The Door That Almost Stayed Closed (Revised Opening)

**The Door That Almost Stayed Closed (Revised Opening)**

The bell rang.

Lucas didn’t move.

Students around him stood up, chairs scraping against the floor, voices filling the room again. Someone called his name. Another laughed about something that had nothing to do with him.

Normally, he would’ve joined in.

Said something. Done something. Stayed part of it.

Today… he stayed seated.

For a few seconds.

Then he stood up quietly and walked out before anyone could really notice.

The hallway was crowded, loud, alive.

Lucas kept walking.

Not toward his next class.

Not toward anyone.

Just… away.

His steps were slow at first, then faster, like he needed to get somewhere before his thoughts caught up with him. He passed classrooms, turned corners without thinking, until the noise started fading behind him.

That’s when he knew where he was going.

The rooftop.

He had been there once before. Not for long. Just enough to know it was empty, quiet… out of reach.

Exactly what he needed.

He reached the door at the end of the stairs and pushed it open.

Then, after stepping outside, he did something he hadn’t done before—

He locked it.

A small click.

Like he was shutting the world out.

Or maybe… trapping himself inside.

The air hit him immediately—cool, sharp, real.

Lucas walked forward slowly until he reached the edge, stopping at a safe distance. His hands slipped into his pockets, his eyes fixed on the distance like he was searching for something out there.

Anything.

For a moment, he said nothing.

Felt nothing.

And then…

Everything started catching up.

(Then the rest of the chapter continues the same: him breaking down, Adam arriving, knocking, and the hug.)

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