Eli's room felt unfamiliar.
Not because it had changed—but because he had.
Riven sat on the edge of the bed, hands folded tightly in his lap, staring at the floor as if it might give him answers. The door was closed, the house unnervingly quiet. Somewhere downstairs, a television murmured, but it felt distant—like a world Eli no longer belonged to.
Eli leaned against the door for a moment after closing it, releasing a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
"Well," he said softly, forcing a small smile. "That went… badly."
Riven flinched.
"I shouldn't have come," he whispered. "I made things worse."
Eli crossed the room in two strides and knelt in front of him, gripping Riven's hands gently but firmly.
"No," Eli said. "Don't you dare take this on yourself."
Riven's lips trembled. "He looked at me like I was… a mistake."
Eli's chest tightened. He lifted Riven's chin, forcing him to meet his eyes.
"Listen to me," he said quietly. "What my father thinks does not define you. And it doesn't define us."
Riven swallowed hard. "But he's your family."
"And you're my choice."
The words landed softly—but they shook something deep inside Riven.
Silence followed. Not awkward. Just heavy.
Eli stood and sat beside Riven on the bed. He didn't touch him at first. He just… existed next to him.
"I've spent my whole life doing what was expected of me," Eli said eventually. "Perfect grades. Perfect behavior. Perfect future."
He let out a bitter laugh. "And for what? So I could feel like I'm suffocating in my own house?"
Riven turned to him slowly. "You don't have to destroy your life for me."
Eli met his gaze. "I'm not destroying it. I'm finally living it."
Riven's eyes burned.
"I'm scared," Riven admitted. "Scared that one day you'll wake up and realize this is all too much."
Eli reached out then—slowly, carefully—and intertwined their fingers.
"Then stay scared with me," he said. "We'll figure it out together."
Riven let out a shaky breath, leaning into Eli's shoulder. This time, Eli wrapped his arm around him without hesitation.
They stayed like that for a while.
Just breathing.
Just holding on.
Eventually, Riven spoke again. "What happens now?"
Eli stared at the wall, thoughtful. "Now? I deal with the consequences. My dad's anger. The distance. The silence."
He looked down at Riven. "But I won't let it push me away from you."
Riven nodded slowly. "And I'll try not to run."
Eli smiled softly at that. "That's all I ask."
A knock suddenly echoed from the door.
Both of them froze.
Eli stiffened. "Yeah?"
The door opened just a crack.
It was Eli's mother.
Her eyes moved between them, taking in their closeness, the tension, the truth neither of them could hide.
She didn't frown.
She sighed.
"Dinner's ready," she said quietly. Then, softer—almost hesitant—"Eli… we'll talk later."
She closed the door gently.
Riven looked at Eli, heart pounding. "She knows."
Eli nodded. "Yeah."
Riven waited for panic. For anger. For fear.
Instead, he felt something unexpected.
Hope.
Because for the first time since stepping into this house…
the walls didn't feel unbreakable.
And maybe—just maybe—
love was stronger than all of them.