Anonymous lover (Phan)

We put our past behind us and live for the future

Alex had never said anything negative about Dan's mother, wanting him to form his own opinion of her. He had no right to try and force Dan to hate her like many parents often do without reason. Oh he had many reasons to and it was probably a good idea but he refrained and he was glad that he did, Dan would truly see what his mother really was. A monster.

He despised Dan's mother and often pondered why on earth he stayed with her for so long, why he let her treat him the way she did and why he hadn't reached out for help sooner. Instead he sucked it up and pulled on his smile for everyone, his own safety paper bag, hiding his emotional and sometimes physical bruises from the world.

It was only until his close friend Steven had pointed it out that he had started to tap into the real world and realise just how bad he was being treated, not only was his ex-wife emotionally abusive but physically too. He was a strong man, both physically and mentally and would defend his son till the end...but when it came to his wife, he coward submissively in fear of her hurting his son and losing her. He didn't need or want her at all and oh boy was she not worth him but she had gotten into his head as a young teen and manipulated him into thinking that he needed her, he remembered a few times that she had threatened her own life and the safety of Dan if he left her. So he stayed...for 10 whole years of mental and physical abuse.

Alex's mum had died, shortly after he had married his wife, causing him to break. It was a tragic loss since he was so close to his mother but he had been restricted from seeing her by the wife's orders, he couldn't even say goodbye as she lied in her death bed and pleaded to see her son. Despite this, it allowed Steven to pull him out of this toxic relationship he had been in for the past 10 years. 

Steven had known Alex hadn't been happy with his wife and only seemed to brighten up when he spent time with Dan or him. He had seen the scars and bruises, each time came with a new excuse. He wasn't falling for it and it broke his heart to see his dear friend so broken and lifeless. He had listened to Alex break down and tell him all about what was happening at home, despite his suspicions it had hurt to hear what Alex had been through and had brought him a small flat somewhere far away from his wife, as well as help him move out and sign the divorce and custody papers.

Alex wanted to leave more than anything but still believed something bad would happen to Dan. But Steven had emotionally supported him throughout the whole of it and promised to always be there for him. Little did he know that his life long friend would in fact become his soon to be husband and a life of happiness would quickly follow. If it wasn't for Steven then Alex would have never left.