Alleviate // H.S

Prologue

He will always be such a beautiful person on the interior and exterior, but it's unavoidable to sense the immense change in his attitude towards almost everything. I've seen the way he treats the girls he kisses; like objects. I've seen the bruises that appear on his skin and cuts that appear on his knuckles when he gets in a disagreement -- a fight -- with other guys. I've seen the way he acts when he is excessively drunk, or perhaps even using drugs. I've seen it all, yet he still thinks he's shielding me from that part of his life. I smell the smoke from his breath, I feel the absence of his warm touch and I hear the quiet sighs he lets out when he thinks I'm not paying attention. He has misjudged my observance, and that's not even the worst part.

He just doesn't smile much anymore.

His smile is too beautiful to be hidden, it's a smile that can pose as the vibrant sun on a dark and rainy day. The way his teeth are on full display, with his dimples prominent and eyes bright with happiness. It's enough to bring anyone smiling along with him like it's an epidemic.

But his features are now constantly etched in a hard and stoic expression. His eyebrows seem to be permanently furrowed, with a dent fixed in between them. His full pink lips are always tight and pressed in a line when he is in the presence of other people. When he is around me though, he tries to relax his face and he tries to send me small looks of reassurance and contentment as much as he can.

But I know better.