Not Without You

dma, why does it always feel like... no matter what I do, I'll never be en

She placed a gentle hand on his sh

hey see you are smart and determined, they're reminded of what

tears glisteni

nts leave me? Was I not go

. She turned her gaze to t

ur parents... they had their reasons. But I made a promise

How much longer, Grandma? Can't you

ily, meeting hi

Your parents didn't leave because you weren't enough. The

e. "That doesn't make it hurt less. I'm tired of bei

ront of him, grippi

n all their opinions combined. One day, you'll see it. And when

g at the sadness in her eyes. "Okay," he muttered, wipi

a small smile, brushing his hair back. "Now, let's

or between them. It wasn't much, but it was all they had. Th

hink about... th

ay," she admitted. "Your mother, especially. She wa

wl. "Then why didn't she stay? If she

es, being brave means walking away from the ones you love to pro

enched. "I don'

his. "You will. And when you do, yo

iling. The name "Mason" floated in his mind like a puzzle piece th

e sat on her mat, her

r voice trembling. "But how do I tell you that the world you

acket as they stood in the crisp mountain air. "Promise me some

, his eyes scann

anyone make you feel small. St

wing the lump in hi

ou won't try. You'll do it. Because you're destin

yes, his voice cracking. "I'll m

," she said, pull

as the train began to move, her figure growing smaller with every second. "Good

gers over its worn edges, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. Inside were the k

hope I'm doing the right thing. He's ready f

x away. "You'd be so proud of him," she

the old wooden box. She opened the door to fin

ace greeted warm

ting with her hands.

r. He left early this morning. Headed f

voice barely above a

o interfere, Lucy. If you have something to s

"I... I just wanted to know. Thank you, Grace."

or child," she murmured, closing the door.

of his cramped dorm room. Four other guys were sprawled across

Rueben. That's David, Sam, and over there, that's Francis." He nod

duffel bag sprawled across it stopped him.

d toward Francis. "It's his. Don

it by Francis's bed. As he turned, Fr

uch my things?" Francis sneer

-looking waste.

im. "Look, man," he said evenly, "no ne

am? I'm Francis Mason, heir to the Mason family. This is my

'm sorry for touching your bag.

voice dripping with arrogance. "Don't ever c

g Francis back. "Hey, cool it, Fran

kicking his bag aside. "I'll let it go thi

ned to his bed. Rueben gave him a pat on the should

k muttered. "

en was already by the door, adjusting his backpack. "Morning,

trying to figure o

ude," Rueben admitted.

. "Sounds l

campus, registering for classes, an

y the end of the day, they'd bonded. "Roommates, classmates, a

I think I'm gonna ne

the student canteen, but Jack stopped short, his steps faltering. "I,

You sure? The foo

away. He decided to get a part-time gig job so he c

w failed attempts, he entered a bustling student bar. The manag

his arms. "I like that. Start tomorrow.

" Jack said, his

otted Rueben with a group of

ver. "Jack! What a

aid, scratching the back of his

"Figures. Smells like the kind of

s a warning look.

him, Rueben. He's a waste. Maybe he and

f to stay calm. "You can insult me, Francis

And what if I do?

o," a sharp vo

woman storming toward them. "

o you think you are, picking on Jack? Are you on

ered. "Do I

Victoria snapped. "But I know

th disbelief. "Him? A Mas

efore anyone could stop her. The slap echo

he shouted. "

slap. An

ulling Victoria back as the

red and swollen, an

ictoria spat. "Maybe I sho

furiously. "You'll pay for this. Both

ut firm. "Let them come. I'm

e in tatters. "You'll r

ms, smirking. "We'll se

tered to Sam, "I think Fran

ned. "Ab

asn't close to Victoria. He was used to being mocked by friends and strangers. So he had

nt when he spotted Richard walki

had the upper hand, though Jack and Vi

rd, ov

ack. "And as for this ugly girl, she can warm my bed first, and then you

ria to stand their ground. Victoria spat at Francis again, and he rushed for

do is hide be

Richard, "What's taking so long? Deal with him! Stop was

vaguely familiar. This wasn't the time to puzzle over it; all he cared about now was how his sis

c, what are you doing here? I've been waiting at th

Victoria then realized that the bodyguard Franc

ee Richard coming in, surrounded b

idders. And right now, the Mason Family was at the top. He'd been hired by the external Ma

er brother, who never showed up as planned. After an hour, she tried calling, b

the "backup" Franc

ked loudly, pointing at Victoria

a bitch!" Vict

d replied coldly, his expression

ister? Are you joking, or do you no

room, silencing everyone as they

he shouted, only to realize he was slapped by one of Richard's bodyguards, who stepped u

hefty body. "Damn fatso," the bodyguard muttered as he march