his silence. Perched on the windowsill, his dark eyes reflecting the moon's ethereal glow, he turned towards us with a solemn expression.

"My name is Artemis," he confessed, his voice tinged with a hint of vulnerability. "I... I haven't shared it before because... because it's unconventional."

"Eleanor" I exclaimed, breaking the stunned silence that enveloped the room even though I knew he was already aware of my name. "I love that name! It's unique, just like you."

Artemis offered a shy smile in response, the tension dissipating as the weight of his secret was lifted from his shoulders. The boys, eager to unravel the mysteries that shrouded our lives, bombarded him with questions about his namesake.

"Why Artemis?" Ethan inquired, his curiosity piqued.

Artemis hesitated, his gaze drifting to the moonlit sky as if seeking solace in its celestial embrace. "My parents were... aficionados of philosophy and Ancient Greek mythology," he explained, his voice tinged with a hint of embarrassment. "They named me after the goddess of the hunt and wilderness."

The revelation sparked a flurry of laughter and teasing from the boys, their jovial banter echoing off the walls of our shared sanctuary. Yet, amidst the lighthearted jests, a sense of understanding blossomed between us, binding us together in our shared quirks and eccentricities.

As the night wore on, the conversation veered towards more personal topics, each of us revealing fragments of our pasts like shards of a broken mirror. Ethan shared anecdotes of his hectic upbringing, James delved into the complexities of his academic pursuits, and Owen reminisced about the bonds of brotherhood that had shaped his life.

And then, it was my turn.

The weight of my words hung heavy in the air as I recounted the fractured tapestry of my childhood—the constant barrage of criticism, the echoing silence of neglect, and the searing pain of misplaced love. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I bared my soul to my newfound confidants, the raw vulnerability of my confession laying bare the scars that marred my heart.

"I... I never felt like I belonged," I confessed, my voice barely above a whisper. "My parents... they resented me, and I resented them in return. They taught me that love is expressed through violence, cruel words and relentless punches."

Silence enveloped the room, broken only by the gentle rhythm of our collective breaths. In the stillness of the night, I found solace in the warmth of their understanding gazes, a silent promise of solidarity amidst the chaos of our unique lives.

As the first light of dawn painted the sky in hues of pink and gold, we huddled together in quiet contemplation, united by the bonds of friendship forged in the vessel of our shared pain. And in that moment of shared vulnerability, I knew that no matter what trials lay ahead, we would face them together, bound by the unbreakable ties of camaraderie and compassion.