Eight years ago, I was framed for drunk driving, a tragedy that claimed dozens of lives. I wanted to expose the truth, but I found my parents had already fabricated evidence for my adopted brother, Caleb, forcing me to take the fall. I pleaded with my fiancée, Ashley, but she just screamed, calling me a murderer. Later, the victims’ families, in their grief-fueled rage, brutally severed my hand tendons, leaving me unable to ever hold a paintbrush again. Eight years on, I walked out of prison and became a security guard. My former fiancée, Ashley, reappeared. Her eyes were red, her voice laced with accusation as she gritted out: “Leo, why did you disappear? Do you have any idea how long your parents and I have been looking for you?” I sat motionless in the security booth, dressed in my uniform. “Ma’am, I think you’ve got the wrong person.” But Ashley wouldn’t let it go. She lunged forward, grabbing my hand, trying to drag me out. “You’re always so stubborn. Eight years ago, your stubbornness killed so many people. How long are you going to keep this up?” Her voice was loud, but it choked off the moment her gaze fell upon my right hand. She lowered her head, staring at my twisted hand, her fingers trembling as they traced the grotesque scars. Eight years had passed, and the old wounds no longer hurt. But Ashley’s fingertips felt like knives, slicing open my old scars inch by inch. Cold sweat instantly drenched my clothes. The terror of having my tendons brutally severed eight years ago came rushing back, and I couldn’t stop my body from shaking uncontrollably. Ashley’s voice was hoarse. “Leo, back then, did it hurt?” “I’m sorry.” I didn’t answer her, but her strange behavior had already drawn the attention of the security captain. He ran over anxiously, shouting, “What are you doing? Let him go!” Before he could get close, a group of students from a nearby art academy swarmed Ashley. “You’re Ashley, aren’t you? The most famous artist in the country! Could you sign an autograph for me?” Thanks to those students, Ashley released me. I instinctively took a step back, widening the distance between us. The captain finally understood what was happening. He turned to me, his face filled with shock. “These students are saying you’re someone important. Who exactly are you?” Before I could answer, one of the students spoke again. “I heard you’ve been looking for your fiancé from back then, the one who caused all that trouble. It couldn’t be this security guard, could it?” The student gave me a dismissive glance. “But your fiancé was a prodigy artist. This guy’s just a security guard, and he’s disabled. You must have the wrong person.” I gave a bitter laugh. Yeah, that’s me. Now, I can’t even hold a paintbrush. There’s nothing left of my old self. But Ashley, who was signing autographs, heard it. Her face instantly darkened, and her hand stopped mid-signature. “Shut up!” “This is between Leo and me. It’s not for you to talk about!” She pushed through the crowd and walked towards me, extending a gilded invitation. I looked down, the words on the card stinging my eyes. [Caleb Miller & Ashley Wedding Invitation] So, she was marrying my adopted brother. “Leo.” A flicker of pain crossed Ashley’s face. “Your mistake eight years ago caused me so much pain. Caleb was there for me, he stood by me for eight years. I can’t let him down.” “You once said you wanted to see me in a wedding dress. I hope you’ll come.” I took Ashley’s wedding invitation and simply placed it on the counter beside me, ignoring it. Just as I thought the matter was over, that very night, I received a termination notice from the factory. “You’re still young, and you used to be a great artist. You’re too good for this place.” Mr. Henderson’s voice trembled as he spoke over the phone. “I’ll pay you $500 for this month, but please, just don’t come back.” I was stunned. Before I could ask for more details, he had already blocked my number. Then, Ashley’s call came through. “Leo.” Her voice was thick with exhaustion. “You shouldn’t be a security guard. I’ve talked to the factory. Come home. Your parents and I will take care of you. I can even help you get back into the art world. You don’t have to…” She hadn’t finished her sentence before I hung up.
Why? Why did she always get to decide everything? Eight years ago, she wouldn’t listen to my explanations, convinced I was in the wrong. She punished me in her ‘own right way’ – letting my hand tendons be severed. And now, she doesn’t ask me either. She unilaterally shatters the peace of my life, without ever having trusted me or doubted the ‘truth’! Ashley’s words filled me with a nauseating rage. I sat on my dorm bed, taking a long time to calm down. My roommate, Mike, noticed something was off and poured me a cup of hot water. “What’s going on?” I knew he had a million questions. He had been good to me. When I first got out of prison, I had nothing, and my hand was crippled. He took pity on me, stepped in, and got me this security guard job. Even though the pay was only a measly $200 a month, with food and lodging included, it at least gave me a place to go. So, I decided not to hide anything from him. I bought some food, and I told him everything. He listened in silence for a long time, then patted my shoulder, letting out a sigh. “Forget it. We’ll find another job. If you have nowhere to go, I have a basement at my place. You can stay there for now.” I was supposed to move out of the dorm the next day. As I finished packing my luggage and stepped out, the victims’ families, somehow having learned of my whereabouts, were already blocking the dorm entrance. Seeing me, their emotions immediately ignited. “You animal! We finally found you!” “You killed our loved ones, why do you still get to live?” With that, they swarmed me, surrounding me completely. I was about to speak, but a kick landed on my stomach. I crumpled to the ground, clutching my stomach in pain, and then fists and sticks rained down on me like hail. Crimson blood seeped from my body, and my luggage scattered across the ground. *Drip, drop—* The sky was a dismal gray, and then, the rain began to pour down. Whether they were tired of hitting me, or because of the rain, they stopped their assault. A few frustrated kicks later, they left. After everyone dispersed, I was the only one left lying on the ground, unable to move. The heavy rain washed away the bloodstains on my body. I tried to get up several times, only to fall back down. “Are you okay?” Just then, Mike ran over with an umbrella. He helped me up from the ground and took me to the hospital on his old motorcycle. But no matter if it was a big hospital or a small clinic, they all waved their hands, refusing to admit me. Finally, an old doctor, unable to bear it, secretly slipped me a bottle of medicine and explained, “Kid, someone’s put the word out. No one dares to treat you.” “Go home quickly!” I laughed, tears streaming down my face. Ashley, is this what you meant by ‘helping’ me? You’re truly ruthless! In the end, I had no choice but to return to Mike’s basement. But just as I walked in and prepared to rest, there was a knock at the door. It was Caleb and my parents, Mr. and Mrs. Miller. Caleb saw me and immediately his eyes welled up. “Leo, why are you living in a place like this?” “I know you’ve always liked Ashley. If you don’t want this, then… then I just won’t get married. I’ll give her back to you…” By the end, he was whimpering softly, as if bearing an immense grievance. This was Caleb’s specialty. Ever since we were kids, whenever he wanted something from me, he’d use this trick. Because his parents had died in a car accident trying to save my parents, my parents showered all their guilt and affection on him. Whenever he cried, it was automatically assumed I had bullied him.
Sure enough, seeing his pitiful state, my father stepped forward and slapped me. “Don’t you dare put on such a disgusting act here.” “Do you think putting on this pathetic show will make us feel sorry for you, or make Ashley come back to you? Don’t dream about it!” My mother, Mrs. Miller, quickly comforted Caleb, then said to me coldly, “Alright, someone’s already found you. If you don’t come back with us now, the outside world will start saying we mistreated you, and it wouldn’t be good if those busybodies figured out what happened back then.” “Come back with us now!” Seeing that I didn’t move, my father interpreted it as a challenge to his authority. He angrily kicked me, hitting my unhealed wound square on. Blood seeped through, and my father’s hand, which was raised to hit me again, froze in mid-air. After a moment, he slowly lowered his hand. My mother’s voice also took on a hint of worry. “What are those injuries on your body?” I gritted my teeth, my body still trembling slightly from the intense pain. Caleb, seeing this, a flicker of panic crossed his face. “Dad, Mom, Leo must be so angry he’s hurting himself, like they do on TV.” He said, wiping away tears as he walked up to me. “Leo, please don’t make Dad and Mom worry. Don’t be so careless with yourself.” He sounded sincere, but then he leaned close to my ear and whispered, “Why didn’t those people just beat you to death? So useless!” After that, he feigned concern, giving me a few more insincere warnings. My parents clearly believed Caleb’s words again, and my father scoffed, “If he wants to harm himself, let him. Caleb, don’t be too kind. Let’s go, ignore him!” With that, they turned and left with Caleb. They didn’t see the triumphant smirk Caleb shot me as he looked back. After they left, I closed the door, retrieved the first aid kit, and, enduring the pain, changed my bandages. Just as I finished, Mike knocked and came in. He rubbed his hands, his face full of difficulty. “Sigh…” He paused for a long time, as if choosing his words carefully, then finally spoke again. “It’s not that I don’t want you to stay, it’s just… sigh, those people from the city came to talk to me. My kids are still young, and I just can’t risk it…” At that point, what more was there for me to understand? I didn’t blame him. I knew he had done his best. I thanked him again, and to avoid burdening him, I moved out that very night. As soon as I left, Ashley arrived with a moving company. Seeing her, my suspicions were confirmed. I frowned and spoke. “Ashley, what’s the point of this? Why threaten innocent people?” Ashley’s eyes darted away, glancing at Mike’s house, then she said, “Leo, I don’t want to either. You’re forcing my hand.” “Just come back with me. I’ll help you get out of this mess. What’s so hard about that?” I didn’t answer. The atmosphere became instantly oppressive. From that small town to the city, we drove in silence. When we arrived, it was a small apartment, and my parents were already waiting for me on the sofa. Seeing them, I instinctively wanted to leave, but Ashley slammed the door shut. My father spoke first. “Where are you going? Haven’t you disgraced us enough?” My mother scoffed. “For a murderer like you, it’s a blessing we’re even giving you a place to hide.” “I know you’re upset about Ashley marrying Caleb, but look at yourself. Do you think someone with a criminal record like you deserves Ashley? Until the wedding, you’ll stay here. You must report to us before going out and wear a mask!” My parents’ words almost made me laugh out loud. “Dad, Mom, me? A murderer? A disgrace?” “About what happened back then, you yourselves know…”
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