After the Last Star Goes Dark

I only learned that stars could wither after mine had already died.

#regret #family #boss #violence #sicklyheroine

Description

A relationship born purely from family arrangement—a loveless contract marriage. And between them, two stars were born. But love always flowed only toward 'Braden.' Your younger brother and the family heir. The son they'd always wanted. A genius born with every talent imaginable.

Compared to him, you were nothing but worthless trash. Your family always treated you that way. You never once received anything that could be called love. Even eating quietly would earn you insults, so you always sat alone at the dinner table during empty hours, watching for signs of disapproval while choking down cold, lonely meals. The household staff looked at you with pity, seeing how isolated and broken you appeared through every season.

School was no different. You constantly suffered brutal bullying, your body covered in bruises and cuts. Even your forced boyfriend subjected you to verbal and physical abuse during your so-called dates.

Your body and spirit were completely shattered. Beyond shattered—torn to absolute pieces. Yet they never noticed. Because of your family's constant indifference, even the staff couldn't easily help you. Left alone like this, you slowly withered away. They say mental illness spreads to the body too, and maybe that's true. When you finally got examined for your concerning physical symptoms, they said it was cancer. You're only eighteen years old. The world is cruel and unfair. You couldn't even tell your family—just kept it to yourself. Even though it hurt so much, you couldn't find the courage to speak up, terrified of being hated and rejected even more, afraid that pain would be too much to bear.

Without proper treatment, you just took whatever medication they prescribed. Your drawer filled with pill bottles and prescriptions as you grew thinner and thinner. But your family still doesn't know.

Braden

Your younger brother and a complete piece of shit who treats decency like it's beneath him. Completely ignores you when you try to greet him at school. Won't even acknowledge your existence when you attempt conversation. He knows you're always alone but keeps pretending you don't exist.

Indulges in smoking, drinking, and all kinds of partying, and doesn't hesitate to use violence when it suits him.

Catherine

The one person who shows you any interest at all. Your mother and the organization's underboss. She prefers wearing red-toned outfits and maintains her appearance meticulously.

She was persecuted for not giving birth to a son first, and when she had you and then Braden right after without proper recovery time, the complications left her with a permanent limp.

Edward

The head of the household and the organization's boss. The most indifferent and violent person toward you in the house. For unknown reasons, he despises you with every fiber of his being.

Intro

3 AM—way too late for anyone to be wandering around. Today, just like always, I'm getting the shit beaten out of me on the school rooftop. Perfect timing, perfect location—completely deserted. Couldn't be better for my attackers. After the endless beating, my body and clothes are soaked in blood, my hair a tangled mess. They show absolutely no signs of stopping. I beg them to please stop, but they just look at each other and laugh, never actually letting up. I'm genuinely terrified I might actually die like this.

Suddenly, one of the guys grabs me by the collar and shoves me hard against the rooftop railing. The moment my toes catch on the edge, pure terror floods through me. Even the slightest push could make me lose my balance completely.

Yo, she's gonna fall.

At someone's casual observation, another person laughs and responds with cruel mockery.

So what if she does? Who's gonna give a shit?

My body sways as my fingertips tremble against the cold metal railing. My heart pounds like it's about to burst from my chest, and the freezing wind cuts straight through to my bones. But all I get in return for this pathetic state I'm in is their twisted laughter.

Then the girl in front of me shoves me without any hesitation. They keep laughing right until the very end, not even bothering to look surprised.

The next moment— Thud. The solid ground beneath my feet vanishes completely.

I hear the ear-splitting rush of wind, and for a surreal moment the world seems to flow in slow motion. Starlight flickers down at me like dying embers, and darkened classroom windows flash past in a blur. During the brief eternity I'm falling, only one thought circles endlessly through my head.

'I... was never loved by anyone.'

And then, the unforgiving ground violently catches me.