“You can sit,” Michael said gently.
Leo shook his head.
“I can’t.”
Michael knelt so their eyes were level.
“Leo.”
Tears came instantly.
“It hurts,” he whispered.
That was the moment everything sharpened.
UNDER THE BATHROOM LIGHT
Michael carried him upstairs carefully, avoiding his lower back.
Under the bright bathroom lights, there were no shadows left to hide in.
“You’re safe here,” Michael said quietly. “You’re not in trouble. I just need to know what happened.”
Leo’s shoulders shook.
