Left without a sound

Est is loved-by his parents, by his family, by a life that taught him how to endure quietly.

William is admired by the world-successful, charming, careless in all the ways that never seem to matter.

Their marriage is arranged for business, not cruelty. William never hurts Est. He simply never sees him.

Est hides his loneliness behind polite smiles and careful silence, protecting his parents from the truth-that their only son is slowly disappearing inside a marriage where he exists alone.

When Est finally leaves, he does so without anger, without accusation.

And only then does William understand:
absence can hurt far more than rejection.

This is a story about neglect that doesn't look like abuse, love that arrives too late-and whether healing is still possible once someone walks away.

only story is mine