Short Stories

Happy Birthday

Max rolled around in bed. He slept crooked again. He was such an idiot.

It was already 6 am and another birthday. More specifically his 18th birthday. He was officially a legal adult. Why did he feel so empty then? Maybe because he always felt alone?

Yes, he had friends, but he never felt like he belonged with them. In reality the only friends he felt like actually cared for him were Joshua and his online friend, Ash, short for Ashley.

Joshua would usually make sure he was fed and was healthy, but ever since he had started a relationship with a guy named paul, the relationship between the brunets started straining. They barely hung out anymore.

As for Ash, well it would be difficult for both of them to hang out. Since, well Ash, he was still in highschool since the school system of his place was completely different from Max and the guy literally lives in a whole other country!

If Max was honest, he didn't really care of his birthdays anymore. He used to really love and long for them when he was younger, but recently he had started seeing it as every other day.

Who knows if anyone even remembered about it. If Max was another person, he wouldn't even have taken the time to even think about his birthday.

He really hoped his brother wasn't coming to the house. The two had gotten into a fight a few weeks prior. It was such an avoidable argument if only Max was just a bit more careful! Why is he so stupid?

He had just came home from Joshua's house after a sleepover and he had accidentally closed the door too loud which made his nephew start crying. His brother was visiting that day with his family which consist of Max' brother-in-law, his name was Mark, himself, Matthew and their one year old son, Micah.

{Matthew is transgender(FtM)}

His brother was very protective of his son, so he had started to yell at Max. Saying some hurtful things that broke the teenager's heart into a million little pieces.

He didn't even know if his heart would have the capacity to rebuild itself like the last few times. That interaction had also triggered Maxx back into his old habits which he had gave up so long ago.

Funny how one action can change someone right?

He knew the consequences of using the little device, but it helped him calm down, it was actually like a friend to him at this point.

Max changed after that argument. He started becoming more distant from everyone. Often locking himself up in his room and not talking to anyone unless necessary. He would often just smoke in there.

Joshua had tried many times to get Max to come out, but everytime Max made a lousy excuse.

"Sorry, uh, I'm grounded.."

Which wasn't far from the truth. His parents had grounded him after they had found out about the incident. His mother looked at him with disappointment, while his father looked like he was about to cut his head off. His brother-in-law didn't even make an effort to talk to him.

Hah, he deserved to be ignored.

He started to tear up in his bed. He was so stupid. So so stupid. If only he had closed the door lightly, then he would've still had a healthy relationship with his brother and brother-in-law! Why was he so useless? All he did was bring harm and trouble to his loved ones. Everywhere he walked, he felt as though he brought chaos. Why? Why? Why? He was only 18, he didn't deserve any of this! He just wants to be happy. Nothing more. He wants to be loved, cared for. What was so hard about that? Hell! Even his old teachers cared more for him!