38~ The set up

The pistol in his hand doesn’t feel alien. Instead, it feels like it’s meant to be there—always in his grip. Tight. Finger ready to pull the trigger. Yet he stares at it blankly, deep in thought.

Ever since Hazel came, he had never used this to take someone’s life—only injured and let the men take care of the rest.

He is trying to be a better person, at least for Hazel.

Five. That’s the number of lives he’s taken with this gun to protect himself and his dad’s men.

But when Hazel came into his life, that number hasn’t increased, all that his dad taught him vanished— Strike before they do. Kill first before they have a chance to kill you.

He started shooting only to wound. Never targeting vital organs. Legs, shoulders. Enough to stop, never to end. Enough to say I could’ve killed you—but didn’t.

Who knows? They might have died if not attended to quickly. But that’s not what matters. What matters is his intention—he never intended to kill them. Hazel changed that mindset.

But because