The rain hammered against the rusted tin roof of the small shack as Liam Carter sat on his creaky old bed, staring at the dim lightbulb flickering overhead. His stomach rumbled, reminding him that dinner had been nothing more than a slice of stale bread and a cup of water. He sighed, running a hand through his unkempt hair. Life had never been kind to him.
At 17 years old, Liam had grown accustomed to struggle. His father had vanished when he was just a child, and his mother—overworked and exhausted—barely managed to scrape together enough to keep them afloat. Their home was a tiny, roach-infested room at the back of an old apartment complex. Leaks in the ceiling, broken furniture, and a lingering dampness in the air were all constants in his life.
Yet, despite his miserable circumstances, Liam refused to give up. He wasn't content with this life. He wanted more. Every night, before exhaustion overtook him, he dreamed of breaking free from this cycle of poverty. He imagined himself successful, powerful, and respected—far from the frail boy everyone looked down upon.
But dreams alone weren't enough to change reality.
Liam had no money, no connections, and no advantages. School was a battlefield where he had to fend off bullies, teachers barely paid attention to him, and he lacked the resources to excel. He worked part-time jobs whenever he could, but the little money he earned disappeared into rent and food expenses.
He clenched his fists.
This isn't fair.
Why do some people get everything while others have to fight for every scrap?
The sound of footsteps echoed outside his door. His mother had returned from her shift at the diner, and judging by the tired sigh that followed, she was as exhausted as always. He knew she worked too hard, and yet their life never seemed to improve.
"Liam?" her weak voice called. "You should sleep soon. Big test tomorrow, right?"
Liam forced a smile she couldn't see. "Yeah, Mom. Goodnight."
He lay back on his mattress, staring at the cracked ceiling. Tomorrow would be just another day of struggle. Or so he thought.
Because in just a few hours, his entire life was about to change.
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