the cut that always bleeds.

Since his return to Hawkins, Will Byers has been in a waking nightmare. The Mind Flayer's dark presence returned, a constant reminder of the unspeakable horrors he endured in the Upside Down. Vecna's intents and essence seeps into his subconscious, poisoning his peace.

Amidst this, Will confronts another, equally daunting issue: his own heart. Coming to terms with his buried feelings for Mike Wheeler, his best friend, swirl in a maelstrom of confusion and longing. The fragile boundaries of friendship blur, leaving Will vulnerable to the agonizing pangs of unrequited love.

The reunion of their party brings little solace. Witnessing Mike's swap of spit and flirting with Eleven, who was basically a sister to him, cuts deep. Will's silent pain worsens as he watches, silenced by the dried flower petals in his throat.

The bullying and harassment at school doesn't help, chipping at his self-esteem. Friends, once a sanctuary, now seem oblivious to his silent suffering. Haunted by nightmares and taunted by reality, Will's facade begins to fracture. His fragile grip on sanity falters, and the cracks spread, threatening to shatter him completely.