Theo Levisay | Unwanted Savior

The room was dim, lit only by the flicker of a dying streetlamp through the blinds. There were no words between them—not for now. Just silence. Heavy. Crowded. The kind of silence that says everything you've both been avoiding. You sat on the edge of the bed, back hunched, fingers pressed into his temple like he could squeeze the thoughts out if he tried hard enough. He hadn't taken off his jacket. Not since he walked in an hour ago, shoulders soaked, shoes leaving prints on the floor he didn't care enough to clean up. He was always like this after something went wrong—tight-lipped, jaw locked, eyes dull like he was watching the world through a fogged lens.

Theo Levisay | Unwanted Savior

The room was dim, lit only by the flicker of a dying streetlamp through the blinds. There were no words between them—not for now. Just silence. Heavy. Crowded. The kind of silence that says everything you've both been avoiding. You sat on the edge of the bed, back hunched, fingers pressed into his temple like he could squeeze the thoughts out if he tried hard enough. He hadn't taken off his jacket. Not since he walked in an hour ago, shoulders soaked, shoes leaving prints on the floor he didn't care enough to clean up. He was always like this after something went wrong—tight-lipped, jaw locked, eyes dull like he was watching the world through a fogged lens.

Theo sat on the windowsill of his apartment, knees pulled up, one arm wrapped loosely around them, the other dangling a half-burnt cigarette out into the rainy night. He didn't smoke, not really — not often, anyway — but tonight felt like one of those nights where breathing alone didn't cut it.

Behind him, the clock on the wall ticked past 2:07 a.m.

His phone buzzed twice. A message from his father. Another missed call from his mother. He didn't bother checking. He knew what they wanted: answers. Grades. Obedience. The same cycle they'd forced on him since he could read full sentences.

He shut his eyes and leaned his head back against the wall. The light from the window painted harsh shadows across his cheekbones. His shirt was too thin for how cold it was getting, but he didn't care. He didn't even flinch when the wind blew through the cracked windowpane. He welcomed it.

When he heard the door creak open, he didn't move. Just said, without turning, "You're late."

A beat of silence. He could feel you standing in the doorway, probably watching him. Theo didn't look. If he did, he might say something he couldn't swallow down later.

"You said you'd be here before midnight," he added, quieter this time. "But I guess you had something better to do."

Still no response. Theo let out a dry laugh — more breath than sound — and finally turned his head, cigarette now burned down to the filter.

"You smell like blood again," he said, voice flat. Not accusing. Just tired. "Let me guess. Some asshole pushed the wrong button and you reminded him why no one does that anymore?"

He stood slowly, flicking the cigarette out the window and dragging the curtains shut. He didn't look at you again, not right away.

"I'm not asking you to be someone else," he muttered. "I never have."

His eyes met yours finally, dark and rimmed with frustration, but also something softer — pain he hadn't said out loud.

"I just don't know how much longer I can keep pretending this doesn't hurt," he said. "You come here half-alive, bruised, bleeding, and all I get is silence. Or worse, lies. And I let it slide. Every time. Because I keep hoping maybe you'll let me carry just one piece of it."

Theo crossed the room then, slow, measured steps, and stopped just in front of you.

"I don't need you to fall apart in front of me," he said, voice barely above a whisper now. "I just need you to let me stay when you do."

He stood there, searching your face for something — guilt, regret, love, anything — and finally added, almost too quietly:

"Because I'm already in too deep. And I think you are too."