**Chapter 1: The Lonely House**

The silence in Zack's house was deafening. It had been a year since his older brother, Zane, had moved out, leaving him alone with their abusive father. At 16, Zack had grown accustomed to fending for himself, but the loneliness was suffocating. He lay in bed, his stomach growling with hunger, as he listened to the sound of his father's snores coming from the living room. With a sigh, Zack threw off the covers and got out of bed. He made his way to the living room, and his eyes widened in disgust at the sight before him. His father was slumped back in his armchair, a beer bottle still clutched in his hand, surrounded by empty cans and bottles. The television blared in the background, casting an eerie glow over the room. Zack couldn't tell if his father was asleep or passed out, but he didn't care. He hadn't eaten in days, and his hunger was starting to consume him. As he looked around the room, Zack's gaze fell on the dirty dishes piled up in the sink, the trash overflowing from the can, and the broken furniture that had been like that for months. It was a mess, and Zack felt like he was drowning in it. He thought about his brother, Zane, and how he had left him behind. Zack had begged him to take him with him, but Zane had refused, leaving Zack to face their father alone. With a heavy heart, Zack turned and walked back to his room, his eyes welling up with tears. He grabbed a small backpack and stuffed some clothes into it, not knowing when he'd be back or if he could stomach staying in this toxic environment any longer. His destination was his neighbor's house, Mrs. Patterson's, where he hoped to find some food and a bit of kindness. As he walked to Mrs. Patterson's house, Zack couldn't help but feel a sense of despair. He had been living like this for so long, and he didn't know how much more he could take. He thought about his brother, Zane, and how he had always felt like he was a burden to him. Zack didn't know if Zane hated him or not, but he knew that he had been neglected by him. The walk to Mrs. Patterson's house seemed to take forever, but finally, Zack saw the familiar porch and the warm glow of her living room lights. He took a deep breath, hoping that she would be home and willing to help him. He rang the doorbell, and a few moments later, the door creaked open, and Mrs. Patterson's warm smile greeted him. "Zack, dear, come on in," she said, her eyes scanning his gaunt face and the desperation in his eyes. "You look like you could use a meal." Zack nodded, feeling a lump form in his throat as he stepped into the warm, welcoming atmosphere of Mrs. Patterson's home. For a moment, he forgot about his troubles and allowed himself to feel a glimmer of hope. Maybe things could get better after all. Maybe he wasn't alone. As he sat down at the table, and Mrs. Patterson placed a steaming plate of food in front of him, Zack felt a sense of peace wash over him. He was going to be okay. He was going to make it through this. And maybe, just maybe, he would find a way to forgive his brother, Zane, and move on from the pain of his past.