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.

"Ah...Levi... Ummm nothing much." He mumbled awkwardly as he scratched the back of his head. He's still a bit surprised that you decided to drop by at his place today. It was never like this before, it felt refreshing but also weird for him since no one else bothers to come visit him anymore. The only time they would talk to him is when they needed something done or want him to play some games with them. Not like he had anything better to do anyway...

"Well... I'm glad you decided to drop by..."

"Yeah I know..." He gave a small smile back. "You want to come in?" He stepped aside and motioned me in, the place looked the same as when I last visited. There were empty bottles and cans scattered around the living room and on the floor, his bed hadn't been made in a week.

"Do you want something? Food or anything?" Anton asked politely. His face still had that tired, but somehow happy expression on it as if he was grateful for my presence.

"Oh..." He chuckled softly and rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm not that bad... well maybe a bit..." He let out a sigh. "...But seriously man, I want to get better, about this... you know..." He motioned around the room, seeming to shrink into himself slightly.

"I just can't seem to find the willpower anymore." There was a hint of pleading in his voice as he looked up at me with dark eyes filled with sadness and defeat.

"I know... I just can't seem to forget about her." He looked down at the floor before meeting my eyes again. "I still love her... and I want to win her back..."

He sighed, rubbing his forehead as if he had a headache. "Maybe it's not really about finding the willpower anymore... maybe it's just that I don't see any point in trying." There was a hint of despair in his voice as he let out another defeated sigh.

"I feel so useless..." He murmured, sounding more defeated than ever before. "It's like everything I do is wrong and it only makes things worse... It's not fair..."

"Thanks..." He mumbled into my shoulder as he returned the hug, his grip surprisingly strong despite his lanky build. "I appreciate that... but sometimes it feels like I'm just dragging everyone else down with me." He pulled back slightly, looking up at me with red-rimmed eyes.

"I wish I could be the person you used to know..." There was a hint of sadness in his voice as he let out another sigh. "But right now... I don't even recognize myself anymore..."

My own voice sounded distant and muffled through the haze in my mind as I clung to you tighter, returning the hug. The familiar scent of your cologne filled my senses, reminding me of better times when we used to laugh and have fun together. For just a moment, it was like I could almost forget everything that had happened.

But then reality crept back in, and the weight of despair settled once more upon my shoulders. "I wish I could be that person too," I whispered, barely audible even to myself. "It's just... sometimes I feel like I don't deserve to be happy." A tear rolled down my cheek as I held you tighter, seeking comfort and reassurance in the only friend who had stuck by me through everything.

"I hope so..." I mumbled, still not quite able to meet your eyes. A faint smile tugged at the corners of my mouth as you said that, and for a moment, I allowed myself to feel just a little bit better. Perhaps there was some truth to what you'd said. Maybe someday I would find happiness again.

But for now... all I could do was cling to our friendship and try not to drag you down with me any further. It wasn't fair, and I knew it. You deserved better than this. "Thanks for coming by..." I whispered, my voice hoarse from the constant fight against despair. "It means a lot."

"Thanks..." I smiled weakly in return. "It's not much fun here right now... but if you don't mind the mess and... well, me..." My voice trailed off as I gestured around the room again, feeling a little embarrassed to be exposing my current state to anyone, even my best friend.

"I could use some company..." I admitted quietly, looking away for a moment before meeting your eyes again. There was an almost helpless plea in those dark orbs that I hoped you wouldn't see. "It gets pretty lonely sometimes."

I smiled weakly and nodded. "Yeah, I understand." My voice was quiet as I nestled back into your embrace, finding a small measure of comfort in the familiarity of your touch. It had been so long since anyone had offered me any form of solace or understanding, and I clung to it like a lifeline, grateful for even the smallest glimpse of warmth in this cold, dark world I'd built for myself.

"Thanks again," I whispered after a moment, my voice barely audible even to myself as I savored the moment, wishing it could last forever. But I knew that eventually you would have to leave, and I would be left alone with my thoughts once more, a fate that filled me with both dread and relief in equal measure.

A faint flush crept up my cheeks at your question. "I suppose... a little," I admitted softly. It was true that being with you had lifted the heaviness from my heart for just a moment, but I knew it wouldn't last. Sooner or later, I'd have to face my demons alone once more, and the thought filled me with a quiet desperation.

"Thanks again for coming by," I repeated, wanting you to know that your presence meant everything to me in that moment. Maybe if I could just hold on to this feeling a little longer...

But even as I thought it, I knew reality would soon intrude, and the darkness would envelop me once more.

I smiled weakly and sat down beside you on the sofa. "Thanks," I murmured, looking down at my hands in my lap. "You have no idea how much it means to me." There was a hint of sadness in my voice as I said this, knowing all too well that things would eventually return to how they were before. For now, though, we could both pretend everything was going to be okay.

"Do you... want to watch something?" I asked after a moment, feeling awkward and uncertain about what else there was to say or do. It felt like every word I spoke carried the weight of a thousand lifetimes, each one a reminder of all that I'd lost and everything that remained out of reach.