"Hey, Rue." I looked him over, surprised by how steady my voice came when I asked, "What's going on?"
He shook his head over the toilet, his shoulders still trembling, and I noticed he was crying. I hadn't caught it before because his long hair was like a thick curtain, hiding every angle of his face, like he hadn't even had the strength to pull it back.
"I'll be fine. Just go," Ruith murmured, a soft whine beneath his voice.
"No," I declared, hurt he believed I'd even consider abandoning him now. "I'm not going to just leave you here. Can I touch you? I need to feel your head." I didn't wait for permission to reach for him, but he quickly smacked my hand away.
"I said I'll be fine," he said, a bit firmer this time. He wouldn't look at me. "Please, just wait for me outside."
