I n s t e a d.

Instead of letting her fall,
he picked her up.
Instead of letting him crash,
she saved him.
Instead of letting each other leave,
they went to each other.
{+++}
The path that Ethan Ace was on was never a good one, he was brought onto this path not by choice but by his parents. He grew up around drugs, alcohol, and gangs. He was taught to go to violence as his first instinct, and not to stop until the beg they for mercy. If they didn't, he didn't stop. All Ethan knew was violence, all he ever wanted was violence. Ethan was never shown love, he never understood it. He taught for it to be a weakness, and Ethan wanted power so he deemed it as awful.

Most picture Ellie James as innocent but she was far from it. She was bruised, misplaced, abused by people around her. She was quiet, and caring but never dared to talk. Some thought she was mute, others thought it was for attention, but they never thought it to be a defense mechanism. She shielded herself from the world, from anymore pain. All Ellie knew was pain and hurt. She was taught that she was an object for people to hurt, she she swore off anyone who showed her kindness. And declared it only ends and pain, and cries.

So what happens when they only talk at night, when she's painting and he's writing. Hiding from the world they confide in each other, telling each other secrets, wishes, hopes, desires, everything until they knew each other better than themselves.
And instead from turning from the kindness, she except it.
And instead of fighting the love, he fell into it.