His name was Leo.
Leo was 18 years old.
He lived in a quiet house with his mom.
His dad was not there anymore.
His dad left a few years ago.
Now, it was just the two of them.
It was late at night.
Leo was in his bedroom.
The house was dark and silent.
On his phone, he watched a video.
It was a sex video.
He knew he shouldn’t, but he couldn’t stop.
His heart beat fast.
He touched himself under the blanket.
His breath was quick.
In the quiet room, the only sounds were from the phone and his soft breathing.
Soon, it was over.
He felt tired.
He felt a little guilty, too.
He cleaned up and turned off his phone.
He needed water.
He decided to go to the kitchen.
He opened his bedroom door.
The hallway was dark.
He walked softly, not wanting to wake his mom.
But when he passed the living room, he saw her.
His mom, Anna, was sitting on the sofa.
She was alone.
The blue light of the TV lit up her face.
She was watching an old movie.
She looked tired.
She looked lonely.
Leo stopped.
He hid in the shadow of the hallway and watched her.
His heart felt strange.
It was not beating fast like before.
Now, it felt heavy.
He thought about his dad.
His dad left four years ago.
He never came back.
He never called.
It was just Leo and his mom now.
His mom worked hard.
She came home late.
She cooked for him.
She asked about his school.
She smiled, but her eyes were often sad.
As Leo watched her, a new feeling grew in his chest.
It was a warm feeling, but it was confusing.
She looked so beautiful in the soft TV light.
Her hair was down.
She wore a simple nightdress.
He thought, We are only two in this house.
We only have each other.
He felt a strong wish to go to her.
To hug her.
To tell her she was not alone.
But he did not move.
He stood in the dark, his heart full of something he did not understand.
After a few minutes, he turned away.
He went to the kitchen, drank water, and went back to his room.
But he could not sleep.
His mind was on his mom.
On her lonely face.
On the empty space beside her on the sofa.
Something had changed in him tonight.
He did not know what it was.
But he felt it deep