Lux's Childhood: "The Golden Boy"

Lux Carter had always been "the golden boy'. The kind of kid who never had to try too hard to be liked. With his effortless charm and good looks, adults doted on him, teachers excused him, and other kids either wanted to be him or be noticed by him.

But beneath the surface, there was always this expectation.

“You’re so handsome, Leo. You’ll break hearts one day.”

“Such a smart boy—why waste it?”

“You have everything going for you, don’t mess it up.”

He grew up hearing it, over and over. Praise disguised as pressure. Being admired felt good—addicting, even. But the moment he wasn’t perfect? The moment he wasn’t interesting enough? People moved on.

So he learned to perform. To always be on. To make sure he was always the best, the funniest, the most captivating person in the room.

Because if he wasn’t?

Then maybe he wasn’t really special at all.