Fear turns into habit, and then turns into fear again. He can't not love him, or anyone, he loves him, for they will talk and crucify him. She won't stand up for the girl who is ridiculed every day. They won't speak up, for fear of being treated the same way. Those kids won't ever speak, because they are trying to survive, and it is all an endless cycle Of fear, deceit, habit and regret.
What happened to the victims of survival?
The person he loved never forgave him, and went away to be happy, without him. The girl was found under the local creek because it was too much, simple. And the mother ends up underground, buried alive. Her voice is gone and it never happened, a memory.
What is survival when others, and yourself are gone forever? We end up losing ourselves and what truly matter. We end up alone. Swimming in regret and pain, while others live. We could have been happy. Safer.
The consequences of fear, whether for the victim or "survivor".