Zane paced back and forth in front of the modest house he'd found after asking around town. It was Leo's aunt's house, a small, rundown place with a creaky wooden fence. His heart pounded as he stared at the door.
"What am I even doing here?" he muttered to himself.
He hadn't seen Leo in weeks. The classroom felt emptier, quieter without the boy who never raised his voice yet always managed to make Zane feel... seen. When Zane overheard the teachers' conversation, guilt had consumed him. He knew he was the reason Leo's aunt pulled him out of school.
Taking a deep breath, he walked up to the door and knocked.
It swung open to reveal Mrs. Lim, Leo's aunt, her sharp eyes narrowing at him. "What do you want?"
"Um..." Zane hesitated. He wasn't used to being nervous. "I'm Zane. I—I go to school with Leo. I just... I came to ask if he's okay."
Mrs. Lim's expression hardened. "Leo doesn't go to school anymore, and it's none of your business."
"Please, ma'am," Zane said, his voice more desperate than he intended. "He's one of the smartest people I know. He doesn't deserve this."
Mrs. Lim crossed her arms. "Deserve? Do you know what it's like to feed someone who's not even your child? To have to explain to your own kids why there's less for them because of someone else?"
Zane blinked, startled by her words.
"This isn't your problem, rich boy," she continued. "Go back to your nice house and leave us alone."
Before Zane could respond, the door slammed shut.
Realization
Zane stood frozen on the porch for a long moment. He couldn't shake the image of Leo's calm, quiet face—the way he never fought back, never complained, even when life seemed so unfair.
"You okay, kid?"
Zane turned to see an elderly man next door watching him from his porch. His name was Mr. Hargrove, a retired factory worker who often sat outside smoking a pipe.
"I'm fine," Zane said automatically.
Mr. Hargrove chuckled. "You're not fooling anyone. Let me guess—you're here about Leo."
Zane nodded slowly.
"Good boy, that one," Mr. Hargrove said, his voice thoughtful. "Quiet, hardworking. Got a tough hand dealt to him, though. Life's not fair, son. Some of us gotta fight harder just to get the basics."
The words hit Zane like a punch to the gut. He thought of his own life—his parents who doted on him, his warm meals, his comfortable bed. He'd taken it all for granted, and now he couldn't stop thinking about Leo's tired yet composed expression.
"Thanks," Zane said softly before walking away.
Years of Guilt
For the rest of high school, Zane carried the weight of guilt like a stone in his chest. Every time he saw Leo's empty desk or heard his name in passing, the memories of that cafeteria fight came rushing back. He threw himself into schoolwork, sports, and extracurriculars, but nothing filled the void.
His friend Darren eventually noticed.
"Man, what's with you?" Darren asked one afternoon. "You're acting weird."
Zane shook his head. "It's nothing."
But it wasn't nothing. The guilt lingered, growing heavier as time passed.
A Chance Encounter
Years later, Zane found himself in a bustling university town, navigating the complexities of his academic and internship life. The weight of the years seemed to settle on him more heavily as he tried to forget the mistakes of his past, particularly the guilt that still lingered over his treatment of Leo.
