The creator’s favored soul

Xander stood atop the craggy cliff, the wind whipping his light grayish hair into a frenzy as he gazed out at the restless ocean. The waves crashed below, their foamy fingers reaching out to caress the jagged rocks with a brutal, unyielding rhythm. The sight filled him with a profound sense of disparity and a longing so intense it ached in his chest, a longing for a life he could never have. At just 23 years old, Xander felt the weight of a thousand failures pressing down on him. Every path he'd taken had led to ruin, every choice had been the wrong one. He couldn't understand it. He'd always tried his best, but his best was never enough. His mind drifted to the women he'd planned to marry, the one who'd shattered his heart and his trust. He'd caught her in the act, her lips locked with another man's her body pressed against his. The image was seared into his memory, a brand of betrayal that would never fade. When he'd confronted her, she'd turned on him like a cornered animal, her lies spilling from her mouth like venom. She'd painted him as the monster, an abusive fiancé who'd laid hands on her in rage. No one had believed his denial, not even his own parents. They'd cast him out, their disapproval a physical blow that left him reeling. And with their rejection, he'd lost his job, his home, his dignity. Xanders heart pounded in his chest as he recalled the humiliation, the pain. He felt a fresh wave of anger and betrayal. How could they not believe him? His twin brother, Oliver, was the only one who'd stood by him, who'd offered him a lifeline. Oliver had promised to help, to take him away from this place and the echoes of his shattered dreams. But as Xander stood there, the wind howling around him, he felt a sudden sharp shove from behind. His arms windmilled wildly as he stumbled forward, his toes scrambling for purchase on the crumbling edge of the cliff. Panic surged through him as he plunged downward, the world spinning around him in a dizzying blur. He looked up, his eyes locking onto the figure standing at the cliffs edge. Oliver. His twin brother's face was a mask of cold calculation, a smirk playing on his lips as he watched Xander fall. Shock and confusion ripped through Xander, a second wave of betrayal crashing over him. Why? He wondered, his mind racing. Why would Oliver do this? The ocean rushed up to meet him, the impact driving the air from his lungs in a painful rush. The water was freezing, the sting of it like a thousand needles piercing his skin. He sank, the dark abyss claiming him, pulling him down into its cold embrace. He kicked and thrashed, his body's instincts for survival kicking in, but it was no use. His lungs burned, the need for air becoming unbearable. He could feel the darkness creeping in, a peaceful relief from the pain and the betrayal. As consciousness slipped away, Xander's last thought was a bitter one. He should have taken swimming lessons. He should have done a lot of things differently. But it was too late now. The sea claimed him, and he sank into the depths, his life ebbing away like the tide. but this was only the beginning of Xanders story.