THE ARRIVAL OF MY DEMONS

Liam was once a joyful and carefree sixteen-year-old, the kind of boy who radiated happiness and kindness. But that all changed in one devastating moment. Overnight, he became a completely different person. At school, he was labeled as the "bad boy," the one always in trouble. But beneath that tough exterior, he was still the frightened, broken child, locked in an endless battle with his inner demons.

Every day on his way home, Liam braced himself for the inevitable torment. Since his father's death in a car crash, his mother, consumed by grief, had blamed him for the tragedy. Liam, in turn, blamed himself. He kept telling himself that if only he had waited until the next day to go out for ice cream, his father would still be alive. That guilt haunted him, clinging to him like a shadow.

Pushing those dark thoughts aside, Liam opened the door to his house. As usual, he found Oscar and Linda, his mother's boyfriend and his mother, passed out on the couch, drunk or high—he couldn't tell which. With a heavy sigh, he hurried to the kitchen, grabbed some snacks, and rushed to the safety of his room.

But peace was short-lived. Moments later, a loud banging echoed through the house. His heart sank. The time had come. He knew what was coming next. He opened the door, and there stood Oscar, glaring at him. "Be in the basement in five minutes," he growled.

Dread filled Liam's chest as he descended into the cold, dimly lit basement. Oscar and Linda were waiting for him. Linda smirked, a cruel satisfaction in her eyes. "On your knees," she hissed. And then, the beatings began. Blow after blow, until the world around him faded into blackness.

When Liam regained consciousness, the brightness of the hospital lights stung his eyes. Blinking through the pain, he realized where he was. Relief washed over him when a police officer approached, explaining that Oscar and Linda had been arrested for assault and drug possession.

Tears welled up in Liam's eyes, but this time they weren't from fear or pain. They were tears of joy, tears of release. His demons—his monsters—were finally gone. For the first time in a long time, he felt hope. It was time for him to rebuild, to live a life free of abuse and fear. A life where he could be happy again.