Chapter 2 — Childhood: The Boy Made of Quiet
Arin sat at the edge of the playground, knees hugging himself, watching Neel climb the jungle gym.
"Come play!" Neel called. "It's fun!"
"I'm… okay here," Arin mumbled.
Neel frowned. "Why are you always alone? Mom says you need to be more… cheerful."
Arin said nothing. He never knew what "cheerful" meant when the weight of their words pressed down on him like stones.
Later, at dinner:
"Arin, why didn't you finish your homework?" his father barked.
"I did…" Arin whispered.
"You did?" his mother snapped, eyes sharp.
"Yes, but…"
"Don't but me. Finish it properly!"
Arin's hands trembled.
Neel smirked nervously, biting his lip, pretending nothing happened.
After they left the room, Arin whispered to the empty corner, "I'm here… I exist… but no one sees me."
And no one did.
---
That night, he lay in bed, listening to Neel laugh in the next room, imagining he was the golden child, the one everyone loved.
Arin closed his eyes.
If no one noticed him, he decided, maybe he could disappear inside himself.
Maybe that was safer.
But even as he fell asleep, he didn't know how much of him would need to vanish to survive.