Chapter 1: The weight of Expectations.

Tom’s Pov

The sun was setting over the quiet streets of Oakwood, casting long shadows across the worn pavement as I trudged wearily towards the modest house that had been my refuge for as long as I could remember. As I approached the front door, I could already hear the familiar sounds of raised voices and bitter arguments emanating from within, signaling another evening filled with tension and strife.Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the door and stepped inside, bracing myself for the onslaught of criticism and condemnation that awaited me. My parents were seated at the kitchen table, their expressions pinched and disapproving as they eyed me with thinly veiled disdain.

"Look who decided to grace us with his presence," my father sneered, his voice dripping with contempt.

"I hope you're not expecting a warm welcome, because you certainly won't find one here."I clenched my jaw tightly, biting back the retort that threatened to spill from my lips. I had grown accustomed to their barbs and insults over the years, but that didn't make them any easier to bear.

"What's the matter, Tom? Couldn't find a job again today?" my mother chimed in, her voice laced with scorn.

"Or were you too busy dreaming up another one of your ridiculous schemes?"

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to maintain a semblance of composure in the face of their relentless onslaught.

"I'm trying, okay?" I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper. "It's not like there are jobs just falling out of the sky."My father scoffed derisively, shaking his head in disgust.

"That's the problem with you, Tom. You're always making excuses instead of taking responsibility for your own life. If you had half the ambition of your brother, maybe you wouldn't be such a disappointment."The mention of my brother sent a fresh wave of resentment coursing through my veins. He had always been the golden child, the one who could do no wrong in my parents' eyes. Meanwhile, I was constantly compared to him, always falling short of their impossibly high expectations.

As the barrage of insults continued to rain down upon me, I felt the weight of their words pressing down on me like a suffocating blanket. It was a familiar feeling, one that had become all too common in my life. But no matter how many times I tried to shake it off, it always seemed to find its way back to me, dragging me down into the depths of despair.

Unable to bear their scrutiny any longer, I turned on my heel and stormed out of the house, my heart heavy with the burden of their disappointment. I didn't know where I was going, only that I needed to escape the suffocating atmosphere of my family home.I wandered aimlessly through the dimly lit streets, my thoughts swirling in a tumultuous whirlwind of anger and frustration.

Everywhere I looked, I saw reminders of my own inadequacy, of the countless times I had tried and failed to live up to the expectations that had been thrust upon me since birth. Eventually, I found myself standing outside the door of my friend Jake's apartment, my knuckles rapping against the weathered wood in a desperate plea for sanctuary. Jake was one of the few people who had never judged me or looked down on me for my shortcomings, and for that, I was eternally grateful.

As he opened the door and greeted me with a warm smile, I felt a small flicker of hope ignite within me. Maybe, just maybe, there was still a chance for me to find my place in this world, to prove to myself and to others that I was capable of more than they had ever given me credit for.But as I stepped across the threshold into the safety of Jake's home, I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that no matter how hard I tried, I would always be weighed down by the expectations of others, shackled to a destiny that seemed determined to crush me beneath its heel.I collapsed onto Jake's worn-out couch, exhaustion weighing heavily on my shoulders as I leaned back and closed my eyes, hoping to find a moment of respite from the relentless barrage of negativity that had consumed my day. But before I could even catch my breath, the rumbling of my empty stomach reminded me of another pressing need.

"Hey, Jake," I began tentatively, my voice barely above a whisper. "Do you think maybe I could borrow a few bucks for some food? I haven't eaten all day, and I'm starving."Jake's expression hardened, his features twisting into a scowl as he regarded me with thinly veiled disgust.

"Are you kidding me, Tom?" he spat, his voice dripping with contempt. "I've already done enough for you. I'm not your personal ATM."I recoiled as if struck, the sting of his words cutting deeper than any physical blow. I had never expected Jake to turn on me like this, to join the ranks of those who saw me as nothing more than a burden to be cast aside.

"But Jake, I" I stammered, my words trailing off as I searched for the right thing to say, the right way to plead my case. But it was no use. The damage had already been done, and Jake's anger burned like a fire, consuming everything in its path

."Get out, Tom," Jake growled, his voice low and menacing. "I don't want to see your sorry face around here anymore. You're nothing but trouble, and I've had enough of it."

With a heavy heart, I rose from the couch and stumbled towards the door, my footsteps heavy with the weight of rejection. As I stepped out into the cold night air, I couldn't help but wonder if this was how it would always be, if I would forever be condemned to wander the streets alone, searching for a glimmer of hope in a world that seemed determined to crush my spirit beneath its heel.