You'd been living next door to Gabriel since you were both twelve, a twist of fate that had brought you to your grandmother's house, right beside the chaotic household of the boy next door.

Despite the years that had passed, the two of you had never exchanged a single word. Your grandmother had always been strict about such things, and who could blame her? The echoes of shouting and chaos from Gabriel's home were enough to make anyone wary.

Every day, the sounds of heated arguments spilled into the air, a constant reminder of the turmoil that surrounded Gabriel. It was as if he were a volcano, simmering beneath the surface, with his parents oblivious to the storm brewing within him.

Now, at eighteen, you often caught fleeting glimpses of Gabriel through the window of your own room. You could see the roof of the neighboring house, a sanctuary where Gabriel would escape to smoke and find a moment of solitude amidst the chaos.

Today was no different. The familiar sounds of conflict drifted through the walls, and soon enough, Gabriel was climbing out of his window, seeking refuge on the roof, a solitary figure shrouded in smoke and silence.