Hitting Rock Bottom

The cold, harsh light of the mirror reflected Taehyun's worn-out face, and for a moment, he didn't recognize the person staring back at him. The spark in his eyes had dimmed, and the bright smile that had once been his trademark now seemed like a distant memory. He felt like he was drowning in a sea of pills, and he didn't know how to keep his head above water. As he gazed at the scattered pills on his bed, a wave of nausea washed over him. He thought about all the times he had lied to himself, telling himself that he was in control, that he could stop whenever he wanted. But the truth was, he was trapped. He was addicted, and he didn't know how to escape. The door to his room creaked open, and Soobin walked in, a look of concern etched on his face. "Hey, Tae, what's going on? I've been trying to reach you all day," he said, his eyes scanning the room before landing on the pills scattered on the bed. For a moment, Taehyun felt a pang of guilt and shame. He knew that Soobin had been avoiding him, but now, he seemed genuinely concerned. Taehyun's instincts told him to push Soobin away, to tell him that everything was fine, but something about Soobin's expression stayed his hand. Soobin took a step closer, his eyes locked on Taehyun's. "Tae, what's going on? You're scaring me," he said, his voice low and urgent. Taehyun felt a lump form in his throat as he struggled to find the words. He had been hiding behind his mask of confidence for so long, but now, he was faced with the reality of his addiction. He took a deep breath, and let it all spill out – the pills, the guilt, the shame. Soobin's expression changed from concern to shock, and for a moment, Taehyun thought he saw a glimmer of something else – something that looked almost like fear. But then, Soobin's face softened, and he took another step closer. "Tae, I'm here for you," Soobin said, his voice filled with conviction. "We'll get through this together, okay?" Taehyun felt a wave of relief wash over him, but it was short-lived. He knew that he couldn't trust Soobin, not after everything that had happened. He took a step back, his eyes locked on Soobin's. "I'm sorry, Soobin," Taehyun said, his voice barely above a whisper. "But I don't think you can help me with this. I need professional help." Soobin's face fell, and for a moment, Taehyun thought he saw a flash of anger. But then, Soobin's expression smoothed out, and he nodded. "Okay, Tae. I'll support you, no matter what. But you have to promise me one thing – you have to be honest with me from now on. No more secrets, okay?" Taehyun nodded, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders. For the first time in months, he felt like he could breathe again. He knew that the road to recovery wouldn't be easy, but with Soobin's support, he felt like he could face it head-on. As Soobin turned to leave, Taehyun called out to him. "Soobin?" "Yeah?" "Why did you introduce me to those pills in the first place?" Soobin's expression turned somber, and for a moment, Taehyun thought he saw a glimmer of regret. "I was messed up, Tae," Soobin said, his voice low. "I was struggling with my own demons, and I didn't know how to deal with it. I thought I was helping you, but I realize now that I was just enabling myself." Taehyun felt a mix of emotions – anger, sadness, and relief. He knew that Soobin wasn't blameless in all of this, but he also knew that he couldn't change the past. All he could do was move forward, one step at a time.