Broken

"I know that you will be lonely if I don't talk to you anymore," Greg said and crouch down to look at the teenage boy who is currently sitting in his hospital bed. He heaved a deep sigh before looking back at him. He roams his eyes around him as he saw the fresh wounds and purple bruises around his face and hands. His feet are both tattered with cuts and scratches. Since when did the existence of this boy become so important to him? He doesn't quite remember but he remembers the first time he met him running on the streets with bruises and cuts around his face...crying.

It was a rainy day when Greg saw him running towards the public restroom while crying. Out of concern he walks towards the restroom and knocks.

"Young man, Are you okay?" He asked but the boy just keeps on crying.

"Young man, If you have a problem I can help you but first I have to know what it is" He tried to reach out again but to no avail. Greg heaved a deep sigh and just let the teenage boy inside the restroom, instead, he slid down his calling card from the gap and said.

"That's my number young man. If you need someone to talk to I can help you" He said and walk away.

The boy picks up the calling card as he stifles his cries.

"Gregory Fabian?" His eyes widen upon seeing who it is. 

"That famous producer?!" He exclaimed in awe forgetting the throbbing pain from his bruises and wounds that he got from his abusive father. He slowly opens the door and happily walks back home knowing that it's already time for his drunkard father to sleep after beating him to a pulp.

A few days already passed since Greg saw the teenage boy but the mere presence of the boy that day still bothers him. How come no one bothers to help him when he looked like that? Is humanity not in the world anymore? He put down his guitar to take a short break from composing a song. He took a sip from his coffee when someone knocks on his door. 

"Come in,"

"Hey Greg," 

"Hilda," He said Hilda giggles as Greg plants soft kisses on his face, neck, and shoulders.

"Trishia invited me to a dinner and she asked me to come and bring you," Hilda said and hug Greg.

"That big head? I told you to she's just using you to be acquainted with me." 

"Greg, you're just paranoid. I know that you have a trust issue but..."

"Come to one Hilda, It's not because I have a trust issue. I don't like her because she's too obvious."

"But Greg, please..." She said and tightened her hug. Greg was about to protest again when his phone rings. He picks up the phone and looks at it.

An unknown number.

Greg unwraps Hilda's arms around him to answer the phone.

"Greg ple-"

"Shh, I'll think about it babe so let me just answer this call." He said and answer his phone.

"Hello?" 

"H-Hi, T-This is Archie...I was the boy who was inside the restroom one rainy day" The boy said nervously. Greg somehow felt relieved that the boy calls him.

"Yes, Yes, I remember you. Hi, My name is Greg--"

"Gregory Fabian! The famous music producer both in modern and classic music! Hi sir! I-I would like to--"

"Hold on young man." Greg chuckled.

"I know you're excited but I can't understand you if you talk too fast." He said totally enjoying his reaction. 

The boy heaved three deep sighs before talking again.

"Sir, I am Archie and I also want to be a producer just like you. Can you please see and evaluate some of my songs?" He said. Greg feels delighted but he decided to act cool to evaluate his talent more unbiasedly. Unknowingly, He feels quite close to that young man. He does not know why but if he can help he will. For the boy who looks like he doesn't have anyone to support him.

"Okay." 

"Really?! Oh my goodness, Sir! Thank you! It was such an honor, sir!" 

"I am not busy tomorrow maybe we could meet up around the place where I saw you last time. Do you know the coffee shop in front of the public toilet where you run to?"

"Yes sir! Of course, I know. Our house is just around that corner"

"Good, Good! Okay. Tomorrow around 4 pm" Greg said before hanging up.

"Who's that? You look so happy talking to him?" Hilda asked while sitting at Greg's table.

"His name is Archie. I saw him a few days ago from the coffee shop where I usually go to. He was running that rainy day with wounds and bruises all over his face."

"Oh my, Did he get into a fight?" 

"I think so," He said and walk towards his guitar.

"He asked me if I could evaluate his self-composed songs so I am meeting him tomorrow."

"Want me to come? I could make some sample lyrics for his song" Hilda asked.

"Thanks but no. I have to visit my brother tomorrow too." He said. Hilda then just nodded her head and did not pry more since she already knew the reason why Greg's brother is in jail and it put a crack on their relationship. Hilda knew that Robert will just curse and go hysterical at him but Greg still continue to visit him. It's a mystery even to her.

"They call me when you got his composed songs. I wanna look at it too" Hilda said. Greg nods in agreement and sent Hilda home.

The next day Greg park his car and enter the Ok Mental Institution. He just found out that his brother stabbed another inmate because of hysterical fits. The doctor and nurses welcome him and face his brother again who is now blankly looking at him. His arms and feet were tied just to be sure that he will not hurt anyone. Greg looks at his brother with pain before forcing a smile.

"How are you brother?" Greg asked but Robert just looks at him blankly. He tried to engage his brother for some more chit-chat but to no avail. Greg heaved a deep sigh and decided to leave when he remembers the young man.

"You see, I met this young man name Archie"

"Archie?" Robert finally replied. Greg excited to go back to his sit and look at his brother.

"Yes, Isn't it a cute name? He is around your age before you got locked up and was very polite too. He somehow reminded me of you." Greg continues. Robert just looks at him as he continues to talk about Archie when.

"I saw him running towards the public restroom with bruised and wounds drenched on rain so I appro--"

"pFFT...hihihi..." Greg looks at his brother confused about why he is laughing.

"haha haha hahaha" Robert burst out laughing before meeting Greg's flustered face.

"Idiot" He mutters. Robert stands and looks around him meeting the doctor and nurses who are currently looking at them.

"Look at him! Look at my beloved brother! Isn't he crazy?!" Robert said. He walks closer to Greg and said.

"You crazy bastard!" Robert exclaimed and bang the clear window that separates them. The nurses and guards walk towards him to stop his fits but to no avail.

"He should be the one who got locked up! Not me! He should be the one who died not my mother! He should be the one who is in here!!!!!" He exclaimed while struggling to hurt his brother.

Greg then was pulled out by one of the doctors out of the room.

"Greg! My idiotic brother of mine! I pity you for living like that! I pity you!" Robert said before falling asleep due to his shot.

Greg then walks towards his car and bangs his head on the steering wheel getting a cut to his eyebrow.

"Shit!" He exclaimed but the throbbing pain in his chest is much more painful after seeing his brother like that again.

"Shiiit!" He cursed and cry.

***

Greg then walk angrily towards his swivel chair and sat down. He is holding a white folder with written melodies inside. Maybe he was expecting too much that he is now so disappointed. These songs are crap plus he just left it there didn't even bother to wait for him. He put the white envelope inside his desk as Hilda comforts him. On the next morning, Archie calls Greg once again telling him how sorry he is that he did not wait for him to come. He said that something happened to their house and that he has to stay because of his mother. He begged Greg for one more chance and promise that he will improve himself. Since then they frequently called each other and meet after Greg's work. At the same time and place. They grew closer as mentors and mentees until they eventually became friends.

"I want to write a song about my first love," Archie said. Greg then looks at him and smiles teasingly.

"You got someone you like kiddo?" He asked making Archie blush. 

"Stop it! Look even the people around us are laughing at me" Archie said shyly. Greg smiles at him and strums his guitar. 

"Use that as a base and finish the song. That's your assignment" Greg said and ruffled his hair.

"Thanks, sir," Archie said. Greg smile at him and said.

"You could call me Greg if you want. Sir is too formal." Greg said.

Archie quickly shakes his head.

"No. That's too informal sir."

"Then what about father?" Greg teased. Archie chuckled and said.

"Well, you're more like a father to me than my father so maybe that fits but..."

"I'm too young to be a father of 17 years old?" Archie nods his head and laughs.

"Yeah, You're right. Then..." Greg ponders for a minute and said.

"Uncle. Just call me Uncle Greg" He said. Archie nods his head gratefully and said.

"Okay, Uncle" 

It's already been a few months since Greg meet the boy who is called Archie. Hilda is always amused about that unknown boy since Greg was always happy every time he talks about him. He keeps telling stories about their day together, about Archie's crush, about Archie's talent. He even said that he saw himself to Archie. Hilda just stays at Greg and listens to how much he felt so satisfied when Greg helps Archie by looking out for him and giving him advice. One day Hilda was cleaning Greg's office and saw Greg's drawer where he put Archie's self-composed song. Hilda walks towards it out of curiosity and opens it. Her eyes widen upon opening it...and it made him realize some weird mannerism of Greg that shows on the day Archie called a few months ago.

***

Greg drives his car towards their usual meeting place when his phone got a call. It was Hilda.

"Greg, are you okay?"

"What's with the fuss sweetheart?"

"Greg just answers me please," Hilda said. Greg chuckled and said.

"Okay, Okay. I am driving to meet Archie."

"Where Greg?"

"It was on Mc Arth--Wait, Archie is calling me. I'll call you later"

"Greg wai--"

"Love you!"

"Hey! Kiddo! Did you fini---" Greg did not finish his words when he heard Archie's sobs.

"Archie?! What happened?"

"U-Uncle please h-help us...Fathe---Argh!"

"Stop! Stop hurting my son you bastard!"

"Father stop! Please!" Greg heard followed by more cries, screams, and grunts.

He quickly throws his phone and drive towards Archie's home and upon arriving at his house. He saw Archie beating up by a man double his size.

"Hey!" Greg quickly runs towards them and pulls out the man away from Archie.

"What the fuck are you doing?! Who are ya?!"The drunk man said and throw a punch at him but Greg is quick enough to dodge his attack so he lands a sidekick to his side and an uppercut.

"Argh!" The man groans in pain crouching down while holding his side.

"Uncle!" Archie run towards Greg and hid behind him.

"It's okay Archie. I'm here now"

"Uncle, My mom! She..." Greg and Archie run inside the house and saw his mom laying on the floor unconscious while Archie's little brother is crouching on the corner crying.

Greg grabs Archie by the should when he noticed the knife in his hand. Greg clicks his tongue and grabs the knife away from Archie.

"Archie, No matter what it is not the right thing to do okay? It is not. If you have no one to run to come to me! If you have no one to comfort you come to me! You have me! Not just a friend but also an adult who can protect you, your brother, and your mom. Okay?" Greg said and waited for Archie's reply. Archie cries and nods his head.

"Good! Good!" Greg said and hug him.

"You mother fuckers! How dare you ruin my fun!" Archie's father said with a baseball bat in his hand. Greg quickly leaps on him shielding Archie from his bat. He throws a punch over and over again while being ranked by a baseball bat.

"Run now! Get you, mom and brother!" Greg exclaimed as he punches the guy out of his wits. Archie runs away while carrying his mother and brother.

"Go!" Greg exclaimed.

After a while, Greg huffingly went inside his car. He gets his phone and reads Archie's message telling him that they have nowhere to go and decided to go to his house. Greg agrees and calls Hilda.

"Greg?! What happened why are you breathing like that?" 

"Babe, A boy will knock on our door. They are already outside waiting. Please open the door for them. It was Archie and his family. He was being abused by his father. Both him and his mother. He also has a little brother so please take care of them. I'll be--"

"Greg, what are you talking about? There is no one at the door." Hilda said. Hilda exhales audibly as anxiety hits her.

"Greg please tell me where are you?"

"But Archie said that he's already there. Maybe he got bored again and walk towards the park near our house. I'll just go"

"Greg!"

Greg drives as fast as he could towards the city where he lives. Anxiety and worry creep upon his chest that it is making him dizzy and short of breath.

"Archie...please be safe." He said and drive faster until he saw Archie running across the highway and a red car was about to hit him so he speeds up and crashes his car against the red car. His head bumps on the steering wheel making him dizzier. Blook flowed out of his head as he saw Archie laying on the ground unconscious.

"Archie!" He exclaimed.

"OH MY GOD! GREG!" Hilda exclaimed followed by a siren until Greg lose consciousness.

Then Greg found himself inside a white room. A lot of doctors were around him. His head is still aching as well as his body but he was forced to watch a video.

"What d you see?" One of the doctors asked. He just looks at it blankly and said.

"It's the day where I got into a fight with Archie's dad," Greg said. 

"I see. So where is his dad?" He asked again.

Greg roams his eyes but he saw no one except himself punching the air and accidentally hitting himself.

"You see no one right?" The doctor said and place the picture of an abandoned house.

"This is the abandoned house where you said Archie lived. It was a house burned 20 years ago." He explained but Greg just stares at it emptily.

"Do you see Archie now?" He asked. Greg roams his eyes until his eyes were fixed on the corner side of the room. Archie is there, clear as day, flashing his usual bright smile despite those wounds on his face. The doctor turns around but saw nothing.

"Is he there?" He asked. Greg nods making the doctor sighed.

"Greg. This is a hospital. No one can come in as they please...so maybe Archie is someone who was created by your mind. Someone who can relieve you from the pain of your past. From that time when your brother stabbed your drunk father who abused you and your mother every day of your life. Maybe...He was created so that you can somehow correct your past and stop your brother as an adult" The doctor taps his shoulder.

"Greg I can help you with facts and medication but if you will not accept the truths you won't see who and what is real." The doctor said and left the room.

Greg then takes the time to think. That night he repeats everything in his mind from the day he met Archie until he notices the difference. Archie...doesn't have a surname, Archie was always wounded and Archie was always barefoot...just like his brother who he respects and adores...Just like his beloved brother who protected them...just like his brother who he did not protect that time.

Greg cries all night until morning came. 

"I know that you will be lonely if I don't talk to you anymore," Greg said and crouch down to look at the teenage boy who is currently sitting in his hospital bed. He heaved a deep sigh before looking back at him. He roams his eyes around him as he saw the fresh wounds and purple bruises around his face and hands. His feet are both tattered with cuts and scratches.

Greg sat down to tend Archie's feet. He lifts Archie's one foot and carefully tends its wound.

"But I have to," He said as Archie's wounded feet vanish from his grasp.

FIN