B R O K E N

"I wish I was never born," the words echoed in Toby's head as he stared at his reflection, a mixture of despair and anger evident in his eyes. The scar on his left cheek, a reminder of that terrible day 10 years ago, seemed to mock him."Why did this have to happen to me?" he thought to himself. "What did I do to deserve this?"

Toby's childhood had been stolen from him, and the aftermath had left him feeling like a broken shell of a person.

The scar on his cheek was not the only reminder of that fateful day. Toby's body bore other scars, both physical and emotional, that served as constant reminders of the trauma he had endured. He had developed a deep-seated mistrust of others, finding it hard to form genuine relationships with those around him.

Toby's parents had tried their best to support him, but he often found their attempts to be suffocating. They treated him like a fragile object that needed to be handled with care, never truly understanding the depth of his pain.

At school, Toby was isolated and alone.

The few friends he had were more acquaintances than anything else, and he found it difficult to connect with them on a deeper level. He often found himself shutting down whenever anyone tried to get close to him, afraid that they would see the brokenness inside.