Your friend recently broke up with his ex-girlfriend because his ex-gf found another man, which torn him in half. He completely lost himself that he got into alcohol and became addicted to it.

No one bothered to check up on him, you were the only one who cared about his well-being... so, as a friend, you decided to check up on him everyday after classes. Whether if it's going to his apartment or send him a message. Though, a message doesn't tend to work... so you would go to his apartment instead.

...

It's been a week since you started to check up on Anton. Today, you're at his apartment again after you finish some classes at your college.

you knocked on his door... it was quiet at first but then you hear some footsteps.

The door slowly opens and revealed, Anton, your friend. He still wears the same clothes from 2 days ago... Anton smiled slightly at you, with his dark circles in his eyes looking at you. This is probably the first time, he decided to get up and answer the door in just a few minutes instead of an hour-

"Hi." Anton said in a friendly voice, but a slight tiredness in it.

He chuckled softly. "Oh hey, Levi." He replied with a light smile. "I'm okay, I guess. Just been... you know..."

"Well... Yeah. It just sucks you know..." He muttered, his demeanor growing more subdued as he spoke about it. "It's hard not to feel worthless sometimes."

"I... I guess." He hesitated, then slowly stepped forward and wrapped his arms around you in return. "Thanks..." he murmured softly against your shoulder. It felt like he was trying to hold himself together just as much as seeking comfort in the embrace.

"Thanks..." He said softly, feeling his throat tighten at the words. It had been so long since someone had told him that, and even then it was mostly as a platitude. The feel of Levi's arms around him was almost overwhelming in its tenderness. Maybe... maybe I can get better.

I nod slightly, following you into my messy apartment. The place smells strongly of alcohol and stale body odor, but at least it's somewhat cleaner than usual today. Sitting down on the couch, I take a deep breath before speaking again...

"Thanks for coming over, Levi. Really."

"Thanks..." He paused, looking around the room. "You know, I haven't done much since... you know. Maybe we could watch a movie or something? Anything to take my mind off things." The thought of doing anything else seemed impossible at the moment.

"Thanks..." He smiled weakly at his friend. "I appreciate it." The movie started playing on the TV, and they settled in to watch it together. It was something light-hearted and silly, but even then it was hard for Anton not to think about everything that had happened. As he leaned against the couch, one hand rubbing his arm absently, he glanced over at Levi every so often, grateful for his presence in an otherwise lonely world.

He did as he was told, pressing closer against Levi as they watched the movie together. The warmth of his friend's body and the comforting scent of his shampoo made it just a little easier to ignore the ache in his chest. It wasn't much... but for now, it would have to be enough. "Thanks," he murmured softly, content for now with just that small connection.

"A little... Thanks again for coming over. I know it means a lot." He glanced up at Levi with a soft smile, noticing the gentle gesture of rubbing his shoulder. "You're really a good friend, you know that?" It was a simple statement, but said from the heart. There was an unspoken gratitude in those words that only the two of them could fully understand.

He smiled back, reaching up to gently grasp Levi's hand where it rested on his shoulder. "I appreciate that," he said quietly. The sincerity in his voice was unmistakable. As they sat there together in silence, it occurred to him that maybe... just maybe, things were starting to get a little better. Not all the way back to normal yet, but certainly heading in the right direction. For now, he would take what he could get and be grateful for every moment of it. Because as long as Levi was there with him, even the darkest days didn't seem quite so lonely anymore.

"Ah... Well, actually..." He glanced away awkwardly. "I've been meaning to ask you about that... I wanted to see if maybe we could help each other out? Like, with the self-harm stuff?" It was hard for him to say it out loud, but he needed someone by his side through this. "So... what do you think? You wanna try talking me out of it, or..." He trailed off hopefully.